Nitro versus skin....

[Ormsby Guitars]

Hey guys,

I have been having an intermittant skin problem for the past four years, which doctors cant seem to diagnose, nor do any of the usual treatments work in healing. Ive got a referral to a specialist, but they have a 3-4 week lead time, and by the time the appointment comes, the problems have disappearred.

It looks like a few layers of skin have been pulled off, generally on the sides but also the tips of my fingers. Not all of them, usually only one or two at a time. The skin is soft and red. Progressively gets worst over a week or so, then takes a week to clear up. Quite sore to touch, and being my fingers, means they get touched!

This might happen about once a month. The two times it has been the worst, were both while I was overseas on my annual two week holiday. The last six months has been a lot better, but it is still happening.

I thought I'd narrowed it down to a reaction to Nitro, but Ive recently completed a nice relic restoration on an old Fender, but I didn't have any issues at all. So now I don't know what it is.

All I can think of, is that Ive used less two pack clear, and less ebony, in the last six months. I have also occassionally been wearing surgical gloves whilst spraying, hoping to stop anything, but they only seem to last three seconds a pair...

Anyone had a similar issue?

[Kim]

Gday Perry,

Welcome to the ANZLF.

Sorry to hear of the health issue, it is difficult to say what is actually causing the problem but it does sound like some kind of contact dermatitis. Do you use much epoxy for inlay etc??

I only ask because I had a horrendous experience with the stuff a few years back. No issues with it whatsoever for many years and then I suffered an episode which led to a trip to Rockingham and then Fremantle hospitals where the problem was misdiagnosed as an infection. This led to me sitting at home on the "Hospital in the Home" program receiving big shots of antibiotics for a few weeks and unable to work until I self-diagnosed via Google and got an appointment to see a skin specialist by the name of Kurt Gebauer (top bloke) refereed by my GP. Kurt knew what the problem was without me saying much, he just looked at my legs and arms and said "Gee, I bet you have been itchy" .

That was an understatement.



I do understand that my situation was extreme and that you only describe isolated areas of redness and skin pealing on the fingers but your problem and mine could still be related so I urge you to read this topic.

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1056&p=13655#p13655

And I also highly recommend that you see Kurt Gebauer because he is tops in industrial dermatology and one of the best in his field not just in WA, but nationally.

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

All I can think of, is that Ive used less two pack clear, and less ebony, in the last six months. I have also occassionally been wearing surgical gloves whilst spraying, hoping to stop anything, but they only seem to last three seconds a pair...

If you want hand protection from solvents then nitrile is a better choice. I work with oil and synthetic based drilling muds in my job on the oil rigs and any rubber products have to be nitrile or they wont last 5 minutes.

Extra protection can be afforded by using a good barrier cream under the gloves.

[Ormsby Guitars]

thanks guys.

Yeah the rubber gloves dont last long I do have barrier cream, but I totally forget to use it, and when I have, it's contaminated the paint. Double whammy.

Used a lot of Epoxy since xmas, and got it EVERYWHERE... but no signs of any problems. I did just change brands though, so that could be helping. Until recently, I have rarely used epoxy, except to reglue crappy Ashton bridges back on to a top. Once a month, or less.

It could very well be some of the more exotic timbers even, Wenge, Cocobolo, etc.

[Kim]

Cocobolo is a candidate but often effects the respiratory system as well. Changing brands of epoxy is also significant, there are thousands of formulations. Many people also have a dermatological reaction to the powder used inside protective gloves, nitrile are a much better option and of course things like thinners are also an issue. Just on that note you need to be real careful with thinners, acetone and the like. Many people will damp a rag with it to clean epoxy off their skin. Doing so is a fast track to creating sensitization issues because acetone breaks down the epoxy and then takes it 'IN' to your skin.

Hope you sort out the issue.

Cheers

Kim

[Paul B]

That sounds like contact dermatitis to me and I should know had it bad when I was a pastry cook.

Nitrile gloves with thin cotton gloves underneath, and never get the gloves with power inside, they'll just make things worse, that's why they're banned in hospitals. If you sweat in them - change them, sweat makes it worse too.

Even just washing your hands a lot can bring it on, so you need to switch to sunlight soap if you need to wash your hands a lot (like pastry cooks do, at least the ones you want buy pastry from).

I had a huge reaction when I used a conductive paint in a spray can to shield the cavities in an electric once, I'll never use that stuff again. So if you use that stuff: DON'T.

*EDIT* Oh, and when you try to work out what it is that you're reacting too, remember that sometimes it can take up to 48 hours post exposure before you see a reaction. But sometimes it's immediate. ain't these things fun!

[blazemite]

hahah the chefs always get it bad, howd you get rid of yours?

[Paul B]

hahah the chefs always get it bad, howd you get rid of yours?

Got a different job.

[simso]

Definetly contact dermititis perry.

Rob, one of my guys suffers badly from it, he actually has no fingernails because it's so bad, barrier cream and gloves is the only cure, think of how much thinners and wax grease removers we use daily mate and then take those naked raw hands and touch some exotic woods.

The joys of the trade, have you seen brady lately (brady drums) life time of working with woods has just about crippled him

Steve

[Ormsby Guitars]

Ok, so an update because this is three years old...

I havent had an issue for over six months now, which coincides with me stopping all repair work. So, Im thinking it was lemon oil. That was something I used daily, now, only once a week.

[simso]

Bwahaha, did not notice the thread was that old

[kiwigeo]

Ok, so an update because this is three years old...

I havent had an issue for over six months now, which coincides with me stopping all repair work. So, Im thinking it was lemon oil. That was something I used daily, now, only once a week.

Is there actually anything lemony in that "lemon oil"

[bradydrums]

The joys of the trade, have you seen brady lately (brady drums) life time of working with woods has just about crippled him

Steve

Chris Brady is still very much standing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdBHtUN5gAE

....though we do recommend taking all possible precautions to limit yourself to exposure from all glues, lacquers, raw timber and airborne particles. Gloves, spray masks, proper air filtrations systems, plastic clothing/suits are all necessary. Anything that can go up your nose, into your mouth or eyes, or be absorbed through the skin can do long term damage. It's worth the extra time to "gear up" to protect yourself in the long run.

[simso]

If that's you chris, good to see your still going good mate, I saw you a while back down at classic sounds but did not get a chance to come over and have a chat with you, you were not looking very good that day. I later had a chat with paul, and from what I heard not much had improved, if that's wrong,. then its all good news mate, not enough manufacturers here in Australia of quality goods

Steve

[Kim]

Yeah, if that is you Chris, really good video and thanks for posting.

I know full well you've been on the 'walkabout' trail for unique native timbers to use in your drum production for a very long time.

I recall many years ago when I had been involved in the stair building business. You were kind enough to give me an in depth factory tour which included an inspection of the 'stacks' of semi-processed native woods placed out to season all around your factories yard... With just about every local species imaginable being represented by your many years of hard work and dedication, I was like a kid in a lolly shop as I walked from stacks of lemon scented gum, to native pear and coastal sheoak etc, etc...

Sadly I also remember a few months later when I dropped in only to discover that you had tragically lost the lot to fire..

The prospect of having to start all over again and rebuild that business from scratch, is one that would have sunk many a good man Chris. Its great that you over came and Brady Drums are not only afloat after all those years, but are bigger than ever and that you've also maintain that level of enthusiasm for what you do, which leaves some inspired, others wondering if your not just a little mad...and most, feeling its probably a mixture of both that is responsible for making Brady Drums as unique as the man himself.

Cheers mate.

Kim