Inorganic alkali skin damage

Introduction to inorganic alkali skin damage Sodium, potassium, calcium, ammonium, barium and the like are mostly strong bases. Because of their different stimulating effects, different lesions can be produced on the skin mucosa. Among them, sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide (and calcium hydroxide) are more important, and they are representative. Except that ammonium hydroxide is easy to release ammonia, the others are not volatile. Sodium carbonate and sodium fluoride are alkali metals. The weak acid salt also has the corrosive effect of alkali, so it is described together. basic knowledge The proportion of sickness: 0.2% Susceptible people: no special people Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: nasal septum ulcer

Causes of inorganic alkali skin damage

Causes:

Inorganic bases are primary irritants and can cause irritation when contacted. The severity of the disease depends on the concentration of the irritant, the contact time and the skin condition.

Pathogenesis:

Inorganic bases are primary irritants. Once exposed, they can cause irritation. The severity of the disease depends on the concentration of the irritant, the contact time and the skin condition. The irritancy of the above substances is sodium hydroxide. Calcium oxide (and calcium hydroxide) and sodium fluoride are strong, followed by sodium carbonate. The burns caused by alkalis are different from inorganic acids. The former can absorb tissue moisture, denature tissue proteins, and saponify tissue fat. The cell membrane structure is destroyed, causing the lesion to develop in depth and causing lytic necrosis, so the damage of the alkaline substance to the tissue is deeper and more serious than that of the acidic substance.

Inorganic alkali skin damage prevention

The contact person must follow the operating procedures, wear personal protective equipment, or apply appropriate skin protectant. Wash it thoroughly after work. It is best to wash it with a weakly acidic aqueous solution after washing, and apply a small amount of non-irritating cold cream. Pay attention to eating habits, avoid avoiding greasy, spicy foods, and pay attention to foods that consume vitamins B2, B6, C, and E.

Inorganic alkali skin damage complications Complications, nasal septum ulcer

It has been reported that sodium carbonate, sodium fluoride can cause ulceration of the nasal septum, perforation, especially sodium hydroxide, can cause corneal damage, and even blindness.

Symptoms of inorganic alkali skin damage Common symptoms Pain benign reactive changes Itching Skin fragility Increase (toe) A fragile soft atrophy Tissue necrosis Congestion Skin dry tears Chemical skin burns

The reactions caused by several bases are roughly similar.

1. Burns: Due to exposure to high concentrations of solution, it often occurs in exposed parts such as hands and forearms. Burns caused by sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide often form a wide range of marginal ulcers. Skin and necrotic tissue, extremely susceptible to infection, ulcers caused by sodium carbonate, typically in the shape of a bird's eye, can be maintained for more than 1 to 2 months, once stopped contact, it can be quickly healed, caused by sodium fluoride, first Large redness, blistering, followed by tissue necrosis, ulceration, burns caused by various alkalis, as usual with burning, pain, and scars after healing.

2. Dermatitis: contact with powder or low concentration of liquid can cause acute dermatitis. According to the severity of the affected, erythema, papules, blisters and other damage may occur. Subjective with itching, it may disappear after 3 to 5 days of contact, but it also lasts for a long time. Unhealed eczema-like dermatitis.

3. The skin of the hand is dry, rough and chapped: the workers I saw in the steaming and alkali room of the printing and dyeing factory almost all have this performance, which is characterized by dry skin and cracking, especially in the palm of the hand. This is especially common in winter. .

4. Nail, hair damage: long-term contact can cause nails to be dark, brittle, thin, tarnished, cracked, and even separated from the nail bed and destroyed, in addition, sodium carbonate can make the hair turn reddish yellow.

5. Upper respiratory tract and eye symptoms: Alkali powder or lye vapor can cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa such as nose, pharynx, etc. It has been reported that sodium carbonate, sodium fluoride can cause nasal septum ulcer, perforation, and the eye can be feared. , tears, blurred vision and foreign body sensation, and can be congested, red and swollen, if splashed with concentrated alkali, especially sodium hydroxide, can cause corneal damage, and even blindness.

Inorganic alkali skin damage examination

The disease can be clearly defined based on the history of the disease and clinical skin examination. First of all, the disease is caused by inorganic alkali, so it is usually clinically contacted with chemical alkaline materials, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and other metal elements and its compounds, such as sodium hydroxide, calcium oxide (lime) and other skin contact history, Skin damage, blisters and other skin lesions appear after contact.

Diagnosis and identification of inorganic alkali skin damage

According to the clinical manifestations of this disease, it should be differentiated from contact dermatitis, which refers to the inflammatory reactive skin disease that occurs mainly at the contact site after the skin and mucous membranes come into contact with certain substances in the outside world. The substances causing the disease mainly include animal, plant and chemical substances. Among them, chemical substances are common. The essence belongs to allergic reaction, and the general skin lesion is milder than alkaline skin damage.

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