lineman's barrier cream

[toolman]

I m told that the " Lineman's professional hand and arm cream" 8oz has been discontinued due to the fact that the company Qualis Inc. is no longed in business. Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes this type of hand cream. The " Lineman's professional hand and arm cream" was made up with some of the following products; Vitiamens A-D-E, Lanolin, Aloe Vera gel and moisturizing agents. Thanks

[BigClive]

I should think that most barrier creams would be pretty generic these days. The ingredients you listed are likely to be the minority ones added to make it look all healthy. :) (Although lanolin can cause skin issues with some people.)

It might be worth looking in your local construction supplies store for a general purpose version.

[66Lincoln]

I found that Linemans Hand and arm cream is still available here,
http://www.originaludderbalm.com/skincare/linemans.php

The ship pretty fast and are easy to deal with.

[Patriot]

Swampy has some herbal hand cream he will sell! But you got to pump it your self! :-)

[wudwlkr]

that both the original poster, Toolman, and the respondent, 66Lincoln, are both brand new members and that was the first post for both of them? I smell shills at work. Again.

[Larson]

Hello Toolman,

I noticed your search for "Linemans Lotion" and would like to reply. I myself am a Journeyman Lineman that also happens to have invented and manufacture a line of Heavy Duty Skin Care made for people who work in harsh conditions. I have spent years researching and experimenting with different remedies and I would like to make you aware of just a few SERIOUS concerns about your choice of skin care.

If you work using Rubber Gloves, sleeves, blankets, line hose etc. PLEASE READ THIS.

Most people are unaware of the dangers of an allergy to Natural Rubber/Latex (NRL) (they are the same thing). If you have Type 1 Hypersensitivity, which is the worst, you could actually die from Anaphylaxis (basically suffocation). The allergic reaction is similar to bee sting reactions for some people (about 1 in 20 people), in fact if you do have allergies, including bee sting allergies you are even MORE susceptible to having an NRL allergy.

The scary thing is, according to OSHA there is no way to tell who will get the allergy, when it will strike, nor how severe the reaction will be. On the OSHA site you can find case study after case study of people (mostly Doctors) who have been wearing rubber/latex gloves for years without any problems and all of a sudden they drop (fortunately for the Doctors they are dropping in a hospital and have plenty of help to revive them). From the New England Journal of Medicine I've also found case studies done on Lineman dating all the way back to 1931!

What does this have to do with skin care? Plenty.
OSHA has acknowledged that products with Mineral Oils and Petroleum, Petrolatum etc. break down the rubber and actually speeds up the process of the allergens entering the body. During the investigation of the problem OSHA ruled: basically, "If you use skin care products you SHALL NOT use skin care products that are Mineral Oil or Petroleum based".

Another concern is open cuts, cracked skin etc. - this opens the doorway for the allergens to enter the body - especially if you sweat. Sweating is a huge problem for Lineman here in Southern California - sleeves are mandatory and it get's HOT. The allergens also attach themselves to the powder (if you use it) and when you remove your gloves you inhale them directly into your lungs.

I don't mean to scare you, but it really is something you should know if you work in or around rubber products.

Your best defense is to try and avoid direct contact with the rubber by keeping your sleeves down and buttoned, wear cotton glove liners etc. and; take care of your skin - if you have cuts or cracked skin - fix it WITHOUT using Mineral Oil or Petroleum based products! And finally - Don't Inhale The Powder!

What about synthetic gloves? Unless you custom order them, glove manufacturers only make synthetic gloves up to Class 0 (1000 volts - maximum use voltage).

You should also be using a natural skin care product. Beware of products that contain chemicals - you're around chemicals enough already - putting more into your system is definately NOT GOOD. If you didn't know - your skin is your bodies largest organ - one of it's many jobs is to filter our enviroment before it enters our body. If you put chemicals on your skin - you are putting chemicals into your body.

If you would like more information feel free to contact me either through the forum or you can reach me through my website: www.HeavyDutyLotion.com

Let me know if I can help,

Chris Larson

PS. If you are susceptible to allergies and bee stings you should talk to your Doctor about Epinephrin. You can get Epinephrin in a one-shot injection called an Epi-Pen - it would be wise to carry one with you on the job and make sure you tell the crew about it, how to use it, and where you keep it. If you do happen to have to use it - keep in mind it is possible/likely to have another reaction up to 8 hours later - so you might want to get two Epi-Pens.

I could go on and on about NRL allergies but that is probably boring. If you would like more information you can either go to OSHA's site, or email me - I would be happy to give you more info, including copies of OSHA's rulings.

[BigClive]

I'll make a guess that you were inspired to research the subject when you or a friend suffered an allergic response?

[Larson]

Hello Big Clive,

I actually stumbled onto the problem - at least how severe it can be.

When I was developing my skin care, I knew from working in rubber gloves that they are brutal to the skin - my fingers used to be cracked all the time. I also knew from working in the oilfields of Alaska that petroleum destroys rubber.

I began researching and testing to make sure my cracked skin cream wouldn't destroy the integrity of rubber gloves - that's when I found out how bad the problem can be. I even found medical journal case studies of Lineman losing their career over severely cracked skin and allergies from back in the 1930's.

Since I have learned of the problem I have met many people who get so cracked and blistered they can't work.

In October I was working with a young man (early 20's ) during a climbing class. The kid was in excellent shape but within a few hours he could hardly catch his breath and almost passed out. The culprit? He was wearing those work gloves that have the rubber coating on the palm. I had him remove them, sit down for a while and in a short time he was back to normal and continued his 10 day climbing class with no problems. I would never have guessed that rubber was the problem had I not done the research. I truly believe he would have died had I not known about the problem. At the time I wouldn't have known how to handle the first aid response either.

OSHA recognizes 3 types of Natural Rubber/Latex (NRL) allergies. The symptoms are similar to Poison Oak or Ivy and I believe are often mis-diagnosed. As you know, it's not uncommon for a Lineman to get into Poison Oak or Ivy. I believe these symptoms are overlooked and professions like Doctors and Dentists are more closely watched simply because most of the professional world doesn't know what we do - much less that we use rubber so often. We may even be in rubber gloves more often than some Doctors and we SURELY work under worse conditions.

This is scary because I don't think Doctors even consider the possibility of NRL allegies when diagnosing Lineman. I have had a few friends that have died and no one seemed to know the reason - it just makes me think that it could have been NRL allergies.

Another thing that's scary is that many utilities, and a few contractors give their Lineman skin care. I admire a company that wants to help their people like that, and by requiring their employee's to wear rubber gloves (PPE) they are required to supply skin protection, and I know they mean well but...

Most of the skin care out there is Mineral Oil or Petroleum based or at least has a bunch of chemicals in it. I'm sure these companies don't know that they are putting their people in potential danger, or they surely would switch to something else.

Anyway, sorry to ramble on about this - it's just something I'm passionate about and I think people should know about.

Take Care Big Clive - and be Safe!

Chris

[just say no]

i have tried every thing on the market for my hands when they crack and dry up..nothing worked untill i put some good ol neosporine on...works like a charm....:)

[Larson]

Hello "Just Say No"

In regard to your comment about Neopsporin - there are a couple of things you should know - especially if you work with Natural Rubber/Latex (Gloves, Sleeves, Cover etc).

1) The base of Neosporin is "White Petrolatum". That makes for trouble if you have Rubber allergies (about 1 in 20 people). If you have Type I allergy this can cause Anaphylaxis which; if not treated IMMEDIATELY, leads to death. (This isn't common - but happens)

When you have a crack on your skin - it's and open door for the protein allergens to enter your body. If you use a Petroleum or Mineral Oil based skin care it deteriorates the rubber and makes it even worse.

Here is a quote from OSHA you may find of interest:

"During the rulemaking process, it was brought to OSHA's attention that significant deterioration of latex gloves was noted when exposed to petroleum-based lubricants. (See 56 Federal Register 64119, December 6, 1991.) Therefore, if latex gloves are used, employees shall not apply petroleum-based, including mineral oilbased, skin care products. If appropriate, this information must also be transmitted to employees as part of their required training".

Here is another:

"Irritant contact dermatitis presents as dried, cracked, split skin. Although irritant contact dermatitis is not in itself an allergic reaction, the breaking of the intact skin barrier due to these lesions may afford a pathway for latex proteins to gain access, and thus promote development of allergy."

Notice the last quote said ", and thus promote development of allergy." That's what is scary - you can't tell who will get this allergy, when they will get it, nor how severe the reaction will be!

2) Neosporin recommends that unless you have a physicians approval you should not use any anti-biotic creams for longer than a week.

I hope this information helps.

It sounds like you have had a lot of problems with cracked skin - I know the feeling - it hurts! If you would like; send me your name and address and I'll send you some samples of skin care that DOES work - plus it's made with natural ingredients and won't deteriorate your gloves. Chris@LarsonsSkinCare.com

Stay Safe,
Larson

[swetngblts]

What about Corn Huskers Lotion?

[BigClive]

Alas I DO have skin issues on my feet that have been brought about by the prolonged use of industrial footwear in summer months. The only type of "cream" that offers relief is Vaseline due to it's non evaporative greasy formula. Maybe I'm just trapped in a vicious cycle of damage caused by temporary relief. Then again, maybe I'm allergic to the inevitable elastic components used in "pure cotton" socks.

One important things is that antibiotics or steroids are to be avoided at all costs unless in extreme circumstances. They are merely a short term fix and NOT suitable for long term use.

I think the future for foot and hand care in hot moist environments like gloves or boots is silver coated fibre. If you do a search on the Internet for X-static you will find garments that incorporate a nylon fibre that is permanantly coated with silver which has a significant effect on mould and bacteria. I recently started using "SWAT" socks with silver fibre in them and my feet have never felt so "relaxed" in a long time. There's nothing new about the use of silver to control bacteria. It goes back to the dawn of time when they used to add silver coins to water or milk to keep it fresh longer.


(Another Strongbow Cider fueled post.)

[HookMan]

Try Timberwolf hand cleaner...... its a hand cleaner, insect repellent, poison ivy protectant and a aloe hand lotion all in one..... also I think its all natural.....

heres the link..........
www.timberwolfhandcleaner.com

[66Lincoln]

that both the original poster, Toolman, and the respondent, 66Lincoln, are both brand new members and that was the first post for both of them? I smell shills at work. Again.

While I may be new to the forum, I resent the implication. I found this forum, and this post because I was searching for a place to get Linemans Hand Cream. I had also been told that the manufacturer was gone and was looking to find somebody with a couple of cases. I suggest you do your own search for "Lineman's Professional Hand and Arm Cream" and see what pops up.

I am not a lineman, or even in the industry. I like to work on my old cars, and all the oil, chemicals and other stuff dry up my hands. Linemans hand cream works and doesn't smell like foo-foo girly cream.

After finding the company that I mentioned before, I thought I would be nice and come post the info for others. I guess no good deed goes unpunished.:(