Peeling Hand?

[shaun.reid]

Hi All

I find that after i dive often the skin on my hands peel off - I think it could be a reaction to my gloves but pretty unsure - anyone have the same problem and how did you fix it - i use pure cotten gloves at the moment but had the same problem with other material.

[sciencemike]

I see you holding a fish in your avatar. Are these the same gloves you use with fish? Some fish slime can cause your skin to slough off, im not sure if its an allergic reaction eczema or psoriasis. Is it both hands or just one? Is it the hand you hold the fish with? Does it happen more on the fingers than the palm? Does it start with little white blisters? Red Blisters? Whats the time like?
Also how long do you dive, it might just be a softening of the callous skin on your hands causing it to come off.
For example

Dive..
1h later redness in hands
2h later redness goes away Hands itch
24h Skin on tips of fingers and palm of hand gets white blister like bumps
36h Skin starts to pull off in small patches.
48h all gone

[shaun.reid]

Both hands are effected - the skin peels for 2 weeks from start to finish no itchy hands at all - no bumps just peels off - i was thinking it could be the bacteria in the gloves from holding fish? If i dive a short while or a long time - same result. Ihave used these gloves for years but has only been a recent problem. - so weard!!

[sciencemike]

Very strange symptoms. But weather or not its from bacteria, it definitely seems that the gloves are the cause.

Last question.. Is it just the palms that peel or does the back of the hands peel also. Namely is it an area that handles fish or the glove itself has an infection.

My guess seeing as there is no irritation is that it isnt a bacteria or other reaction of something attacking the skin. Instead its your own body removing its layer of skin in response to something. I have heard of certain types of mucous on fish, aka fish slime, causing similar reactions. If your glove palms have this in them, it would also be host to bacteria as well. So i would recommend getting some new gloves.

Or if you are really cheap, put one hand in the glove and the other not. then soak your hands in cold water for 30 minutes. See if one hand gets it and the other doesnt. This tells you its the gloves that are really doing it. And will be your future test as to whether or not your glove is clean.

Cleaning the gloves will be tough. But try killing bacteria if thats what you think it is. Dilute bleach would be your best bet here.

You can also try bactericidal soaps, and or long hot soaks in detergent to solubleize the sugars, if you think its a slime problem.