Urgent help needed

[DAPPH]

Yes full on burnt on my face uv from mig welding I’m totally confused and fed up I love welding to and totally good at

When I had new medication prescribed to me it was in the supporting info sheet that said I had a 1 in 10 chance of having a greater sensitivity to sun light & strong sun light . They weren't wrong 1/2 an hour outside on a slightly cloudy day and I get a stinging facial sunburn & burnt ear tips . Sometimes it is even there upon me waking up ..it's all to do with my skin getting thinner & more sensitive as I age.. the meds make it worse.
Recently I've started getting if after just walking the 10 mtrs to my mancupboard and back half an hour later .. when I come back into the 21 oC heated bungalow my face is on fire for several minutes , despite me giving it a very gentle warm water wash using unperfumed medicated liquid soap ( prescribed ) & patting it dry with a super soft miracle fibre cloth ( soft hand towel cotton cloth rips my face red raw ).

As I've said it's become worse the older I've got . At 65 it wasn't too bad , these days now I'm few day of 71 I now have to use a sunblock all year round if I want to play in the raised gardens whilst wearing a light weight wide brimmed hat & light gloves . . Whilst I'm welding ..I've made a fixed cowl over the top of the helmet to stop reflected arc light coming in from the top of the mask and being reflected off the glass onto my face. Prior to doing this I used a damp guest hand towel folded in half stuffed under the top of the mask to block out unwanted lights.

 

[Dwitsydude]

Well I’m stumped too!

So what do the other welders there reckon?

Were you getting it with your last setup, before you bought the new gear?

Nice screen btw

It’s really getting me down though

When I had new medication prescribed to me it was in the supporting info sheet that said I had a 1 in 10 chance of having a greater sensitivity to sun light & strong sun light . They weren't wrong 1/2 an hour outside on a slightly cloudy day and I get a stinging facial sunburn & burnt ear tips . Sometimes it is even there upon me waking up ..it's all to do with my skin getting thinner & more sensitive as I age.. the meds make it worse.
Recently I've started getting if after just walking the 10 mtrs to my mancupboard and back half an hour later .. when I come back into the 21 oC heated bungalow my face is on fire for several minutes , despite me giving it a very gentle warm water wash using unperfumed medicated liquid soap ( prescribed ) & patting it dry with a super soft miracle fibre cloth ( soft hand towel cotton cloth rips my face red raw ).

As I've said it's become worse the older I've got . At 65 it wasn't too bad , these days now I'm few day of 71 I now have to use a sunblock all year round if I want to play in the raised gardens whilst wearing a light weight wide brimmed hat & light gloves . . Whilst I'm welding ..I've made a fixed cowl over the top of the helmet to stop reflected arc light coming in from the top of the mask and being reflected off the glass onto my face. Prior to doing this I used a damp guest hand towel folded in half stuffed under the top of the mask to block out unwanted lights.

the thing is I’m wearing a full welding hood also a cap and it’s in a well ventilated work shop

 

[Dwitsydude]

When I had new medication prescribed to me it was in the supporting info sheet that said I had a 1 in 10 chance of having a greater sensitivity to sun light & strong sun light . They weren't wrong 1/2 an hour outside on a slightly cloudy day and I get a stinging facial sunburn & burnt ear tips . Sometimes it is even there upon me waking up ..it's all to do with my skin getting thinner & more sensitive as I age.. the meds make it worse.
Recently I've started getting if after just walking the 10 mtrs to my mancupboard and back half an hour later .. when I come back into the 21 oC heated bungalow my face is on fire for several minutes , despite me giving it a very gentle warm water wash using unperfumed medicated liquid soap ( prescribed ) & patting it dry with a super soft miracle fibre cloth ( soft hand towel cotton cloth rips my face red raw ).

As I've said it's become worse the older I've got . At 65 it wasn't too bad , these days now I'm few day of 71 I now have to use a sunblock all year round if I want to play in the raised gardens whilst wearing a light weight wide brimmed hat & light gloves . . Whilst I'm welding ..I've made a fixed cowl over the top of the helmet to stop reflected arc light coming in from the top of the mask and being reflected off the glass onto my face. Prior to doing this I used a damp guest hand towel folded in half stuffed under the top of the mask to block out unwanted lights.

Thanks though for sharing your info

 

[DAPPH]

View attachment 322187

Quick..... pull the visor down , Halloween was a month ago .

 

[redlig]

It’s really getting me down though

the thing is I’m wearing a full welding hood also a cap and it’s in a well ventilated work shop

View attachment 322189 View attachment 322190

As RWD 3M 3said you need to work backwards to eliminate the recent changes. Really just a question of trial and error . Evan down to changes in soap/face cream etc . Change of diet. Something seems to have changed .

 

[Dwitsydude]

As RWD 3M 3said you need to work backwards to eliminate the recent changes. Really just a question of trial and error . Evan down to changes in soap/face cream etc . Change of diet. Something seems to have changed .

So here goes going backwards!
Not on any medication at all so that eliminates that.
Hvnt changed my diet at all.
Not a big drinker I just drink in moderation,
Hvnt changed my soap in anyway
The only thing that I’ve done is bought a new expensive welding screen and all the correct ppe as and required

 

[RWD3M]

So here goes going backwards!
Not on any medication at all so that eliminates that.
Hvnt changed my diet at all.
Not a big drinker I just drink in moderation,
Hvnt changed my soap in anyway
The only thing that I’ve done is bought a new expensive welding screen and all the correct ppe as and required

So, as I said, can you go back to your previous equipment? Even short term, just to rule it out.

 

[Dwitsydude]

Well this is just part time due to covid
in my other job I’m not currently welding ‍

 

[zeppelin builder]

when we used the 2 head orbital pipe machines we used to slabber factor 50 on face and necks
no fancy helmets then

 

[slim_boy_fat]

the thing is I’m wearing a full welding hood also a cap and it’s in a well ventilated work shop

And you're not old enough to suffer age-related skin problems, like some us

 

[Parm]

This is the sort of thing we deal with on an almost daily basis.

I find it incredibly bizarre that your face is burnt but you report no issues with your eyes.

much more information is required before any diagnosis can be made

 

[Parm]

Could the mask be drawing in something that is affecting your skin, like a chemical burn as opposed to uv ?

edit, same as @Morrisman said.

Highly unlikely. That’s a PAPR which will have very good filters

 

[Bullet2012]

Highly unlikely. That’s a PAPR which will have very good filters

If they are used correctly and are genuine !
I appreciate that I am only guessing and have no real info and fully
aknowledge your experience with these matters.

 

[Dwitsydude]

This is the sort of thing we deal with on an almost daily basis.

I find it incredibly bizarre that your face is burnt but you report no issues with your eyes.

much more information is required before any diagnosis can be made

My eyes are ok up to now but my skin is burnt around the socket ‍

 

[Dwitsydude]

when we used the 2 head orbital pipe machines we used to slabber factor 50 on face and necks
no fancy helmets then

I bought some factor 50 from boots £12

 

[Parm]

If they are used correctly and are genuine !
I appreciate that I am only guessing and have no real info and fully
aknowledge your experience with these matters.

All good points and factors we would consider. But that's an Optrel unit and its difficult nigh on impossible to get the wrong filters. Anyway if something was getting past the filters then my first starting point would be to explore respiratory issues. Its very unusual or "something" to attack the skin (which is quite tough) and then not have any effect on the sensitive mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth

 

[Parm]

My eyes are ok up to now but my skin is burnt around the socket ‍

View attachment 322205

Is there something else in the factory ?

 

[equiluxe]

I had an Optrel air fed mask and that had an elastic fabric membrane that went under the chin allowing air out but due to the fan pressure no air in. Could you be allergic to something on the fabric. I would try some of the highest factor sun tan lotion you can get on your face, if you are still getting burns after that it is more likely you are getting an irritation from something else. One other thing! are you making tack welds with the mask of, very tempting I know with the forced air fed visors as they are tricky to put on, if so either keep another handy for tacking or put a torch on top of the visor so it is easier to see. When I was using one on aluminum and stainless steel both of which reflect far more UV than mild steel I never had any UV burn problems, only thing after a few hours underneath continuously I had a feeling of being awfully isolated.

 

[Parm]

My eyes are ok up to now but my skin is burnt around the socket ‍

View attachment 322205

Hold on, are you tacking up and striking the arc just as you flick your lid down ?

 

[Dwitsydude]

All good points and factors we would consider. But that's an Optrel unit and its difficult nigh on impossible to get the wrong filters. Anyway if something was getting past the filters then my first starting point would be to explore respiratory issues. Its very unusual or "something" to attack the skin (which is quite tough) and then not have any effect on the sensitive mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth