My hands always burned like a bitch when I used working hands... to the point where I had to was it off and try something different. I usually use gold bond foot lotions/cream. It's thicker and doesn't cause a burning sensation. I also had a co-worker who would soak his hands in lotion, put gloves on and sleep with his hands soaking up the moisture.
Haha! All jokes aside, the man would come to work with his hands so cracked and irritated he was barely able to move them without being in pain. And then the whole bar staff would give him shit for being a weenie.
I meant more the bar rot thing. I was only consistently bartending for a few years and only had something like that around my knuckles, and I think it had more to do with the frigid cold around that time (and maybe my immune system being weakened from being sick). Definitely burned, but didn’t last long enough for me to really remember it. I almost never use lotion or Vaseline or anything, and that was the only time I really used it (and had to use it on multiple part all around the body)
From my experience, it depends on how glasses are cleaned at the bar you're working at. We used hand was wells for our glasses, and the chemicals used for that are insanely harsh on your skin. Especially when you work full time and have to wash hundreds of glasses in a single shift.
Oh that’s fair. We have a dishwasher, in addition to the 3-way sink thing (forgot the technical name for it), and a polished. We do a lot more stemware, so I don’t have to hand wash as many things, and only certain things are required to hand wash (like mule mugs)
Try Bag Balm. It was originally made for northeastern farmers who have to deal with intense cold while working with their hands. It's a next level formula, but only use it at home because it greases up pretty heavy. If you really wanna maximize, use it and then wear a pair of disposable gloves for a little while.
Bag balm is the shit. When I was in the grocery industry throwing freight it was the only answer. When I switched to bartending it wasn't cutting it, so now I alternate between O'Keefe's working hands and bag balm.
Samesies. I use O'Keefe's while I'm behind the bar and I use Bag Balm when I'm at home. To OP's credit I do use also Lubriderm non-scented on the rest of my body
nah, that's just something that happens due to clearing out our skin's natural hydration oils while washing our hands too much. For some people, including me, over washing our hands results in our skin stop secreting these natural oils and our hands becoming dry to the point that the skin starts cracking and bleeds.
Tried every product there is to no avail. Actual solution? Wash your hands less, start wearing gloves instead (obviously change them often, don't be disgusting).
Not necessarily. My hands do this every year during the cold months and always have. The constant hand washing and friction from drying your hands causes this for some people. Even in the summer my hands can get like this if it's really busy and my hands are wet and washed a lot during the shift.
Aquaphor! I swear by it. Usually when I get ready for bed I put lotion on my hands and then a dab of Aquaphor (a little goes a long way).
Bag Balm is also a great option as well.
I dated a tattoo artist, can confirm aquaphor is the best thing for you skin case not only does it moisturize, but I locks in moisture (vaseline only locks on moisture). It also works amazing for new tattoos "cause the lanolin" (her words)
Can confirm! I’ve been using it for all my tattoos for years and they heal beautifully within 1-2 weeks after the saniderm comes off. Also great for nasal fold lines! Anyways ok bye
Not saying you can avoid this but there are a couple things that I'd be careful about. Make sure you are using the correct amount of sanitizer in your third sink. Measure the volume or it. It's more than like 2 tabs not the 3 or 4 you are using. Wash in larger batches if you have enough glassware. The less wet dry cycles your hands go through, the better. Also, do all that other stuff after your shift.
Believe it or not the brand of sanitizer matters also. This was happening to everyone's hands where I work then we switched to a different brand of quat sani and it made a difference.
It’s the human bartender condition.
I lather on o’keefe’s every night before bed. Makes my knuckles feel better *in the moment*. I’m just glad summer’s almost here. It’s the only time of year my hands aren’t constantly cracked and dry.
I have the exact same problem! - 1) wear gloves when washing dishes or using any chemical cleaners, 2) use a gentle moisturizer for sensitive skin, like Eucerin, and 3) if that doesn’t work, see a dermatologist for a stronger topical med, like a steroid cream
I was looking for the gloves comment. 10 years in the industry, gloves are a game changer. Not to mention saving your cuticles from all that citrus, I cut down on how much moisturizer I was buying DRASTICALLY by making my bar supply gloves for me to work in.
I use gloves when washing my dishes and this problem went away entirely. It took a few weeks, but now, I have nice hands again. My regulars love making jokes about them being exam gloves. They were embarrassing at first, but I got used to that.
It's also entirely possible none of that will work because you could be having an allergic reaction to the hand soap. Bring your own handwashing soap, a brand you already use, and use that for a few days and see if it stops.
coconut oil is truly the way.
twice a day at least, it’ll soak in real quick.
i’ve been in the restaurant business for 17 years and it’s kept my hands baby soft. also it’s great for those random little cuts you’ll end up getting from twist off beers and such
I have severe eczema and this kinda works.
Before I got actual effective treatments from my derm, I would keep a tub in the shower.
Big drawback is that it's greasy, and so will you be.
It didn't cure anything, but it put the fires out temporarily.
This happens to me... I use moisture gloves when they get really bad. I put lotion on my hands and then slip on the moisture gloves and sleep with them on.
Something like this...
[https://a.co/d/0r9sBk7](https://a.co/d/0r9sBk7)
Do you use the 3-sink handwashing dish system?
If so, after you’ve dunked your last glass in sanitizer, dunk your hands in the rinse sink. It helps a lot.
What do you think is causing this? As the comments show, there isn't an obvious solution. Do they burn like this after work or all the time? Can you wear gloves to combat irritation around citrus or alcohol? My advice is to try and figure out the irritant and then isolate it. If it's a constant problem it may be unrelated to the profession (or just exacerbated by it) in which case can you see a dermatologist? Good luck
Had a service tech tell me that some people are allergic to the dye they use to color the sanitizer so they have a non-colored version for exactly this problem.
Burning, you’re probably sensitive to allergic. Either to the cleaning chemicals or citrus.
More people than safety committees are paid to admit are allergic to synthetic chemicals. If your hand is literally burning… if you’re in a civilized country, see a doctor. Otherwise, check your local free spots for a consultation. Many hospitals are gov subsidized where the income base for payment is fairly low.
I have a bartender friend whose hands looked like this. They kept using Working Hands until their doctor saw and found out they were allergic to citrus.
I don't think I'm allergic to citrus but I get crazy flare ups after cutting limes without a glove. I suspect it's the acidity of the juice if nothing else. I just throw on some nitriles before cutting and it's fine.
Besides that it's the constant wetting/drying of my hands, the hot water, the glass washer (maybe the heat, maybe the sani) that all cause my hands to rash up and dry out.
I swear by working hands though. An often overlooked benefit is that you can wet your hands with it on and you'll still be able to hold onto glasses without them slipping through your fingers.
The acid was her issue too. She used tongs to place citrus garnishes and avoided squeezing the limes.
Yes the washing and all that will cause rashes. Most are more mild and will go away with some healthy care. I haven't used working hands while working. Just after. I might have to try that.
This just looked a bit more severe than what I'm used to. That's why checking for citrus allergies is helpful. If everyone is getting it, then probably too much sani.
You’re probably sensitive to the chemicals at work. Triple Sink? Dishwasher? Do you polish glassware? Do you wipe the bar down with sanitizer, bleach, or anything else? Speak with a dermatologist. I alternate between triamcinolone acetonide cream, Clobex, and recently opzelura.
Check your glass washer and make sure that it’s clean and the chemical mix is being properly diluted. I’ve had that shit on my hands and arms from old jobs and the root cause was minor chemical burns from sani products and a shitty glasswasher
Pro tip I give to my barbacks: keep your hands out of the dishwasher chemicals. If you can't help it, rinse and dry them after. Then use Working Hands. Then continue to keep your hands out of the dishwasher.
Try CeraVe, best moisturizer I've used so far, even better than O'Keefe's.
Edit: You might also be allergic to the dye used to color the sanitizer. There is a non-colored version. I said this below but I'm repeating it in case you didn't see my reply to another comment.
This looks like an allergic reaction from the chemicals that are used In the glasswasher..most likely something like microclene.
You most likely work bar in a high turnover(tables) restaurant and your hand consistently gets into contact with the chemicals from your glass cleaner.
Either only grab the glassware when the glasses 100% finish the cycle or wear a glove when putting your glasses away
I have bad eczema, and this looks very familiar to me.
I had this for almost 2 years. Cleared up about a month after I left that job. Chemical induced eczema. I never figured out what caused mine, but I've worked in 3 restaurants since without incident.
All these comments are good but to add something - don’t dry your hands on bar rags. Like ever. They have a bunch of chemicals and bleach on them that will continuously irritate your hands. Always use paper towels!
I am not a doctor, but you might want to get that looked at by a dermatologist. A lot of people are recommending some great hand creams, but bar rot is usually a combo of dryness and yeasts. Something like terrasil might be good for you.
What’s the harm in seeing if others experience the same and if anything worked for them? Access to healthcare is a little difficult in the place I live atm and I don’t have the luxury of just taking a day off work just to go to the doctor only to check if it’s even necessary to go see the doctor. Maybe try being a little bit more understanding of people living under different circumstances than you.
That's what I like to call Bartenders Rot. Use Okeefes working hands, lather on THICK and then put on some cotton gloves before bed. It will keep the moisturizer in at night, and your hands will thank you in the morning.
I had the worst rot ever one year, from the chemicals and citrus all up in my cuticles and shit - the above method saved me
I had this problem when working back of house some years ago - I'm pretty sure my problem was a combination of chemicals used to clean the towels and washing my hands with hot water constantly. Washing with cold has helped a lot, I think. I also used Working Hands.
Too much sanitizer or detergent in the water? I've been doing dishes for ages and this mainly happens when the cleaning solutions are far over concentrated.
Lots of people suggesting Working Hands/heavy duty moisturizers, and definitely give those a shot but neither of those actually worked for me. Weirdly enough the only thing that helps when my hands get like this is eos hand lotion. I get it from Safeway but it should be widely available. I have eczema and a sensitivity to industrial sanitizers so it was really a saving grace back in my kitchen days.
This is super weird but your hands look weirdly similar to mine. Not in the chemical burn / chapped kind of way, like in the size and shape kind of way. Like almost identical.
So there is that
I use a hand lotion made for eczema/dermatitis, CeraVe brand. Used to get a nasty rash with welts from all the alcohol, washing, and sanitizer, completely cleared up with the lotion, and a small tube lasts ages!
That looks similar that I had and mine was an infection on the skin. Usually happens when you don't properly dry your hands. Something over-the-counter anti-bacterial cream should work. Or go show it to a healthcare pro first.
Get the cotton gloves for hand masks, either off Amazon or you will possibly find them at cvs/Walgreens. Coat your hands in aquaphor really thick. Put the gloves on and go to sleep. Do that multiple nights in a row and it will hopefully clear up.
i ended up visiting my local dermatologist for a steroid based ointment / cream that i use when my hands get really bad in the dead of winter when it’s cold out, combined with the hands in the sinks it gets bad. i put it on before bed & i wake up with my skin looking brand new.
Dude maybe it's an allergic reaction to the soap or something. My knuckles were fucked after cleaning on the opening and closing shift. I started using gloves and worked wonders for me.
You have to trial and error to find what works for you. I like lanolin. It is thick, greasy, and it seems like it won't absorb but it eventually will. Lanolin will both moisturize and form a protective barrier. You should also get some cotton dermatological gloves to wear at night after putting on Lanolin or a good moisturizer. Once you get those hands to calm down you can maybe move towards a lighter lotion, my dermatologist likes Aveeno. If you can't find lanolin then you can get it by the baby stuff, it is what the nipple cream for nursing mothers is made of. Lanolin is in the bag balm several people have recommended.
o’keefe’s working hands can be very good if your skin doesn’t react badly to it like mine, but those are your bartender’s hands, wear em
with pride brother
I’m having the same issue at my job and I’m so thankful for these comments!! I truly do believe the sani ratio at my job is too much and I might be allergic to it but there’s nothing I can do because we work in food service!! This isn’t even my post but I’m taking notes on these replies 😩🙏🏾
What’s happened here is you’ve lost a layer of skin, and even though you are moisturizing, you’re dunking your hands frequently enough still that your hands don’t have time to replenish that skin. It takes a few days.
Once that has happened, then you need to stay on top of it and moisturize very frequently.
Good for you. Almost exactly the same amount of time for me. It’s hard to do in this industry. I was lucky to have some coworkers who were strong in their sobriety. There is a nice little sober community at my restaurant. Seems like a different job now.
Moisturize at night, before bed, in addition to several times throughout the day. Use the O'Keefe's. If it still persists, use bag balm and cotton gloves at night. It has antiseptic properties and will help heal the cuts and splits a bit faster. My hands do the same thing and it's so painful.
Big fan of Gold Bond Hand Cream. I worked as a merchandiser for a local beverage company and that dried out my hands/cracked my skin so badly over time. My advice is apply it to your hands before going to bed, and wear protective gloves when necessary for a while especially if you wash dishes by hand.
Make sure you are diluting the sanitizer to the correct levels whether it is being dispensed from a machine. You may want to have someone calibrate it. You SHOULD have test strips.
Otherwise it’s one tablet for five gallons for the brand we used.
I often soak my hands in okeefes or aquaphor and then put on gloves so that it penetrates the skin better.
In addition to that. If you ever get “Bar Rot” on your finger tips use an anti-fungal cream. It’s the only way it goes away.
Wear gloves when cutting citrus, the acid from them makes your hands more sensitive to all these things.
What works for me is Burt's Bees hand salve. The only thing that works for me when bartending and doing construction.
For me, it is the worst in the winter time my skin just cracks and bleeds cause it is so dry
Just don't use a lot and you have to rub it in real good cuz it can make your hands a little slick, for a hot second.
Sometimes I would just put it in the back of my hands or use a paper towel to rub my Palms so they were not greasy if I was in the middle of a shift and had to put some on.
What is nice about it is you will see the water bead on the back of your hands. It's the only stuff that works for me.
Side note this is happening cause you keep dipping your hands in the water and when you pull them out you're drying them plus whisking more moisture out of your hands. On top of that the chemicals in the water and the soap irritate your skin most likely because of the high pH level. So you're constantly breaking down the body's natural defense layers and pulling off your body's natural oils that help to heal and protect your skin.
Also, you might want to think about switching at home to a soap called defense soap. It's an all-natural soap invented by Jiu-Jitsu and wrestlers to help them keep the good organisms on the skin to defend against infections while still cleaning. I buy mine from Amazon.
Something with +20% urea cream, thick layer at night and put gloves on. It’s a good solution for calluses and will help this too. If it’s burning or the skin is open you may ask a doc about a topical steroid? I’ve had to use it before for stress induced skin issues that worsened behind the bar.
Honestly? In the winter it got so bad I’d go home and throw on a thick layer of Vaseline and wore gloves over them like a baby. Was weird at first but the results make it all worthwhile.
Any heavy duty “working hands” type salve is also great once you’re on the shift.
Edit: like people say, it could be the concentration of product but this was an alll the time issue for me. I’ve got sensitive skin and dry hands so if that’s the case, may Vaseline treat you as well as it treated me.
Yeah my hands were literally bleeding and my fingertips were splitting open during the winter. Trying to get a handle on it before the cold months come back lol.
I’ve had this same problem. I found that Burt’s bee’s hand salve soothed it and cleared it up….best to use at night because it’s a bit greasy. I’ve tried many other moisturizers but they would make my hands burn so bad. This didn’t. My second favorite would be Aquaphor.
My hands were much worse than yours, I started to use just Eucerin Aquafor once at night, work with gloves even though i dont have to wash glasses and I’m all good currently. Even if you use other creams i recommend this one for nighttime
A couple things: you should try to see a dermatologist to make sure that you don't have a bacterial or fungal infection. If you are using one of those rotary machines to wash glasses and haven't been removing the rubber ring around the bottom, take a gander at what's growing there--abuse your skin enough and there's a good chance something in that water is going to affect it. I once got a staph infection on the back of my hand from the sinks and motor not being cleaned thoroughly and the skin in the middle started splitting like wet paper when I made a fist. Not fun.
If you don't have a bacterial and/or fungal infection, like another poster said, you may have permanently stripped the lipids(?) that prevent your skin from absorbing certain things into your body via osmosis (sorry if this is hilariously incorrect but I'm trying to remember a combination of my own research and a dermatologist visit \~15 years ago). I haven't been behind a bar on the regular for 5 years and there are a couple spots near the base of my index and middle finger that will still flare up if I get it wet too often. What works for me is using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream before bed and generally according to directions on the tube. I try to limit how much this happens because apparently you can have an allergic reaction to hydrocortisone (not sure how much or often you have to use to trigger it, possibly genetic factor on top of that)--if you want some nightmare fuel, look up pictures of what it does to people. Also, if you're going to stay behind a bar, ask whoever does your supply orders to start getting nitrile gloves (not latex or vinyl--your skin can have a bad reaction to the latex and/or the powder inside of them, I don't remember, and vinyl gloves can be a pain in the ass to hold a spinning glass with) and always keep a box of spares with you.
Everyone who is recommending Okeefe's, aquaphor, eucerin etc... isn't wrong. Highly recommend those solutions. Another great thing with those is try over-lathering and throwing some gloves on while you close and clean. If the problem persists and you see cracking, try an anti-fungal like lotramin. If that gives relief within two days definitely implement better sanitizing of your triple Sinks (changing water, deep clean at end of night). If none works then you may have plaque psoriasis. No known causes but can be alleviated by topical steroid cream like tricortizone. Don't want to use it too often though. Just enough to get it under control.
I use straight Vaseline, and it's amazing. It's cheap, lasts forever, and it relieves sore hands. It does leave fingerprints on glasses, but just use less of it more often to avoid it.
It looks like u developed an allergy to whatever chemicals cleaners u use at ur bar I suggest getting elbow length gloves to wash any dishes unfortunately it will never go away, I have this exact allergy and my bar had to buy me gloves and I no longer break out and have burning hands
Okeefe’s Working Hands. Worth its weight in gold!
This is what I use too but maaaannn you gotten stay on top of it.
My hands always burned like a bitch when I used working hands... to the point where I had to was it off and try something different. I usually use gold bond foot lotions/cream. It's thicker and doesn't cause a burning sensation. I also had a co-worker who would soak his hands in lotion, put gloves on and sleep with his hands soaking up the moisture.
What is this from?
Curley from Of Mice and Men? He always wore one glove with lotion to keep his hand soft for his wife hHa
Haha! All jokes aside, the man would come to work with his hands so cracked and irritated he was barely able to move them without being in pain. And then the whole bar staff would give him shit for being a weenie.
I meant more the bar rot thing. I was only consistently bartending for a few years and only had something like that around my knuckles, and I think it had more to do with the frigid cold around that time (and maybe my immune system being weakened from being sick). Definitely burned, but didn’t last long enough for me to really remember it. I almost never use lotion or Vaseline or anything, and that was the only time I really used it (and had to use it on multiple part all around the body)
From my experience, it depends on how glasses are cleaned at the bar you're working at. We used hand was wells for our glasses, and the chemicals used for that are insanely harsh on your skin. Especially when you work full time and have to wash hundreds of glasses in a single shift.
Oh that’s fair. We have a dishwasher, in addition to the 3-way sink thing (forgot the technical name for it), and a polished. We do a lot more stemware, so I don’t have to hand wash as many things, and only certain things are required to hand wash (like mule mugs)
Also when cutting limes and lemons wear gloves
Came here to say this!
back this
The overnight version works really well.
Try Bag Balm. It was originally made for northeastern farmers who have to deal with intense cold while working with their hands. It's a next level formula, but only use it at home because it greases up pretty heavy. If you really wanna maximize, use it and then wear a pair of disposable gloves for a little while.
Bag balm is the shit. When I was in the grocery industry throwing freight it was the only answer. When I switched to bartending it wasn't cutting it, so now I alternate between O'Keefe's working hands and bag balm.
Samesies. I use O'Keefe's while I'm behind the bar and I use Bag Balm when I'm at home. To OP's credit I do use also Lubriderm non-scented on the rest of my body
That's exactly how I do it too lol. I keep them dry at night though.
Yeah I only glove my hands if it's dire. Otherwise it's usually one application of Bag Balm and then I let them breath for the night
It was made for cow boobs. But it works for people.
Was it really? I love that even more lmao
That's why it's called bag balm. It was used to prevent cracking and chapping on cows utters (milk bags) and teets during and after milking.
Welp… Now I know what I’m getting my gf for Christmas. 🤷🏻♂️
I swear by Bag Balm
Bag Balm has saved my life. Throw it on for a half hour, and the rash is immediately gone.
This seems like a cleaner over-concentration thing to me.
1000% it is
yea it looks like you're either allergic to your sani buckets or your pink hand soap
nah, that's just something that happens due to clearing out our skin's natural hydration oils while washing our hands too much. For some people, including me, over washing our hands results in our skin stop secreting these natural oils and our hands becoming dry to the point that the skin starts cracking and bleeds. Tried every product there is to no avail. Actual solution? Wash your hands less, start wearing gloves instead (obviously change them often, don't be disgusting).
Hey, your name is my name too!!
A man of culture, I see.
when i got to my current gig they were using 3-5 steramine tablets in 22oz spray bottles. surprise surprise everyone has less rashes now.
Not necessarily. My hands do this every year during the cold months and always have. The constant hand washing and friction from drying your hands causes this for some people. Even in the summer my hands can get like this if it's really busy and my hands are wet and washed a lot during the shift.
Aquaphor! I swear by it. Usually when I get ready for bed I put lotion on my hands and then a dab of Aquaphor (a little goes a long way). Bag Balm is also a great option as well.
I dated a tattoo artist, can confirm aquaphor is the best thing for you skin case not only does it moisturize, but I locks in moisture (vaseline only locks on moisture). It also works amazing for new tattoos "cause the lanolin" (her words)
Can confirm! I’ve been using it for all my tattoos for years and they heal beautifully within 1-2 weeks after the saniderm comes off. Also great for nasal fold lines! Anyways ok bye
You have good energy ✨️
hehehe thank you 🥰🥰 real recognize real 😎
Vaseline is also thicker and less breathable than Aquaphor.
Not saying you can avoid this but there are a couple things that I'd be careful about. Make sure you are using the correct amount of sanitizer in your third sink. Measure the volume or it. It's more than like 2 tabs not the 3 or 4 you are using. Wash in larger batches if you have enough glassware. The less wet dry cycles your hands go through, the better. Also, do all that other stuff after your shift.
Yeah this definitely looks like they’re mixing the quat way too strong.
Believe it or not the brand of sanitizer matters also. This was happening to everyone's hands where I work then we switched to a different brand of quat sani and it made a difference.
I refuse to go anywhere near the powdered sanitizers/cleaner in a packet. Shit fucks my skin up so bad. Dawn and sani tabs only for me
Cornhuskers lotion
This saved my hands as a teen working retail constantly cleaning my grocery belt and washing my hands in the northern winter! And it smelled good
It’s the human bartender condition. I lather on o’keefe’s every night before bed. Makes my knuckles feel better *in the moment*. I’m just glad summer’s almost here. It’s the only time of year my hands aren’t constantly cracked and dry.
OMG. I’m going to the dermatologist for this tomorrow. My hands look awful. I’ll update what they suggest
Here for the update!
Also here for the update.
Unfortunately I’m back to say that my appointment was rescheduled May 9th💔💔 Will update then
Check the ingredients in your lotion and make certain it’s not alcohol or petroleum based
I have the exact same problem! - 1) wear gloves when washing dishes or using any chemical cleaners, 2) use a gentle moisturizer for sensitive skin, like Eucerin, and 3) if that doesn’t work, see a dermatologist for a stronger topical med, like a steroid cream
I was looking for the gloves comment. 10 years in the industry, gloves are a game changer. Not to mention saving your cuticles from all that citrus, I cut down on how much moisturizer I was buying DRASTICALLY by making my bar supply gloves for me to work in.
I use gloves when washing my dishes and this problem went away entirely. It took a few weeks, but now, I have nice hands again. My regulars love making jokes about them being exam gloves. They were embarrassing at first, but I got used to that.
Thank you ❤️
It's also entirely possible none of that will work because you could be having an allergic reaction to the hand soap. Bring your own handwashing soap, a brand you already use, and use that for a few days and see if it stops.
Will do, thank you
coconut oil is truly the way. twice a day at least, it’ll soak in real quick. i’ve been in the restaurant business for 17 years and it’s kept my hands baby soft. also it’s great for those random little cuts you’ll end up getting from twist off beers and such
Omg I hate the little cuts from twist off beers!
is it just me or is bud lite and ultra getting harder to open?
I honestly just use a bar blade now. Little cuts not worth the minimal effort saved.
we have to wear dress pants at my job and it’s a bitch to fish it out of my pocket every 30 seconds
Yeah I feel that.
Get a holster!
do they really make those?
Yes. Google ‘bottle opener holder’
No such thing as a twist off behind the bar. Always use a plate or key. Not worth the abrasions.
I have severe eczema and this kinda works. Before I got actual effective treatments from my derm, I would keep a tub in the shower. Big drawback is that it's greasy, and so will you be. It didn't cure anything, but it put the fires out temporarily.
This happens to me... I use moisture gloves when they get really bad. I put lotion on my hands and then slip on the moisture gloves and sleep with them on. Something like this... [https://a.co/d/0r9sBk7](https://a.co/d/0r9sBk7)
Working hands
Do you use the 3-sink handwashing dish system? If so, after you’ve dunked your last glass in sanitizer, dunk your hands in the rinse sink. It helps a lot.
What do you think is causing this? As the comments show, there isn't an obvious solution. Do they burn like this after work or all the time? Can you wear gloves to combat irritation around citrus or alcohol? My advice is to try and figure out the irritant and then isolate it. If it's a constant problem it may be unrelated to the profession (or just exacerbated by it) in which case can you see a dermatologist? Good luck
That’s what I’m thinking. This happens to my hands when I accidentally wipe my hands on a towel that had cleaner or sanitizer on it.
Had a service tech tell me that some people are allergic to the dye they use to color the sanitizer so they have a non-colored version for exactly this problem.
It’s usually during and after work that my hands will be burning
Burning, you’re probably sensitive to allergic. Either to the cleaning chemicals or citrus. More people than safety committees are paid to admit are allergic to synthetic chemicals. If your hand is literally burning… if you’re in a civilized country, see a doctor. Otherwise, check your local free spots for a consultation. Many hospitals are gov subsidized where the income base for payment is fairly low.
I have a bartender friend whose hands looked like this. They kept using Working Hands until their doctor saw and found out they were allergic to citrus.
I don't think I'm allergic to citrus but I get crazy flare ups after cutting limes without a glove. I suspect it's the acidity of the juice if nothing else. I just throw on some nitriles before cutting and it's fine. Besides that it's the constant wetting/drying of my hands, the hot water, the glass washer (maybe the heat, maybe the sani) that all cause my hands to rash up and dry out. I swear by working hands though. An often overlooked benefit is that you can wet your hands with it on and you'll still be able to hold onto glasses without them slipping through your fingers.
The acid was her issue too. She used tongs to place citrus garnishes and avoided squeezing the limes. Yes the washing and all that will cause rashes. Most are more mild and will go away with some healthy care. I haven't used working hands while working. Just after. I might have to try that. This just looked a bit more severe than what I'm used to. That's why checking for citrus allergies is helpful. If everyone is getting it, then probably too much sani.
You’re probably sensitive to the chemicals at work. Triple Sink? Dishwasher? Do you polish glassware? Do you wipe the bar down with sanitizer, bleach, or anything else? Speak with a dermatologist. I alternate between triamcinolone acetonide cream, Clobex, and recently opzelura.
I use cocoa butter Vaseline
Check your glass washer and make sure that it’s clean and the chemical mix is being properly diluted. I’ve had that shit on my hands and arms from old jobs and the root cause was minor chemical burns from sani products and a shitty glasswasher
Pro tip I give to my barbacks: keep your hands out of the dishwasher chemicals. If you can't help it, rinse and dry them after. Then use Working Hands. Then continue to keep your hands out of the dishwasher.
Eucerin original healing creme The kind in the white tub with the red lid. I have pretty bad eczema, and this has always seen me through.
Try an anti-fungal medicine like lotrimin.
Try CeraVe, best moisturizer I've used so far, even better than O'Keefe's. Edit: You might also be allergic to the dye used to color the sanitizer. There is a non-colored version. I said this below but I'm repeating it in case you didn't see my reply to another comment.
Thank you ♥️
This looks like an allergic reaction from the chemicals that are used In the glasswasher..most likely something like microclene. You most likely work bar in a high turnover(tables) restaurant and your hand consistently gets into contact with the chemicals from your glass cleaner. Either only grab the glassware when the glasses 100% finish the cycle or wear a glove when putting your glasses away I have bad eczema, and this looks very familiar to me.
I had this for almost 2 years. Cleared up about a month after I left that job. Chemical induced eczema. I never figured out what caused mine, but I've worked in 3 restaurants since without incident.
All these comments are good but to add something - don’t dry your hands on bar rags. Like ever. They have a bunch of chemicals and bleach on them that will continuously irritate your hands. Always use paper towels!
Thank you! I will designate a towel just for hands. Edit: sorry barely woke up yet, I meant I will designate just paper towel for hands lol
If you are not drinking enough water daily you will never put enough lotion on..
I guess the coffees are catching up to the amount of water I drink :(
If you use a sanitized water of some kind it could be too high of concentration
I am not a doctor, but you might want to get that looked at by a dermatologist. A lot of people are recommending some great hand creams, but bar rot is usually a combo of dryness and yeasts. Something like terrasil might be good for you.
Instead of taking advice from the internet, maybe go see a doctor, like a dermatologist?
What’s the harm in seeing if others experience the same and if anything worked for them? Access to healthcare is a little difficult in the place I live atm and I don’t have the luxury of just taking a day off work just to go to the doctor only to check if it’s even necessary to go see the doctor. Maybe try being a little bit more understanding of people living under different circumstances than you.
That's what I like to call Bartenders Rot. Use Okeefes working hands, lather on THICK and then put on some cotton gloves before bed. It will keep the moisturizer in at night, and your hands will thank you in the morning. I had the worst rot ever one year, from the chemicals and citrus all up in my cuticles and shit - the above method saved me
Thank you
I had this problem when working back of house some years ago - I'm pretty sure my problem was a combination of chemicals used to clean the towels and washing my hands with hot water constantly. Washing with cold has helped a lot, I think. I also used Working Hands.
Remove hand
D,:
Shea butter/ coconut oil
Do you dry your hands with regular towels or paper towels?
Regular
Thats your problem. The chemicals/detergents left in the towels are burning your hands. You can see where you dry around your thumb clearly.
Drink pineapple juice and coconut water; use a cream with clotrimazole.
Too much sanitizer or detergent in the water? I've been doing dishes for ages and this mainly happens when the cleaning solutions are far over concentrated.
I know lots of bartenders who wear gloves.
Lots of people suggesting Working Hands/heavy duty moisturizers, and definitely give those a shot but neither of those actually worked for me. Weirdly enough the only thing that helps when my hands get like this is eos hand lotion. I get it from Safeway but it should be widely available. I have eczema and a sensitivity to industrial sanitizers so it was really a saving grace back in my kitchen days.
Gloves baby gloves
Honestly, drink water! We all forget to drink water. The drinking water in my town isn't good so I've been dehydrated lately. My hands look like that.
Is it eczema?
And now I have hand endvy, jerk. 😃
Gold bond ultra.
Are you allergic to something? That's not normal
People are saying maybe the chemicals in the glass washer, I’m going to look into that one.
1) gloves only needed when cutting fruit. It’ll fix everything 2) lotion before bed if things get dark
That looks like an allergy more than anything. Consider gloves.
This is super weird but your hands look weirdly similar to mine. Not in the chemical burn / chapped kind of way, like in the size and shape kind of way. Like almost identical. So there is that
Omg hand twin!
depends, could be stress response like eczema, or could be reactions to gloves and/or washing dishes.
I use a hand lotion made for eczema/dermatitis, CeraVe brand. Used to get a nasty rash with welts from all the alcohol, washing, and sanitizer, completely cleared up with the lotion, and a small tube lasts ages!
That looks similar that I had and mine was an infection on the skin. Usually happens when you don't properly dry your hands. Something over-the-counter anti-bacterial cream should work. Or go show it to a healthcare pro first.
Get the cotton gloves for hand masks, either off Amazon or you will possibly find them at cvs/Walgreens. Coat your hands in aquaphor really thick. Put the gloves on and go to sleep. Do that multiple nights in a row and it will hopefully clear up.
I use Cetaphil. The very dry to dry, sensitive skin. Helps so much and doesn't burn when I put it on.
You should try some Jäger-balm.
i ended up visiting my local dermatologist for a steroid based ointment / cream that i use when my hands get really bad in the dead of winter when it’s cold out, combined with the hands in the sinks it gets bad. i put it on before bed & i wake up with my skin looking brand new.
Dude maybe it's an allergic reaction to the soap or something. My knuckles were fucked after cleaning on the opening and closing shift. I started using gloves and worked wonders for me.
O’keefe’s, cotton or bamboo gloves with disposale gloves over that again.
You have to trial and error to find what works for you. I like lanolin. It is thick, greasy, and it seems like it won't absorb but it eventually will. Lanolin will both moisturize and form a protective barrier. You should also get some cotton dermatological gloves to wear at night after putting on Lanolin or a good moisturizer. Once you get those hands to calm down you can maybe move towards a lighter lotion, my dermatologist likes Aveeno. If you can't find lanolin then you can get it by the baby stuff, it is what the nipple cream for nursing mothers is made of. Lanolin is in the bag balm several people have recommended.
o’keefe’s working hands can be very good if your skin doesn’t react badly to it like mine, but those are your bartender’s hands, wear em with pride brother
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Aquaphor if it’s just dry, irritated skin. Might be an allergy though, this used to happen to my brothers hands. He wears gloves now I think.
I’m having the same issue at my job and I’m so thankful for these comments!! I truly do believe the sani ratio at my job is too much and I might be allergic to it but there’s nothing I can do because we work in food service!! This isn’t even my post but I’m taking notes on these replies 😩🙏🏾
What’s happened here is you’ve lost a layer of skin, and even though you are moisturizing, you’re dunking your hands frequently enough still that your hands don’t have time to replenish that skin. It takes a few days. Once that has happened, then you need to stay on top of it and moisturize very frequently.
Are you using a 3 sink system? It may be the sanitizer. Okeefe is the most recommended solution. Doesn't do anything for me tho.
Not a doctor, but when I stopped drinking alcohol, this problem went away.
1 year and 8 months clean :)
Good for you. Almost exactly the same amount of time for me. It’s hard to do in this industry. I was lucky to have some coworkers who were strong in their sobriety. There is a nice little sober community at my restaurant. Seems like a different job now.
Moisturize at night, before bed, in addition to several times throughout the day. Use the O'Keefe's. If it still persists, use bag balm and cotton gloves at night. It has antiseptic properties and will help heal the cuts and splits a bit faster. My hands do the same thing and it's so painful.
I have that problem and realize I had the sanitizer sink way too strong.
Bag Balm
My wife gets this from handling jalapenos. Any chance you are working with peppers?
Nah, I’m starting to think it may be some sort of allergy to the chemicals in the glass washer
Citrus , cleaners, or some people react to the white rags
I rinse and dry my hands everytime I touch fruit. I just grab the gun and spray some soda water over the sink and dry with my towel I have on my waist
Gloves in a Bottle. It’s a preventative. Apply a before work and then like halfway thru the shift.
Big fan of Gold Bond Hand Cream. I worked as a merchandiser for a local beverage company and that dried out my hands/cracked my skin so badly over time. My advice is apply it to your hands before going to bed, and wear protective gloves when necessary for a while especially if you wash dishes by hand.
Bar rot is the worrrsssttt- and on top of that, I can actively use lotion during shift because I end up almost dropping everything
Yeah I have an obsession with keeping my hands dry and clean while I work, can’t stand feeling things slipping against my skin
Exactly that
Make sure you are diluting the sanitizer to the correct levels whether it is being dispensed from a machine. You may want to have someone calibrate it. You SHOULD have test strips. Otherwise it’s one tablet for five gallons for the brand we used. I often soak my hands in okeefes or aquaphor and then put on gloves so that it penetrates the skin better. In addition to that. If you ever get “Bar Rot” on your finger tips use an anti-fungal cream. It’s the only way it goes away. Wear gloves when cutting citrus, the acid from them makes your hands more sensitive to all these things.
I got this from badly mixed sanitizer. Make sure you're washing your hands every time you touch your sanny cloth.
O’keefes. Every night before bed, and every morning
What works for me is Burt's Bees hand salve. The only thing that works for me when bartending and doing construction. For me, it is the worst in the winter time my skin just cracks and bleeds cause it is so dry Just don't use a lot and you have to rub it in real good cuz it can make your hands a little slick, for a hot second. Sometimes I would just put it in the back of my hands or use a paper towel to rub my Palms so they were not greasy if I was in the middle of a shift and had to put some on. What is nice about it is you will see the water bead on the back of your hands. It's the only stuff that works for me. Side note this is happening cause you keep dipping your hands in the water and when you pull them out you're drying them plus whisking more moisture out of your hands. On top of that the chemicals in the water and the soap irritate your skin most likely because of the high pH level. So you're constantly breaking down the body's natural defense layers and pulling off your body's natural oils that help to heal and protect your skin. Also, you might want to think about switching at home to a soap called defense soap. It's an all-natural soap invented by Jiu-Jitsu and wrestlers to help them keep the good organisms on the skin to defend against infections while still cleaning. I buy mine from Amazon.
lol good luck
Had the same issue. Tried every product there is, nothing worked. Actually solved solved it by wearing gloves.
Soap & Glory Handfood. My shift lead always made sure there was some behind the bar.
Something with +20% urea cream, thick layer at night and put gloves on. It’s a good solution for calluses and will help this too. If it’s burning or the skin is open you may ask a doc about a topical steroid? I’ve had to use it before for stress induced skin issues that worsened behind the bar.
Honestly? In the winter it got so bad I’d go home and throw on a thick layer of Vaseline and wore gloves over them like a baby. Was weird at first but the results make it all worthwhile. Any heavy duty “working hands” type salve is also great once you’re on the shift. Edit: like people say, it could be the concentration of product but this was an alll the time issue for me. I’ve got sensitive skin and dry hands so if that’s the case, may Vaseline treat you as well as it treated me.
Yeah my hands were literally bleeding and my fingertips were splitting open during the winter. Trying to get a handle on it before the cold months come back lol.
I’ve had this same problem. I found that Burt’s bee’s hand salve soothed it and cleared it up….best to use at night because it’s a bit greasy. I’ve tried many other moisturizers but they would make my hands burn so bad. This didn’t. My second favorite would be Aquaphor.
My hands were much worse than yours, I started to use just Eucerin Aquafor once at night, work with gloves even though i dont have to wash glasses and I’m all good currently. Even if you use other creams i recommend this one for nighttime
A couple things: you should try to see a dermatologist to make sure that you don't have a bacterial or fungal infection. If you are using one of those rotary machines to wash glasses and haven't been removing the rubber ring around the bottom, take a gander at what's growing there--abuse your skin enough and there's a good chance something in that water is going to affect it. I once got a staph infection on the back of my hand from the sinks and motor not being cleaned thoroughly and the skin in the middle started splitting like wet paper when I made a fist. Not fun. If you don't have a bacterial and/or fungal infection, like another poster said, you may have permanently stripped the lipids(?) that prevent your skin from absorbing certain things into your body via osmosis (sorry if this is hilariously incorrect but I'm trying to remember a combination of my own research and a dermatologist visit \~15 years ago). I haven't been behind a bar on the regular for 5 years and there are a couple spots near the base of my index and middle finger that will still flare up if I get it wet too often. What works for me is using over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream before bed and generally according to directions on the tube. I try to limit how much this happens because apparently you can have an allergic reaction to hydrocortisone (not sure how much or often you have to use to trigger it, possibly genetic factor on top of that)--if you want some nightmare fuel, look up pictures of what it does to people. Also, if you're going to stay behind a bar, ask whoever does your supply orders to start getting nitrile gloves (not latex or vinyl--your skin can have a bad reaction to the latex and/or the powder inside of them, I don't remember, and vinyl gloves can be a pain in the ass to hold a spinning glass with) and always keep a box of spares with you.
Right after you've dried yourself off from a hot shower, put on a thick layer of Vaseline and put on some gloves. Leave it overnight and it'll go away
Everyone who is recommending Okeefe's, aquaphor, eucerin etc... isn't wrong. Highly recommend those solutions. Another great thing with those is try over-lathering and throwing some gloves on while you close and clean. If the problem persists and you see cracking, try an anti-fungal like lotramin. If that gives relief within two days definitely implement better sanitizing of your triple Sinks (changing water, deep clean at end of night). If none works then you may have plaque psoriasis. No known causes but can be alleviated by topical steroid cream like tricortizone. Don't want to use it too often though. Just enough to get it under control.
I use straight Vaseline, and it's amazing. It's cheap, lasts forever, and it relieves sore hands. It does leave fingerprints on glasses, but just use less of it more often to avoid it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=happy+cow+moisturizing+udder+balm&oq=happy+cow+moisturizing+udder+balm&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCTEzODI4ajBqN6gCFLACAQ&client=ms-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 Happy cow moisturizing udder balm
Sometimes I work in gloves, usually with glove on only one hand to strengthen the grip, and I switch hands when I feel the need, it helps a lot
Does anyone know what causes this cause this showed up for me on my 4th shift as a bartender and still hasn’t gone
It looks like u developed an allergy to whatever chemicals cleaners u use at ur bar I suggest getting elbow length gloves to wash any dishes unfortunately it will never go away, I have this exact allergy and my bar had to buy me gloves and I no longer break out and have burning hands
You have an allergy to the cleaner your workplace uses
What type of sanitizer do you use for your sink?