Many amputees complain of being allergic to plastic, and often wonder how
much of this is a result of a skin-allergy or some other cause. Some visit
dermatologists who run patch tests on an area of skin to determine which
products are causing the problems. Another possibility is that excessive
sweating inside the socket is causing skin irritation.
Two years ago, I was approached by a group of five above knee amputees
who were active golfers. All had recently been fitted with new prostheses
using several different kinds of socket materials. All of the golfers
experienced skin irritation, particularly in hot weather.
Since the use of natural products in health care, food, beverages, and
personal hygiene has increased, I decided to check out what was available
in the way of natural remedies for skin problems.
There are chemical drugs to minimize sweating, but they also make a
person feel more thirsty. Other skin-drying products, which are only available
with a doctor's prescription, are Drysol or Hydrosol. The lotion is applied
to the residual limb several minutes prior to donning the prosthesis.
Though effective for several amputees, after repeated use, these lotions
left the skin dry and flaky, and in some cases, itchy.
The Drionic® device was a last resort for some amputees,
but it had limited success for most patients. The electronic control pads
attached to the residual limb create an ion-transfer, preventing the sweat
glands from producing sweat for a period of time. Both the cost of the
device and the time involved in using it, created low acceptance among
amputees. A further consideration is that sweating cools the skin's temperature
and is a normal function of the body. Most amputees will sweat more from
other areas of the body, depending on their level of amputation and the
type of prosthesis they wear.
The only substance I found that dried the skin like an antiperspirant
is alum. A natural crystal, alum is found in the earth and mined like
rock-salt. It is used medicinally as a topical astringent and styptic.
Originally, alum was marketed in irregular shapes similar to that of certain
gemstones. It's understandable that rubbing something that rough under
one's arms isn't very "user-friendly."
As of 1995, alum has been sold in a cylindrical form inside a plastic
holder, appearing like most commonly-produced deodorants and anti-perspirants.
With normal use, one stick lasts several years. Considering its benefits,
it is a most economical solution. Many above-knee amputees with suction
socket prostheses have found alum to be helpful in minimizing the negative
side effects of sweating. This is especially true when wearing the prosthesis
in hot weather or during strenuous activity, when the residual limb is
more likely to slip or rotate inside the socket, causing skin breakdown,
bruising, or inadvertent loss of suspension.
The amputees who had reported skin problems such as eczema, contact
dermatitis, or heat blisters noted significant relief after applying alum
to their residual limbs. Though not all individuals experienced relief,
75% said that they would continue to use the product routinely. Since
my prosthetic assignments have taken me to various parts of the United
States and Canada, I have supplied Alum-Sticks routinely to amputees.
The same positive results have been repeated as experienced by the original
test group of five amputee golfers.
Alum is available from Award Prosthetics. Contact Tony at tony@awardprosthetics.com for
pricing info or refer to our Price List under
Accessories.
Editor's Note: There are a variety of products and treatments
for excessive sweating. Consult your doctor and/or prosthetist for additional
recommendations.
