I have a new job working construction and I have been grouting tile at this hotel we are building, well turns out this grout has lie in it and I am very sensitive to lie, I have holes in most of my fingers, rash like burns on my palms and most of my forearms holes in my knees as well as the rash like burns and they are all very painful, I am wincing as we speak due to typing, but I have come to the conclusion grout is now known as the devils mud, because it is EVIL.

Ugh. Sorry to hear...

but..

Congrats on the new job!

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- The Federalist #46 -

Time for a career change. Best of luck K38.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Got health insurance? If so, Go to Doc and get steroidal cream, Otherwise go to the pharmacy and get original "Eucerin"
It should work well for you!
I have been laid off for a couple months, I am glad that you are working even if it is with Devils mud!
Peter

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Need 1/2 moon Chiefs special

Chemical burns suck big time! Just before getting laid off last Thanksgiving I suffered a copper-cyanide burn to my calf, requiring a skin graft. I feel your pain. watch out for infection!

Lye, if that is what was at fault, can be nasty stuff.

Your employer should have warned you or provided safety equipment. They're likely liable for the expenses if you require medical attention.

All cement based products are strong alkalis. They will burn unprotected skin. Concrete, thinset, mortar mix, grout, etc.

Gloves or industrial barrier hand creams are a must for working with these chemicals long term.

There are also epoxy based grouts. These have their own hazards, as epoxy sensitivity is a cumulative condition (the more exposure one has, the greater the chance of an allergic reaction).

Also be very careful of breathing any of the dust associated with any of these products, bad news for the lungs.

Dang!! Who would have thought construction work would be dangerous?

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Recycled Bricklayer

Burns from lye (Sodium Hydroxide) are not the worst chemical burns to have, but you need, absolutely need, to wear chemical resistant gloves and eye protection. If you think a burn on your finger is bad, imagine a burn on your cornea.

When you feel a burning sensation on your skin, that's when you are supposed to stop what you're doing and rinse off the substance that is causing the burn. If you have a burning sensation when urinating, then you have an entirely different problem.

You should have been given an MSDS that would have warned you about the potential hazards of the material you were working with.
Chemical burns are like the gift that keeps on giving. Its important that you treat it quickly and correctly and then prevent additional exposure. Second exposures are usually worse because you've been sensitized ( ?? spelling ) Chemical burns are also very prone to infection.
Hope your recovery is quick.

In the early "60" I was working for a roofing and spouting contractor during summer vacation between my 9th and 10th grade year. Well, I cut my thumb really bad and it was bleading like a stuck hog, Geno, the boss, grabbed my hand and poured muriatic acid on the cut. It seared it and stopped the bleeding, however if I had been a little older I would have dumped his lifeless body in the hot tar kettle.

well I took 2 Vicodin and soaked my hands in some salt water and it is now feeling a lot better, I can touch the key board without wincing and wanting to scream, I am taking some amoxicillan for infection prevention, and being REALLY careful, but the problem is I had gloves but it kept getting into the gloves and burning me worse than if I were bare handed, but I guess I am allergic to it as well so I will never get to touch the stuff again, and believe me I am SOOOOOO depressed (that was a joke BTW, LOL) but I am on the way to getting to shoot again