"What Measures Should I Take When My Face Turns Red After Welding?"

Handling and Hazards of Electric Welding Burns

During construction or renovation, electric welding is often utilized. However, welding generates high temperatures, and without proper protection, it can inflict varying degrees of harm to human skin. For instance, it can cause facial capillaries to dilate rapidly, leading to facial redness and itching. This is a manifestation of skin damage from welding and requires prompt attention.

What to Do When Your Face is Burned by Welding

When the face becomes red from welding, it's primarily due to the high temperature of the welding gun stimulating facial skin, causing a surge in blood flow to facial capillaries, resulting in a flushed appearance. If this occurs, simply avoiding further exposure to welding for some time will allow the skin color to gradually return to normal. If persistent facial redness develops due to prolonged welding, products with skin barrier repair functions can be used. These can increase skin thickness, reduce skin temperature, and to some extent, improve facial redness. Hyaluronic acid repair biomembranes are suitable for this purpose. Additionally, laser therapy can be considered to rapidly reduce the redness on the face.

Hazards of Electric Welding

1. Pneumoconiosis

Welding fume is the primary factor causing pneumoconiosis, and its composition varies depending on the type of welding rod used. During welding, the arc discharge reaches temperatures of 4000-6000°C, generating copious amounts of smoke and dust that permeate the work environment and are easily inhaled into the lungs. Long-term inhalation can lead to fibrotic changes in lung tissue, known as welder's pneumoconiosis, often accompanied by manganese poisoning, fluorosis, and metal fume fever. Symptoms include chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, as well as headaches and fatigue. Pneumoconiosis is a severe occupational disease with no known cure.

2. Chronic Poisoning

Prolonged exposure to welding fumes containing excessive amounts of manganese, lead, and other substances can lead to chronic manganese poisoning and lead poisoning, damaging the nervous system and causing symptoms such as peripheral neuritis, memory loss, mental abnormalities, and emotional instability. In severe cases, individuals may experience weakness in their limbs and difficulty walking. Studies have shown that manganese poisoning can lead to Parkinson's disease among long-term welders.

3. Metal Fume Fever

Metal fume fever is a type of illness caused by welding fumes. During welding, large amounts of metal oxides are released, and when inhaled, they can cause a sharp rise in body temperature and an increase in peripheral blood cells, leading to systemic symptoms. Symptoms typically appear 6-12 hours after exposure and include dizziness, fatigue, chest tightness, shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain, followed by fever and leukocytosis. In severe cases, patients may experience chills and shivering.

4. Hazards of Arc Light Radiation

The arc light generated during welding comprises infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light, in particular, poses hazards through photochemical effects on the human body, damaging the eyes and exposed skin. It can cause corneal conjunctivitis (electric ophthalmia), chronic blepharitis, lens opacity, and skin erythema. Symptoms include eye pain, photophobia, tearing, eyelid swelling and spasms. Skin exposed to ultraviolet light may develop well-defined edematous erythema, which can progress to blisters, exudates, and swelling, accompanied by a pronounced burning sensation.