I work as a massage therapist. And today I realized that I'm having adverse effects from working on someone. I don't wear gloves usually and use my hands with skin to skin contact with their skin. I have been seeing someone regularly that mentioned they were taking testosterone cream and they would specifically apply it in a different area than on their days they have appts. I didn't think anything of it since I would be avoiding the direct area. But after today I noticed that this same patient smells like marijuana as if she smoked right before the appt. Also in the last few appts with her I noticed an increased heart rate after finishing the massage. So I now know that this testosterone has probably been absorbing through my skin for some time as I usually see her once a week. Also my cycle was not normal at all recently skipping one cycle completely. All of these are side effects of testosterone. I know I must wear gloves with her from now on which hopefully will stop the ill effects.

I did want to ask a couple questions here because I want to make sure I'm keeping my body as healthy as possible. So do you think it would be best to start wearing gloves with all the people I see? I'm wondering if I'm being exposed to chemicals pharmaceuticals etc. unknowingly and that maybe I should take precautions to maintain my health. Also I understand there's a risk of second hand smoke with marijuana. But would the fumes from the person smoking before hand and its carried in on their clothes expose me to it as well as skin to skin contact with the person that's high?