Exposure to fresh concrete has the ability to cause burns to the skin due to the Portland cement present. Concrete burns increase in severity the longer concrete is exposed to the skin. If cement makes contact with your skin, wash the affected area immediately with water, change out protective gear, wash any area that may be exposed but not experiencing symptoms, as these symptoms may take hours to appear. OSHA recommends that if you are experiencing a cement burn, wash your skin with water, apply diluted vinegar to the burn to counteract the alkaline, and most importantly seek medical attention right away as cement burns can be very serious.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis – typically has a rash or redness caused by contact with skin.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis – is caused by contact with a chemical that penetrates the skin and triggers the reaction. This involves an immune response to the skin very similar to poison ivy. The immune response is a rash and thus may appear in areas where concrete did not come in contact with the skin, just like poison ivy. The allergic reaction may exhibit itself as mundane as a small rash and may be as horrific as a severe burn to those who are super sensitive.