Gorilla Glue Allergy

I used Gorilla Glue in several of the projects that I worked on last week. I’ve used it before without incident, but I think the continuous exposure over the week was enough to trigger a reaction. I got symptoms like dyshidrotic eczema, that is, tiny blisters filled with clear fluid and surrounded by raised, itchy, red bumps. On top of that, anywhere that I had already been having an allergic reaction (poison ivy and mosquito bites) flared up with its own constellation of welts. My fingers also swelled up enough to make it difficult to make a fist.

I’ve been treating it by taking dyphenhydramine (benadryl) regularly, and applying 1% hydrocortisone ointment in the morning and evening. The ointment is kind of a greasy mess, so I wear hypoallergenic chloroprene gloves after putting it on. It is gradually getting better, especially on the areas that get the most hydrocortisone coverage.

From now on, though, I’m going to put the gloves on before I use the glue, so I don’t have to use them for days afterwards.