Dang it, more wrist rash

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Gary Evans

>Hi Mike,

There is a cream available that you can apply to your skin before exposure to poison ivy. I would think that it would work the same way with wood dust. I'm pretty sure it is sold over the counter at your pharmacy. Ivy-block or something to that effect.

If this works, you owe me an osage-orange turning. 8^]

GE

Poison Ivy and Osage

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Mike,

Don't give up just yet. That may have actually been poison ivy and not the osage that gave you the rash. Maybe wearing one of those long sleeved smocks from Packard Woodworks would help?

From what I've seen in my neck of the woods, for some reason poison ivy just loves climbing up osage orange trees. Maybe because they were used to border properties, and pastures and they weren't tended to as much as tress around the house.

Back in December of 2002, I came across a huge stash of Osage and noticed some "furry" vines climbing up the trunks. I was lucky enough to be wearing heavy work gloves at the time and removed all traces of that vine. However, on on section of trunk, it was like the damn vine was welded to the trunk! I ended up using my chainsaw to cut it away. It wasn't until later that my suspicions were confirmed and I was told that this indeed was poison ivy.

See ya around,

Dominic

Olde time remedy

TDaniel

>Mike, my ancestors treated poison ivy by wetting the area with butermilk and then sprinkling baking soda over it. I can't personally vouch for this because poison ivy does not affect me. Years ago there was a product available at the drug stores called "Poison Ivy Extract" which was made by Cutter Labs. You started by drinking a drop in a glass of water and worked your way up to 10 drops in a glass of water. It worked for me but I think some who were very sensitive had adverse reactions so it was taken off the market.

Check with your druggist but I was told it was no longer available.

TD

Re: Olde time remedy *LINK*

Mike Schwing from Md.

>I doubt this is poison ivy but Dom's note is taken in good regard, I've seen vines climbing things I was chainsawing and wondered if they might be poison ivy. This osage didn't have anything growing on it and the rash is exactly like the one I got from makore. Long sleeves and that tecknu stuff are good ideas, too.

I found a very good website from the forestry service with info on skin and other reactions from wood. It lists sap from osage orange as causing dermatitis.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/techmenu.html


Forestry Tech Sheets

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Brad Vietje

>Mike,

I Hope you can defeat the P-I problem, and I think Dominic should get a nice Osage bowl blank anyway ;)

Since you have a sensitivity to certain woods already, you might want to look into the liquid gloves stuff as a precaution. I plan to get some for days when I turn exotics, but haven't gotten it yet. Walnut is one of the domestics that causes a lot of problems for many people, and most weren't bothered by it until they had used it for quite a while and built up an allergy to it. Best of luck !

Safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Dinyar Chavda

>Mike:

If you still have a rash, try using a product called Tecnu. It works wonders on poison ivy, oak and sumac rashes, and might work on whatever is causing your problem.

Dinyar

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Bob Persing

>Mike,

A lot of good advice given on how to deal with skin contact irritation but the worst irratation can come if you are indeed allergic to the Osage and you breathe the dust from it. I have this problem with Walnut but a simple dust mask and a thorough vacuuming after sanding keeps the respitory discomfort away.

BobP

Still got a lot left!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Brad,

You wrote:

"...and I think Dominic should get a nice Osage bowl blank anyway ;)

Nah! I've still got three huge logs from my previous haul waiting to be cut into slabs! And I have a line on some more if I can get my chainsaw running again.

Dominic

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Verne Horton

>Sometimes it seems like I can get a rash from anything . . . even walking by wood grained formica! As a result, I wear long cuff "rubber" gloves when turning anything that remotely looks like it could cause me a problem. As Domonic suggests, I wear long sleeves and then stretch the glove cuff over the cuff of the sleeve. A pair will last me (with a little care) through a full turning session and by the box, they run $.75 a a pair . . . which is better than getting rid of the wood! My source is: Conney Safety at http://ecommerce.conney.com and then a search for "Long Cuff N-DEX Disposable Nitrile Gloves"

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Mike Schwing from Md

>Thanks - I don't even turn the lathe on without respiratory filtration of some sort. I don't like breathing in sawdust of even stuff I'm not allergic to.

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

RevDoug

>I came down with a bad case of poison oak a few years ago. The ER doc told me that anytime I even think I might have come in contact with anything that might cause contact dermitius, take a cool to luke warm shower and instead of using shampoo and soap, use a dishwashing detergent like Dawn. The idea is to wash off not only the dust, stems, leaves, etc., but to remove the oils as well. Things like poison ivy contain lots of oil. It turns out that its the oil that you spread as you scratch. Remove the oil, nip the spread in the bud (so to speak). If I found that I was alergic to the dust from some wood(s), I believe I would make this my practice after being in the shop, not just when I go to the woods.

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Charlie Anderson

>Looks like I'll need to make a trip north!

Re: Dang it, more wrist rash

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>Hey check out Harbor Freight for those gloves.

A lot cheaper than .75 a pair.

Good turning and be safe

Bill