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Surgical Glue Allergy

Posted by saganjames @saganjames, Dec 11, 2022

This week my dermatologist informed me that I am allergic to surgical glue. A hernia operation earlier in the month has caused me to have infections around the three robotic incision sites and a large red rash and raised red sores around my mid-section and ribs. I am taking AMOX/K CLAV825-125mg twice daily for he infection. I am also applying mupirocin 2% ointment twice daily on the incision wounds which have been oozing. I cover the wounds with a sterile bandage after applying the mupirocin. I also am applying clobetasol propionate .05% on the rash and sores. Has anyone else had this experience and if so, what treatments/meds helped to solve the ailments? Over what period of time please? Thanks!

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cmcorliss | @cmcorliss | Nov 22 11:44pm

I just had my RUL of my lung removed on 11/12, having 4 slits/wounds that have surgical glue closing them up. My skin is in agony all around the sites and, since I’ve had old fashioned eczema (atopic dermatitis) since I was a baby (77 years), I also have the clobetasol Propionate 0.05 and have been using it. Now typical of a Friday night when problems arise, I finally started wondering if there is (I have) an allergy to the surgical glue & what to do.

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1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 23 7:35am
In reply to @cmcorliss "I just had my RUL of my lung removed on 11/12, having 4 slits/wounds that have..." + (show)
@cmcorliss

I just had my RUL of my lung removed on 11/12, having 4 slits/wounds that have surgical glue closing them up. My skin is in agony all around the sites and, since I’ve had old fashioned eczema (atopic dermatitis) since I was a baby (77 years), I also have the clobetasol Propionate 0.05 and have been using it. Now typical of a Friday night when problems arise, I finally started wondering if there is (I have) an allergy to the surgical glue & what to do.

Jump to this post

Hello @cmcorliss and welcome to Mayo Connect. You are asking a good question regarding the possibility of the skin problems being related to an allergy. As you have a history of atopic dermatitis, does this seem to be similar to the previous skin inflammation?

It would be a good idea to contact your doctor's office to get their opinion. If the discomfort is too great to wait until Monday, you can also consider a trip to an urgent care clinic.

Do the skin symptoms get worse in the evening, or does it stay the same all day?

REPLY
1 reply
cmcorliss | @cmcorliss | Nov 24 7:54am
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @cmcorliss and welcome to Mayo Connect. You are asking a good question regarding the possibility..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @cmcorliss and welcome to Mayo Connect. You are asking a good question regarding the possibility of the skin problems being related to an allergy. As you have a history of atopic dermatitis, does this seem to be similar to the previous skin inflammation?

It would be a good idea to contact your doctor's office to get their opinion. If the discomfort is too great to wait until Monday, you can also consider a trip to an urgent care clinic.

Do the skin symptoms get worse in the evening, or does it stay the same all day?

Jump to this post

Hello - Thank you for replying. To back up a bit, I was released from the hospital nearly a week before I posted. Once the dressing over the chest tube was removed, I recognized how irritated my skin was , not only there, but at all the wound sites. After a few days, I thought of using the Kenolog cream (less greasy than the clobetasol ointment) which seemed to help a little, but on Friday night at midnight, my skin was burning. That’s when I finally relented and began the clobetasol ointment,which has increasingly soothed the skin. My eczema history began with itchy, bleeding patches similar to psoriasis for many years though to my twenties and resorted finally to occasional flare-ups and “hot spot” as one of my docs call them. However, I have noted that now I am often having a reaction to medication, vaccines, etc. that cause my skin to erupt with a fine red rash. With the current situation, I could see the red rash but I also had the burning aspect of my skin. Thus, I am pleased that whatever was/is happening to my skin is finally beginning to subside after the use of the clobetasol. Whether I had a reaction to the surgical glue will be a topic for discussion with my surgeon and PCP. Thank you again for responding— I was in agony and reaching out.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 26 6:49am
In reply to @cmcorliss "Hello - Thank you for replying. To back up a bit, I was released from the..." + (show)
@cmcorliss

Hello - Thank you for replying. To back up a bit, I was released from the hospital nearly a week before I posted. Once the dressing over the chest tube was removed, I recognized how irritated my skin was , not only there, but at all the wound sites. After a few days, I thought of using the Kenolog cream (less greasy than the clobetasol ointment) which seemed to help a little, but on Friday night at midnight, my skin was burning. That’s when I finally relented and began the clobetasol ointment,which has increasingly soothed the skin. My eczema history began with itchy, bleeding patches similar to psoriasis for many years though to my twenties and resorted finally to occasional flare-ups and “hot spot” as one of my docs call them. However, I have noted that now I am often having a reaction to medication, vaccines, etc. that cause my skin to erupt with a fine red rash. With the current situation, I could see the red rash but I also had the burning aspect of my skin. Thus, I am pleased that whatever was/is happening to my skin is finally beginning to subside after the use of the clobetasol. Whether I had a reaction to the surgical glue will be a topic for discussion with my surgeon and PCP. Thank you again for responding— I was in agony and reaching out.

Jump to this post

I'm so glad to hear that the discomfort is subsiding, @cmcorliss. I appreciate the update. It sounds as if the clobetasol was the right treatment.

I agree with you that it is a good idea to talk with your surgeon about the skin reaction.

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