Contact dermatology with developing chemicals

cowasaki

cowasaki

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Darren
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Well in 2004 I had a serious car accident and got a form of severe contact dermatitis called pompholyx in which I lost most of the skin on both my feet. Because of this I ended up with septicemia and it was very nearly curtains. Anyway a few months ago the pompholyx came back then disappeared again after a month or so. This morning I have it again on my thumb......

It would appear that I am allergic to at least one of the chemicals in either ID-11, infofix or infostop...... DOH

So anyone else have this problem? I think I need to find some decent gloves for developing as I don't want to give it up after just finding it OR alternatively I need to try an alternative solution.

Has anyone had this problem and fixed it with a change of chemicals?
 
I don't have a problem with Black and White chemicals, but always use gloves for E6 and C41 processing. I just bought a pack of the typical disposable latex gloves to be honest.
 
I don't get dermatitis as such but printing chemicals don't really agree with my skin. I use Touch n Tuff nitrile gloves made by Ansell if I'm going to be printing for a long time (my hands end up fine but my lungs don't fare so well).

I remember reading a similar thread on FADU a while back about someone having a reaction to certain chemicals, Some of the guys there knew what the irritant chemical component was and recommended alternative chemicals made up with different stuff.
 
Kev M said:
I don't get dermatitis as such but printing chemicals don't really agree with my skin. I use Touch n Tuff nitrile gloves made by Ansell if I'm going to be printing for a long time (my hands end up fine but my lungs don't fare so well).

I remember reading a similar thread on FADU a while back about someone having a reaction to certain chemicals, Some of the guys there knew what the irritant chemical component was and recommended alternative chemicals made up with different stuff.
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Cheers, I will have a look on there too.
 
Since you have an existing skin condition, can I suggest you look at nitrile rather than latex gloves? I'm not a doctor, but current recommendations in the lab I work in is for nitrile to be used since it is less allergenic than latex. Main downside to nitrile gloves in my experience is that they are slightly less stretchy than latex gloves and so are slightly more prone to tearing.
 
You do need to be a bit careful, particularly with C41 chemicals, as there's pretty strong eviidence that they can be a potentially carcinogenic risk.

Wear suitable disposal gloves as already advised, and be scrupulous in cleaning up afterwards.
 
Most of the chemicals I got on me were from shaking the developing tank.
 
I used to share a flat with a guy who suffered from rather sever form of dermatitis. Problem was he was also a keen photographer and liked to process his own films. He got over the mixing problem by mainly using liquid chemicals, and he would wear fairly thick marigold gloves whilst processing. Seemed to have worked as he had no problems.
 
cowasaki said:
Most of the chemicals I got on me were from shaking the developing tank.
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Is your tank leaking Darren? I figure you can pretty much not get any chemicals on you if you're careful, one big exception is a leaky tank, one of mine leaks like a... well like something really leaky. I have another one I use now that doesn't leak and I don't get any chemicals on me but I'm quite careful and rinse all my bottles scrupulously including the outsides of my storage bottles etc as well as the manufacturers bottles.
 
SparkUK said:
Is your tank leaking Darren? I figure you can pretty much not get any chemicals on you if you're careful, one big exception is a leaky tank, one of mine leaks like a... well like something really leaky. I have another one I use now that doesn't leak and I don't get any chemicals on me but I'm quite careful and rinse all my bottles scrupulously including the outsides of my storage bottles etc as well as the manufacturers bottles.
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I have about 6 tanks. I just liked that particular one but will try another. I will have to wear gloves from now on though as my hands are literally covered in blisters. I cannot even write now!

I was thinking of buying one of those developing things that keeps your chemicals at the right temperature and rotates the developing tank. Then I will try colour too. Mrs_C is doing her first film tonight and we are both doing some prints this week (yet another promise to myself!)
 
Just go through them all and find one that doesn't leak, bit of warm water with a little bit of washing up liquid in it and then try your normal agitation. I'm just about to start repairing a Jobo processor I have that doesn't work. Can't be much to it :)
 
cowasaki said:
I was thinking of buying one of those developing things that keeps your chemicals at the right temperature and rotates the developing tank. Then I will try colour too. Mrs_C is doing her first film tonight and we are both doing some prints this week (yet another promise to myself!)
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It might be well worth getting a Jobo Processor for you Darren, it should eliminate all contact with the chemicals for you - particularly if you add the lift attachment. Not cheap unfortunately.
 
cowasaki said:
It would appear that I am allergic to at least one of the chemicals in either ID-11, infofix or infostop...... DOH

...

Has anyone had this problem and fixed it with a change of chemicals?
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It might be worth getting the MSDS for the chemicals you are using (and as many alternatives as you can find) and arranging an appointment with you dermatologist. S/He may be able to pick out the likely suspects from the chemicals you were using and then you can look for the least hazardous alternative.

The risk phrases relating to irritation should be fairly obvious on the MSDS.. but drop me a shout if you want a hand interpreting them (I'm an H&S adviser, although not a COSHH specialist).
 
From those MSDS my guess would also be Part A, R43 May cause sensitisation by skin contact applies to both the classified components.
 
I think I am just going to wear gloves.

I do fancy a jobo thingy though!
 
Latex (or similar) gloves mate - even when using a Jobo...they used to beat this into us at Cosford.

Before that I hardly ever bothered, but my hands did stink of fix all the time...
 
Arkady said:
Latex (or similar) gloves mate - even when using a Jobo...they used to beat this into us at Cosford.

Before that I hardly ever bothered, but my hands did stink of fix all the time...
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My hand look like I have lowered them into a deep fat fryer! They are covered in blisters and marks and the hurt like hell. I will be using gloves from now on!!

This heath robinson contraption I am going to build should reduce the contact but like you say I will still need the gloves. Thing is I have a big box of gloves there already :)
 
The best manual tank I have used is the Paterson Super System 4 range, all the previous Patersons leaked like one-oh.

Jobo is a way forward, but they are not as common as you might think.

always use Latex gloves.
 
Just as an update I have now lost all the skin from my thumb knuckle upwards on my right hand and all my finger tips feel like I have leather thimbles on.

Anyway it is gloves from now on and I will have them on when I try my first wet printing which hopefully will be Monday.
 
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