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Cement finisher for 30 years why the blisters on the back of my hands

I have been in the construction business for 35 years a lot of that has been in concrete I have heard of concrete poison but have never seen anybody with it but, now I have blisters on the back of my hands the doctors know nothing ( imagine that need more money !) does anybody Know what is going in by the way this just started

Larry Nelson
journeyman - Spokane, Washington, USA
July 25, 2008

You absolutely need professional advise. This is not a forum dedicated to medicine or diseases. Most surely no one reading this post is a physician. Try searching viral, bacterial or fungus infections, allergic reactions, or dermathitis in your preferred search engine to educate yourself a little before going to the doctor again. Good luck. Guillermo Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
August 4, 2008

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August 28, 2008

I am a retired physician currently operating a metal refinishing and plating business.

It is very possible that the blisters are related to working with materials containing Portland cement. NIOSH has a pamphlet which contains very detailed information about skin conditions related to working with cement. You may view it here:

http://www.cdc.gov/eLCOSH/docs/d0200/d000281/d000281.html

I am reproducing the first portion of the pamphlet below, but I would read the entire pamphlet as it contains some practices you might use to prevent the dermatitis you have:

"This is for a worker who works with cement to take to his/her doctor.

Your patient is a construction worker with exposure to wet cement.

Construction workers are exposed to a number of chemicals known to cause irritant and allergic dermatitis. Portland cement, found in plaster and in concrete mixes, is extremely alkaline. Wet plaster also contains slaked lime, or calcium hydroxide, which is even more caustic than Portland cement.

Further, Portland cement contains trace amounts of hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is a strong sensitizing agent responsible for allergic dermatitis in cement workers around the world.


Other sensitizing agents include various epoxy adhesive [on eBay or Amazon]s and sealants in addition to various chemicals present in the admixtures used with cement and plaster.


Finally, construction workers may use products such as lanolin creams or lotions to soften their skin. Lanolin is a sensitizing agent. Some industrial hand cleaners contain limonene, also a sensitizing agent. The rubber in rubber gloves also may cause allergic dermatitis.

This pamphlet contains a partial listing of skin disorders, potential etiologic agents, and possible medical surveillance.

Please maintain this in your patient's file."

Robert L. Nelson, Maryland
- Carmel, Indiana, USA