Fiberglass dermatitis is one of the most common injuries caused by exposure to the irritant
When dermatitis is the consequence of exposure to fiberglass, it is known as fiberglass dermatitis. It is a type of irritant contact dermatitis that develops due to the penetration of the outermost layer of the skin by tiny shards of fiberglass. Nonetheless, a person can also develop allergic contact dermatitis because of exposure to the fiberglass in a Nectar or Ashley Furniture mattress.
In general, fiberglass dermatitis is acute, with the patient experiencing serious and unpleasant symptoms. Fiberglass dermatitis mostly affects the face, the neck, the forearms, and the hands. The wrists may be particularly affected by it, as there is increased fiber accumulation and sweat and friction in those areas, which lead to severe irritation.
A very common way the family members of people who have fiberglass dermatitis can contract it is by coming in contact with their clothes, on which there are shards of glass. The most usual symptoms of fiberglass dermatitis are the following:
- papules, vesicles, and excoriations
- follicular rash
- redness of the skin
- scale, lichenification, and desquamation
- itching
- ulcerations, fissures, and a burning sensation
The severity of fiberglass dermatitis depends on multiple aspects, such as how deeply the fibers have penetrated the skin, temperature and humidity, the diameter of the fiber, and the length of the fiber. Diagnosing fiberglass dermatitis is usually a very easy process. It can be done by using adhesive tape that will be put on the skin and subsequently examined under the microscope for fiberglass. In many cases, people who struggle with fiberglass dermatitis might also have a sore throat, burning eyes, and a persistent cough.
People who sleep on memory foam mattresses can easily develop fiberglass dermatitis
Unsettlingly, you do not always have to remove the cover of a mattress that has fiberglass as a fire retardant to develop fiberglass dermatitis. If the mattress is damaged by wear and tear, the first layer will come closer and closer to the inner layer, which contains fiberglass. This way, the shards of glass can irritate your skin while you are sleeping and even cut your skin or become embedded in your skin overnight. However, if you remove the outer cover of a Nectar or Ashley Furniture mattress and fiberglass contaminated the room, your chances of developing fiberglass dermatitis increase significantly if you continue to use the mattress.
If you develop fiberglass dermatitis, you will notice a skin rash that gets worse with each passing week. Therefore, it is essential to inspect your mattress for fiberglass and, if it contains it, you should replace it immediately to avoid injury. Luckily, fiberglass dermatitis is temporary and will not cause severe damage to your skin if you get treatment right after you notice the symptoms. Nevertheless, if you fail to notice the signs, do not get timely and proper medical care, and your exposure to fiberglass continues, the symptoms will keep developing, and the condition will aggravate.
