Sanitizers and Skin Care

[murmsk]

glove alergies

Another thing to consider is an allergy to latex. try nitril gloves.

[ChristianSA]

Have you considered that the gloves could be the problem? When they get moist all kinds of nasty fungii and mold will happily grow in there and hours of constant palm sweat may not be good for your skin either.

-Christian

[Bainbridge]

We're big fans of Atlas 620 Vinylove gloves. They are a staple of the commercial fishing and crabbing industry around here. Tough, fairly good dexterity, forearm length, chemical and heat resistant, and like $6 a pair so when they start to smell like you have caustic-scented feet for hands, you just trash them. You can get elbow length ones if you want, and you can get insulated ones for cold work. Plus some disposable nitrile gloves for anything that has to be sanitary and requires more dexterity and you're good to go.

[TGTimm]

Yep, Working Hands cream is a staple here--we buy the big container. After a day of working with caustic, alkaline soaps, and sanitizers, it really helps.

[Josh@HiddenSpgs]

thanks guys! I have made a strainer for my soaking buckets and have some "working hands" skin cream. these two things have helped quite a bit. Still trying to get my process and learn the "pro way" of doing things. Glad to have a place that I can turn to with these kind of questions and get great responses.

Cheers,

Josh

[Todd Hicks]

A past assistant brewer of mine had skin sensitivity. Good gloves, keep your hands out of the chems, and use a shea butter hand lotion when not working on tanks. I think a lot of the problem was with constant hand washing and chemical exposure leached out natural oils from the skin causing an uncomfortable rash.

Myself, I have leather hands and no feeling in my fingertips anymore. Work harder!

[Josh@HiddenSpgs]

Iodophor would be an option for a broad-spectrum sanitizer that's generally easy on the skin, provided you aren't allergic.

As you accumulate chemical soaking buckets, drill holes in the bottom of some so that you can use them as strainers and spare your hands. Until then, gloves.

Thanks for this. I will give this a shot. That would keep it out of my gloves for sure!

[a10t2]

Iodophor would be an option for a broad-spectrum sanitizer that's generally easy on the skin, provided you aren't allergic.

As you accumulate chemical soaking buckets, drill holes in the bottom of some so that you can use them as strainers and spare your hands. Until then, gloves.

[Mike Elliott]

Ppe!

New to the probrewing scene. Just opened our brewery 4 weeks ago. We are on our second turn and I am having some issues with my hands breaking out in red rash and than peeling pretty bad. I have been wearing gloves but some times the sani gets in the glove which then makes it worse. I am using 5 Star StarSan for our general sanitizing needs (bucket of sani with clamps and gaskets and fittings in it). Which is where I am getting the most exposure. What do you guys do to deal with this issue? Should I look for elbow long gloves? Is there a different sani I should use?

Help a brother out!

Josh

You should be wearing gloves. These are my favorite.

http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/Ansell_Sol_Vex_Nitrile_Gloves_Unlined_Size_10_18_L_12_Pair_Pk/EW-81603-60

PPE is less a suggestion, more a rule.

Also consider changing chemicals. You may be less sensitive to PAA.

Cheers!

[Josh@HiddenSpgs]

New to the probrewing scene. Just opened our brewery 4 weeks ago. We are on our second turn and I am having some issues with my hands breaking out in red rash and than peeling pretty bad. I have been wearing gloves but some times the sani gets in the glove which then makes it worse. I am using 5 Star StarSan for our general sanitizing needs (bucket of sani with clamps and gaskets and fittings in it). Which is where I am getting the most exposure. What do you guys do to deal with this issue? Should I look for elbow long gloves? Is there a different sani I should use?

Help a brother out!

Josh