Here is another reason to wear gloves

Mycobacterium marinum

My hand currently looks similar, albeit more berry-like and purple/white-ish.

Went to a dermatologist and first thing she asked if I had a fish tank -- to which I replied no. Next she asked if I was doing any outside in the garden (!?) -- to which I also replied no. After some more questioning, I mentioned I have a hydroponic basil setup (which is true) and that I more or less routinely dip my hands into various containers of water.

Turns out that changing nutes/adjusting airstones after getting two mosquito bites on my middle finger while cannanapping was all it took. The two "cuts" allowed the bacteria to get through. Me scratching the at the time harmless looking bites didn't help.

Her recommendations were:

1. Clean surfaces of all tanks to prevent future infection.
2. Wear gloves when working with tanks.

So there you have it. A bacteria people who deal with water regularly -- people with fish tanks, marine biologists, swimming pool cleaners, and apparently hydro growers -- should know about.

wait... you saying bad bacteria can cause issues?? I refuse to believe this..

gioua said:

wait... you saying bad bacteria can cause issues?? I refuse to believe this..

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Face palm ufr

dip my hand in compost tea after a cut and it got infected... I am sure it was from putting my hand in the tea after getting the cut... had to go on antibiotic

i get the same thing on my ring finger, when i where my ring... it starts to itch real bad.. so i stop wearing it.. the wife is cool about....lol..... but it would even start to look like the picture above... had 3 places tell me that my ring was real white gold... so i figuered i was just alergic to it and now will only wear it when we go to family related function... i have never wore any gold every in my life. so i sumed it up as that....... soooo i must have that bact... liveing on my skin....i do have very hairy fingers

Thought wearing gloves was just common sense. Guess not.

Actually BBC, it isn't and I haven't been except when I am doing trimming or when I harvested. However, this particular post has scared me into submission and I shall, from this point forward, be wearing gloves for all basic tasks concerning the plants.

Thank you OP.

daaaaaamn. ok,that looks like those STD pictures they show you in school ...... IM now using gloves for everything dude .Thank you for sharing this !

Thanks for posting. I was not aware of this possibility. I never wear gloves but I wash and disinfect my hands regularly when working with res water since I use microbe tea. I also disinfect my hands anytime I enter or leave the flower room for any reason. I have never had the need to reach my hand completely into the water, but I quite often handle wet air stones and the like.

I had the same issue a few years back but i caught mine from a saltwater fish tank.. i didnt know u could get it from gardening! Even tho ive been through it i still say gloves are for pussys i raw dog everything!

BigLittlejohn said:

Actually BBC, it isn't and I haven't been except when I am doing trimming or when I harvested. However, this particular post has scared me into submission and I shall, from this point forward, be wearing gloves for all basic tasks concerning the plants.

Thank you OP.

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It should be if you have common sense, it's really that simple.

Personal protection equiptment is the way to go. Can never be to safe.