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Three nights ago I noticed that after washing my hands they felt really sticky, almost like when you use the last paper towel on the roll and you get that glue residue on your hands. However, it wasn't the last paper towel so I figured maybe the liquid soap was really old and doing funky things so I rewashed with dish soap and again grabbed a paper towel. Once again, my hands got sticky as I dried them off. Thinking now that there was something wrong with these paper towels, I washed again and this time dried with a hand towel only to yet again find my hands sticky as they dried off. The stickiness only lasts 30-60 seconds, until the skin completely dries, but during that in-between time of soaking wet and totally dry they feel very tacky to the touch and my fingers will actually stick to each other.
The next day when I took a shower I noticed that the water was beading up on the skin on my arms. Sure enough, when I dried off afterwards I found that all of my skin is tacky to the thouch until it is completely air dried.
Today I shaved my legs and my skin felt almost like it had a layer of wax on it that kept catching the razor. The skin on my hands seems to be getting more sticky when they get wet. Water continues to bead on my skin when it gets wet. I asked my children if they can feel that my skin is sticky to the touch and they said yes.
This is affecting all of my skin now, including my face. I always put a moisturizer on my face after washing and it does not feel like my skin is absorbing it now, it just feels heavy and greasy since the lotion just sits there on top. I also tried putting lotion on my hands and it was not absorbed at all, just left my hands feeling very slimy and greasy so I wiped it off.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or have any suggestions for what might be causing it? Thanks for any held you can give.
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Hi again! Things have been a little hectic lately. I had a gas leak near the stove in my house and after 3 repair guys came over, it's finally fixed. I went to the allergist and low and behold I'm allergic to Sodium Benzoate. What a relief knowing about this, thanks again scf500! I switched my deodorant to 'Secret Roll On Powder Fresh Scent' and I'm hoping it's ok and it doesn't contain that ingredient... the underarm stickiness is a little bit better now. I'm doing my best to eliminate every product containing Sodium Benzoate, but it's difficult because it has a ton of synonyms. I'm also allergic to Rosin (aka Colophony) which is a tree sap. When some of us dry our hands with paper towels it makes our stickiness worse, and I think it's because most paper towels are made with these ingredients. I called Georgia-Pacific company and asked if their toilet paper (Angel Soft/Quilted Northern) contained Rosin and it does not. I assumed that their paper towels (Sparkle) wouldn't contain Rosin either so I've switched to those. I'm still 'a sticky mess' from head to toe, and it's so miserable! My new theory is that it's also caused by an allergy to MOLD in my home. After finding a microbiologist and giving him a sample of water directly from our hot water heater, he found mold growing in it! I'm getting a new water heater ASAP and hoping that it takes care of the problem for good and that my skin goes back to normal. I read a comment from someone on another website who had sticky skin and found out it was a mold allergy so I'm thinking it also has to be from that, right? For months I've bathed in smelly water while taking a hot shower, there's been a moldy smell in my new top-loader washing maching where I use the hot water setting, I have vaginal infections from soaking in a warm baths daily, and sticky dishes after washing them in the dishwasher. The water company tested the cold water and it checked out fine and it doesn't smell, so I'm hoping I've figured this out! The allergist also did a yeast/mold allergy skin test on me, and I'm allergic to a few of those as well. If the new water heater doesn't make my sticky skin go away, I think I'm going to try weekly allergy shots and see if I can desensitize the yeast/mold. I got a new book called, THE YEAST CONNECTION and it says that environmental factors such as mold, pesticides, etc. make vaginal yeast symptoms worse. This book is very helpful and I'm trying to do everything I can to be pain free again. If any of you have any feedback, please let me know. Thanks everyone!
September 15, 2010 - 9:07pmThis Comment
TO STICKY MESS 9/15 COMMENT. i THINK YOU ARE ONTO SOMETHING LARGE HERE WITH YOUR COMMENT ABOUT ROSIN (COLOPHONY). WHEN I DID A WEB SEARCH UNDER "PRODUCTS CONTAINING ROSIN COLOPHONY" I RECEIVED ABUNDANT INFO. IT'S THE STICKY SUBSTANCE THAT COMES FROM PINE TREES. ROSIN HAS SO MANY ALIAS NAMES IT GOES UNDER. ADDITIONALLY, ITS IN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 60' PINETREE WHOSE PINENEEDLES ARE ALWAYS IN MY SWIMMING POOL AND THATS WHERE I'VE BEEN LOUNGING ALL SUMMER. FALLING PINECONES ARE IN A SECTION OF MY BACKYARD THAT MY SMALL DOG FREQUENTS. WHEN SHE COMES IN I HOLD HER AND SHE ALSO SLEEPS IN MY BED! EXPOSURE TO THIS IN PAPER PRODUCTS, COSMETICS, CHEWING GUM,NEWSPAPER, ETC. COULD VERY WELL BE THE CULPRIT FOR MANY OF US. ADDITIONALLY I WOULDN'T RULE OUT THE MOLD THEORY, OR SERRATIA MARCESCENS EITHER. I'VE JUST BEGUN MY RESEARCH FOR CAUSE AND EFFECT. THANK YOU "STICKY MESS"FOR YOUR COMMENT. NOW TO FIGURE OUT THE ANTIDOTE TO RID US OF OUR STICKINESS. IN THE PAST WEEK MINE GOT WORSE, ITS UNDER MY FEET AND UNDERARMS NOW.(POSSIBLY FROM PINE NEEDLES??) YOURS TRULY, DIANE FROM LI
September 16, 2010 - 11:24amThis Comment
Hello
September 15, 2010 - 1:05pmI to have experienced the sticky tacky hands after washing. I want to add that I drink alot of cold Green Tea I buy in the quart size in the store and it comes with Ginseng and Honey and also
SODIUM BENZOATE! I think I will make my own tea home now. Thanks scf500 for pointing out that this presevative may be a cause due to allergic reaction. I do not know if I am allergic to that as I was never tested. To continue, I use Ivory soap. I also have a well and hard water. There are 2 large water filters inline one is charcoal other is element and its been a long time since I changed them. I noticed that when I have changed them in the past, there was a slime build up on the walls of their enclosures that directions say to clean with water and bleach. I will replace the filters and clean the units they are housed in and let you all know if the tacky hands still exists. thanks
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Has anyone been able to figure this out? I have has the same thing for almost 2 years it is driving me crazy, my hair gets stuck in it and then it dries and there is no getting it off!! it will actually stick to my face and then stick in the corners of my eyes and i can't get it off so it feels like i always have something in my eyes, i have tried taking it off with a loafa, pumas stone and various other things but nothing works, creams, scrubs, ect. I don't know if it is related but when i sweat a lot, i sometimes breakout in a rash along my hairline, I have noticed that since this started, my eyes are also extremely dry all the time and my hair feels like it also has a layer of waxy build up on it, that no amount of hot water, and scrubbing and repeated washes will take off.
September 4, 2010 - 11:10amI am so glad i found this because I thought that I was loosing my mind.
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Hey scf500! Very helpful... thanks a million. I think there are angels on this website. I'm so glad I discovered it. I'll provide an update when I get my results!
September 2, 2010 - 9:27pmThis Comment
I am a female in my 50's. For the first time three wks ago I noticed i had sticky hands asI was drying my hands with bounty papertowels. I called the company alerting them to the fact. Today, I just asked my teenage daughter to wet her hands and pat them on the paper towels to dry and her hands stuck also. Is this the common denominater? I don't know. I am on no medications, I have mitral valve prolapse, have episodes of tachycardia 5am 3-4x/wk. I feel a questionaire online is imperative to see if we are all somehow using the same products, have similar medical conditions or reside in the same towns. As For me: I live on Long Island NY. We're hooked up to well water supplied by Nassau county.Water quality is subpar and smells eggy at times. Bathtub, walls and toilet stained with orange constantly. I have mold in my bathroom. Washing machine smells of mildew (purchased 3yrs ago Kenmore). I've gotten alot of sunexposure this summer floating with my daughter in outdoor swimming pool (feet dangling in the chemical laced water). Have not consumed or been exposed to sodium benzoate products since 1995 since I'm allergic to it, so there goes that theory! Products I use daily: Bounty paper towels, comet with bleach disinfecting cleanser, windex multisurface vinegar cleaner, ivory bar soap, ivory ultra concentrated dishwashing liquid, o-cel-o sponges, softsoap soothing aloe vera handsoap, All dye free detergent, suave daily clarifying shampoo, crest toothpaste, colgate toothbrush, reach dental floss, lady speedstick, jordana lipstick and eyeliner, scott toilet tissue, walmart great value tissues. I eat cheerios every morning alternating with Barbaras shredded oat cereal, thomas' english muffins, drink only poland spring bottled water and eat very bland food due to food allergies since 1995. I use no perfume or lotions. I do come in extensive contact mostly with the comet, ivory bar soap, ivory dish liquid and bounty papertowels, as well as overusing my kitchen and bathroom faucet water throughout the day. Plus twice a day showers since June because of swimming pool exposure. Until a formal questionaire surfaces on this website the common denomintor will not be found. It may be something as simple as a product we are all using that underwent a formula change affecting us. I admit I am troubled by this recent hand stickiness and we need to band together in order to help others. I'm not computer savvy but with everyone taking the time to create lists of products they use and then entering them into a computer generated info bank, I feel we can figure out the source of our problem. Since I am computer illiterit, can some person just head up a page so we can start a symptom, environmental, medical history, geographical page, and products used. I know we all would appreciate it as a starting point in a diagnosis. Thanks. May God bless each and every one of us as we seek a cure from this puzzling and troubling problem. Yours truly, Diane from L.I.
September 4, 2010 - 9:43amThis Comment
Hi all - If any readers would like to start a Group so that you can exchange information with each other on your common symptoms and reactions you are more than welcome to do so. Site registration is required to join a group but you do not need to use your real name as your user name. Pat
September 6, 2010 - 11:37amThis Comment
I'm glad to help and hope that this helps you find the answers you are looking for. For me, I believe the primary cause of my problem was soda. Most soft drinks contain "sodium benzoate (a preservative)". That is usually how you'll see it on the label. Pretty soon, you'll be able to just glance at the label and know whether or not it's going to be listed based on the other ingredients.
And actually it's not just sodium benzoate...it's potassium benzoate as well or any other "benzo" substances. If I accidentally consume a beverage containing it, I can tell because my skin starts to crawl and feel itchy. If I have two, it becomes a serious issue and I'll drink plenty of water to "dilute" it and maybe take a benedryl.
The doc also gave me a rather large stack of papers with a list of food, cosmetic products and other items to avoid. All this was done back in the 80's so I don't have that list anymore. The list also contained probably cross reactant stuff such as cinnamon and vinegar. I don't feel anything from vinegar in my salad dressing and maybe just a very small reaction to cinnamon, although it may be a psychosomatic on my part. I believe the amount consumed determines the severity of the reaction. One can of soda takes about a day to get over. Two cans causes sticky armpits, itchyness all over.
Arrid extra dry would really mess me up. I switched to Sure and I've been using it every since with not problems. I've tried the different scents (shower, fresh, clothesline whatever) and they all seem safe for me. As for soap, I've used dove before and don't recall a reaction. I typically use the suave products but, I've used lots of different kinds in the 20+ years I've been dealing with this and don't recall any serious issues with soap in general...just the arrid extra dry deoderant. No issues with the various laundry detergents either. I've used more in 20 years with no issues.
As for the small bumps, try buying those fish oil capsules...they work. I had bumps on the back of my thighs. After about 3 days of fish oil capsules, my skin started to smooth out. Increased water intake wouldn't hurt either. I personally don't like water so I drink it with ice and use a straw so I can drink it faster and get it over with and/or splash it with some fruit juice to get some flavor out of the deal. Good luck with your appointments.
p.s. known safe sodas are: Coke, Pepsi, 7-up, Big Red, and RC Cola. That's about it unless you go to those nutrition store with the all natural products.
September 1, 2010 - 9:11pmThis Comment
Wow! - That's so helpful! Thanks very much. Pat
September 2, 2010 - 5:11pmThis Comment
scf500 - Thank you so much for your comments and welcome to EmpowHER! Your information could be very helpful to a lot of people - thanks so much!
a_sticky_mess - Glad you're seeing an allergist. I saw one a few years back for other problems, and she was extremely helpful, providing a lot of information about common household products that can add to allergy symptoms. I'm looking forward to hearing about your visit and hope it goes well.
September 1, 2010 - 5:35pmTake care all,
Pat
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