Any help for skin that gets sticky when it gets wet?

Where to begin…

I have only read the first 13 pages of this thread. I will continue to read until I finish.

Here is some of my situation. I googled waxy water or some such thing and found this thread.

I was exposed to many building chemicals and molds from a recycled air ventilation system in a public work place building renovation in the early 1990‘s. I had excellent health before the renovation. A number of people became sick before I did. I was in some of the worst areas of the building so I believe my health was slower to deteriorate because of a decent (not perfect) exercise and diet situation.

Once I became ill it seemed to mostly be limited to effecting my respiratory system but by 1995, it was clear I was very chemically sensitive. I could write a book on my story but I just want to share a few things that might be interesting to some who read this specific thread.

I have been moving twice a year between 2 rentals for over 13 years because I cannot afford the housing I need in this area. I am better in this expensive area that is less populated and can have decent air quality more often than where I was living when I became so sick.

I have not used deodorant since 95 or slightly there after. I can tolerate only a very few mild soaps and shampoos and in recent years I have had to substitute my fragrance free shampoo for dye and perfume free laundry detergent. In general I never except on rare occasions drink tonics or sodas. (I have been able to use some essential oils in the last 6 years or so)

For the past 12 summers, I have rented the same home due to the relatively isolated area that allows for better air quality/breathing for much of the time.

This June the hot water heater needed to be replaced. It turns out heaters are now insulated with poly foam instead of fiberglass and the glass or porcelain lined tanks are treated with some patented agent to deal with lime build up in the tank. And both these things are a major problem for me.

This tank has a hard polyfoam exterior. Once the hot water heater fuse goes on, I am sick immediately because the polyfoam is heating into the air. I considered having someone foil it until I used the hot water. My hands were covered with a very toxic to me smelling chemical. Before I knew what was happening I assumed I touched something I had accidentally brought in the house like a chemical on a bag so I re washed my hands in the hot water at least 3 times before I tried washing them in the cold water. The cold water did not have the very toxic smell but it did smell of a fragrance a little like orange like that citrus cleaner, which also makes me sick.

I tried to purge the tank (as suggested by the owner of this rental) but with no improvement, I was sick for days when I tried to use the hot water a second time.

I started using only cold water that I would heat up for washing dishes and sponge baths (in a tubless shower stall) assuming that there must be non toxic tanks like the ones in my winter rentals that don’t make me sick. Tanks have recently been standardized and I have hit 3 or 4 dead ends. I have taken only 4 showers since June 1 in homes that are now rented to summer folk and not available. This part is slightly off topic so I will finish this portion by saying one thing that struck me as I read many of your comments. I have not used hot water since early June. Although the hot water was very toxic to me, I don’t believe the hot water heater has anything to do with the waxy hands, hair etc... and fragrance from the cold water.

When I use the cold water as is or heated on the stove my hands, dishes, body (and the one time I washed my hair in the sink) are all coated with the waxy oily feeling perfumed substance. This water is well water. I have not had this happened the previous 11 years I have rented here. I have had UTI issues every summer. A few years ago, it became clear that as soon as I washed underwear in the summer rental even it washed by hand I could not wear it without UTI problems. I think the waxy issue has been present all 12 summers and has caused the bladder problems. I don’t know why it is only this year that the wax is troubling my skin and hair and coating my dishes.

There is no water softener here. Yesterday I rinsed dishes and glasses with water mixed with baking soda and the film did not form or wash rinsed away. This has me wondering if the salt in a water softener would help other people who have commented.

I wonder if there might be a bacteria that forms in the pipes. I say this because the winter places I have rented are on town water. I have never had the waxy skin and hair thing in the winter. (This is the first summer with that part of the problem) Once I started having the constant bladder challenges for a few summers I found I could no longer take baths in the winter rental (town water) without triggering the bladder problem. This is why I wonder if there is a bacteria carried by the water that might form in the pipes. I guess it could also be that the ground water in the entire area is full of a bacteria or chemical that affects the town water almost as much as the well water.

The only hope I have at the moment lies in one new plastic joint that was put in this year on the well. I am hoping that if I can have that replaced with copper or brass the perfume smelling waxy cold water will end.

As I mentioned above I have reached 3 or 4 (loosing track) dead ends with water heater companies making this a very difficult summer with very few showers at the home of a relative and a friend and leaving me with no where to rent for next summer.

I wanted to post because some people felt that bleaching the hot water heater helped and since I can’t use the hot water heater, I thought people might want to know that I have the wax problem from the cold water.

OH! AND ONE IMPORTANT FACT- I DO NOT HAVE THE WAXY SKIN AND HAIR PROBLEM AT THE WINTER RENTAL OR AT THE HOME OF A RELATIVE (BOTH TOWN WATER) OR AT THE OUTSIDE SHOWER (BELONGING TO A FRIEND) A MILE DOWN THE STREET THAT USES WELL WATER. The person who commented that they have sticky hands that were not sticky from the water in the doctors office may have well water and the office may not have well water or the office may have well water that is treated with a water softener.

Just some of my thoughts and experiences...
Good Luck everyone.

Hi everyone - I'm an early participant in this group and have been following it almost since the beginning. We've had a lot of posters and I'm curious to know if there is anyone reading this who has seen a doctor (of any type) who is even trying to research this problem,. I've seen several doctors and talked to a few others, and not one says any more than he/she doesn't know anything about it. Just wondering.

HELLO EVERYONE: THIS IS DIANE FROM LONG ISLAND, I KNOW I HAVENT WRITTEN IN A LONG TIME. WAY BACK WHEN ON THIS FORUM, I HAD MENTIONED A TELEVISION PROGRAM I WATCHED EVERYDAY CALLED "KNOW THE CAUSE". IT IS NOW ON THE WEB. PLEASE TYPE IN : KNOW THE CAUSE THEN CLICK ON: "KNOW THE CAUSE THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR DOUG KAUFMANN" ,THEN GO THE TOP "WATCH OUR SHOW" . IF ALL OF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO FOLLOW A STRICT DIET ALLOWING NO SUGAR, ETC.(WHICH PROMOTES CANDIDA AND FUNGAS) THE SEARCH FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR THE STICKY SKIN MAY BE OVER. . EVEN THOUGH WE ALL LIVE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IT IS NOT THE GLUE ON THE PAPER TOWELS AS SOME THOUGHT INITIALLY WHEN WE BEGAN THIS DISCUSSION YEARS AGO. WE CAN NEVER REALLY RID OURSELVES COMPLETELY OF FUNGAS AND MOLD EXPOSURE BECAUSE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL AND IN OUR BODIES DUE TO THE FOOD CHAIN. DOUG KAUFMANN EXPLAINS HOW FUNGAS IS AT THE ROOT OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS. TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE DOUG KAUFMANN MAYBE GET HIS BOOKS AND IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO ADHERE TO A STRICT DIET MAYBE A SUCCESS STORY FOR YOU WILL SPRING FORTH. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, WARMEST REGARDS TO MY LONG TIME SUFFERERS: KATCHA AND STICKYMESS...

I think I know what causes this. Now, I'm not an expert, but this only happens to me when I've come into contact with degreasing agents like spotshot, chemicals at work, showering, or when doing the dishes. Your skin has natural oils on it which keep it soft and water-repellent. Oils have a lubricant effect (when you rub your hands together, they slide off of each other). Soap breaks down these oils, like it does the oils in the food on your pots and pans when you're doing the dishes, and raises the frictional coefficient (how friction-y something is) on your skin, causing it to "stick" to itself, and to other things. Imagine rubbing two pieces of velcro together versus rubbing two pieces of felt together. I work in a kitchen, and if I just dab some cooking oil on my hands a wipe it off with a paper towel, it's like it never happened. I don't recommend that with showering, but try body butter or something to restore your skins oil barrier.

Lora, here. I've been sharing and following here since April of 2011 when I developed sticky skin. My sister just left after visiting for a week. Her fourth day here she developed the sticky skin. I had been thinking it was something internal, related to yeast or food sensitivity, but now I'm thinking it's in the environment - water, mold. However, she did accidentally use my wash cloth, so, I guess I could have passed on staph, fungus, or bacteria if that's what I have. Anyone have any other thoughts?

Kacha - how are you doing?