Anyone ever get a rash on their arms?

[texfromkansas]

With setting up our 125, my arms have been under water for about a week now. I am starting to get a rash on my left arm. Has anyone had this? Is it like saltwater rash? Someone let me know if I need to order a reef safe prosthetic arm.

[Jeremy1973]

Mrs. Smith on here I know would start to get a rash if she had her hands in the tank for extended times. She was brushing up against some coral that she was allergic to.

[VWD]

Tex, It can happen, My arms are in saltwater almost everyday and I have times when it effect me, You can wear gloves.

[drdude05]

Some people can get a rash from contact with saltwater ... it is a contact dermatitis due to the salt. I have also heard of people developing cloudy vision from prolonged exposure to synthetic saltwater.

[LadyReefNeck]

I sometimes get a minor rash (only lasts a few hours) if I happen to rub my hands or arms on any salt creep. The water itself doesn't seem to bother me.

[Fly Guy]

I get a really bad rash every time I do any extended work nside one of the tanks. It is usually for about 6-10" along the inside of my arm where the edge of the tank touches/scrapes it when im leaning over inside the tank. I think the combo of slight scratches and saltwater is the cause.

If i was smarter.......i would wear something to protect it.....but usually i just throw a towel up on the edge and it helps a little

[FlaEagleFan]

The guy who use to own the LFS had really bad rashes on his arms from having them in the tanks all the time.


I mean BAAAAD. Looked like he dipped his arms in acid. It would dry out his skin and he would itch it.

[partobe]

kept getting infections in my hands and I did think it was from the salt water because I had salt water tanks for yrs and never had a problem. After going to the Dr several times he suggested I try gloves just to see. That was 6 months ago and no infections since.

[skeety]

I guess I'm lucky. I have the complete opposite affect. I have slight exema..and sometimes, I get a spot on the back of my hand. But after playing around in the tank for a while, it goes away for a few days.

So saltwater actually makes my rashes go away. hehehe

[jenajet]

My alk readings were wrong(thanks api) and I had a bad rash for days. Fixed the alk, stayed out of the tank for a while, used a good anti itch lotion. Cleared up after about 2 weeks. Mine was pretty bad and litterally had skin peeling like I had been sunburnt.

[Twitterbait]

my arms itch every time after they have been in the water. if i speand more than 30 minutes in the water then my eyes start getting hazy.

[JennM]

There are tons of bacteria in our tanks. Some are good (ie denitrifying bacteria) and some are bad - like Vibrio or Mycobaterium. Not all tanks will have those bad bacteria, but you can pretty much count on there being something bad sooner or later.

Vibrio is a strain of bacterium that's similar (related) the the bacterium that causes Tuberculosis. You'd know if you had that going on - your fish would drop like flies (been there, done that).

Mycobacteriosis is a SERIOUS infection, that usually enters the skin through an open wound (ie playing in the tank with a cut). If you get this infection you can expect 6 months of irrigating the wound and taking some major antibiotics - it's no joke and it's very serious. It's relatively rare but knowing it's potentially there is a good piece of information.

Some folks are just sensitive and get redness of the skin and/or chapping from exposure. When Sally worked for me, her arms would get red every time she was in the tanks - said the same thing happens at home too (and probably all the time since she works at the GA Aquarium now!). That's no biggie really.

Pat your skin dry. Don't rub. Roughing up the skin opens the door to infection. Keep dry - don't drip dry, that causes chapping, and dry cracked skin. Use clean towels - if the towel was old and crusty and stinky, it's as likely to infect you with something as the water was.

SALT CREEP - WIPE IT! Many people contract these infections because they don't wipe the salt creep around the top of the tank before they start working in it. Top of their arm on the inside (which is soft and not toughened like your hands are) rub against the salt creep, which irritates the skin and can rough it up just enough for an infection to get in. The abrasiveness of the crusty salt is something that's easily avoidable if you wipe it down before you begin.

Having said all that, I have my hands in the water every day. I don't wear gloves... and perhaps I should (do as I say, not as I do!)... but I've not had any serious issues - but I do use caution and I am aware of the hazards so I'm as careful as I can be without using gloves. IMO having gloves that are wet on the inside can be just as hazardous - because a dark damp environment is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria...

Common sense - always common sense - and if you DO react to your tank - use proper protective gear.

Jenn

[Mike01z]

I also get a rash occasionally if I stay in the tank too long.