Hands at Work

Neumarkets

Oct 23, 2020

Are “Construction Hands” A Thing?

Our cities and towns are constantly growing and changing. New buildings are going up, roads are being paved, homes and offices are remodeled.  All these changes have created a diverse, high demand industry of various construction work.  Working in this industry does have its perks, like who needs a gym membership when most of these jobs keep you in good physical shape on their own.  However there is a down-side to being a construction worker. In this industry there is a higher chance that you may form occupational contact dermatitis or in this case let’s call it “construction hands”.

So what actually is occupational contact dermatitis?

Simply put, Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin.  Occupational contact dermatitis is when your skin becomes irritated and inflamed because it came into contact with an irritant (usually at the workplace). What is an irritant? An irritant is defined by any substance that causes inflammation or discomfort to the body. There are multiple factors that come into play when you are talking about what constitutes a workplace irritant.  Adhesives, solvents, resins and sealants could be listed as a workplace irritant because of their chemical content.  Then there are things you may not expect like cement, dirt, detergents and cleansers that could also be considered an irritant because they can block or strip the skin of the moisture it needs.  How your skin reacts to any of these workplace irritants can vary.  It can start off as something small like skin redness, itchiness and skin tightness. However these reactions can be more severe and can cause the skin to become severely dry and cracked to where it starts bleeding or causes the skin to blister. When skin gets to this point you are now at risk to different types of skin infections and abscesses.

How do we prevent construction hands?

When it comes to dealing with your dermatitis, first thing you need to do is find what is causing the reaction.  Once you know what it is, the best thing you can do is to avoid it (if possible) or to at least limit your time and contact with it.  Now it’s time to focus on your skin.  Your outer layer of skin, also known as your skin barrier, is your skin and body’s first line of defense. Repairing and protecting this layer is essential to healing and preventing dermatitis.  For your skin barrier to function properly it needs to stay hydrated and moisturized. This allows your skin to stay flexible and resilient. When your skin barrier is damaged by workplace irritants this is what causes those irritating skin reactions.

How does Gloves In A Bottle help with this?

Gloves In A Bottle is a shielding lotion. Shielding lotions bond with your outer layer of skin to create a breathable barrier. This barrier helps prevent those workplace irritants from causing damage to the skin and it also helps lock in your body’s own natural moisture.  This process allows your body to essentially start healing itself because Gloves In A Bottle does not interfere with your body, but actually works with its natural moisturizing system. 

Gloves In A Bottle is not intended to replace your workplace gloves, but it makes a great second line of defense in protecting your skin at your workplace and is a whole lot better than wearing nothing at all.