Can Wet Cement Burn Your Skin?

OSHA says wet portland cement can cause caustic burns, sometimes referred to as cement burns, which may result in blisters, dead or hardened skin, or black or green skin. CPWR, the Center for Construction Research and Training, says wet concrete is alkaline and causes skin irritation, that with continuous contact it can burn the skin, and that such contact can lead to stinging pain, itching, blisters, scabs, dead skin and swelling.

The damage can be done before you notice. OSHA says that by the time a worker becomes aware of a cement burn, much damage has already been done, that cement burns can get worse even after skin contact with cement has ended, and that anyone experiencing a cement burn should see a health care professional immediately. It advises washing areas of skin that come into contact with wet cement in clean, cool water with a pH-neutral or slightly acidic soap. A 2015 case report in Eplasty describes a 28-year-old man who had burns on both lower legs after kneeling in wet cement for 3 hours while resurfacing the floor of his basement.

Chromium adds an allergy risk. OSHA says hexavalent chromium in cement can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized workers who work with wet portland cement, and CPWR says chromium in the cement can cause allergic reactions. A review in the Journal of Burns and Wounds found 46 patients admitted with cement burns, most aged 16 to 74, with 87% of the injuries occurring in industrial settings and 13% at home.