I'm a CA casualty ???

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cbb007

Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
64
Location
Glenwood, IL 60425
I don't usually make a lot of pens, maybe 1 to 3 a week, but leading up to the Ohio Pen Show in early November I was making more than usual. Just before the pen show I developed a small, red crusty patch of skin on the inside of my little finger on my right hand – I'm right-handed. This little patch would not go away.

After the pen show I reverted to my 1 to 3 pens a week. All of my pens have a CA finish. Leading up to Christmas I started making more pens as gifts. My small crusty patch of skin started spreading. It spread as tiny bumps and after a week the bumps merged into rough, red, crusty patches that itch like crazy.

So now I have rough, red, crusty hands. It's all over my hands, front and back, all over my fingers, my palms, my hands are swollen, I had to take my ring off because I was afraid it would cut off my circulation.

The patches have spread up both of my arms up to above my elbows. There are a few around my ankles, a few on my left thigh, and I just noticed I have a patch and a few bumps around my waist.

I suppose they may spread because of touching or taking a shower. If I do scratch them enough to irritate them, they are watery inside.

When I make a pen I wear a long-sleeved shirt. The pens I make are all acrylics.

I did have a problem that when I used CA and inhaled the fumes, I got like a really bad head cold for 3 days. Now I use an organic vapor half-mask made by 3M and as long as I maintain a good seal, it takes care of the breathing problem.

One theory is that my condition is caused by the CA dust when I am sanding.
Another theory is – I had shingles about 2 years ago – could this be related?

I haven't made a pen in 5 days and my condition MIGHT be improving, but I'm not sure about that. I haven't gone to a doctor, yet, but I am going this week.

Has anybody else had something like this happen to them?
 
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You need to see a doctor, stat! Why have you waited so long? Oh, that's right, you're a guy. Seriously, go see a doctor.

I always wear gloves when using CA.
 
:eek:
You are going to wait for an appointment???????????

You live in one of the most advanced countries in the world and you are going to wait??? Are you waiting till bits actually start falling off??:confused:

Go now.
 
Doctor, HELLOOOOO???? Are you going to wait till it spreads to your brain, or till your arms fall off. Or maybe you have a potted plant in the corner that happens to be poisened ivy.
 
could be contact dermatitis, or it could be one condition aggravating another .. or it
could be something you're not even thinking of. Whatever it is, is seems like you've
reached your own exposure threshold.

BTW .. those long sleeves you mention .. they're not cotton or wool, are they?
CA reacts with them both, and you could find that the CA that gets 'slung' off the
workpiece is having it's own little reaction chamber right on your sleeve while you
are blissfully unaware of it.
Don't wear cotton or wool when playing with CA. The exothermic reaction could even
cause them to ignite. (rare, but possible)
 
Last time I did a CA finish on an exotic wood, I ended up in Emerg with giant hives the size of dinner plates all over...had to get an immune suppression treatment to stop my body reacting so strongly to the irritant.

The doc said it'll get worse before it gets better, so he was very happy I came in quickly - allergies are not something to mess around with (esp. as I have Asthma)
 
cbb007 said:
I don't usually make a lot of pens, maybe 1 to 3 a week, but leading up to the Ohio Pen Show in early November I was making more than usual. Just before the pen show I developed a small, red crusty patch of skin on the inside of my little finger on my right hand – I'm right-handed. This little patch would not go away.

After the pen show I reverted to my 1 to 3 pens a week. All of my pens have a CA finish. Leading up to Christmas I started making more pens as gifts. My small crusty patch of skin started spreading. It spread as tiny bumps and after a week the bumps merged into rough, red, crusty patches that itch like crazy.

So now I have rough, red, crusty hands. It's all over my hands, front and back, all over my fingers, my palms, my hands are swollen, I had to take my ring off because I was afraid it would cut off my circulation.

The patches have spread up both of my arms up to above my elbows. There are a few around my ankles, a few on my left thigh, and I just noticed I have a patch and a few bumps around my waist.

I suppose they may spread because of touching or taking a shower. If I do scratch them enough to irritate them, they are watery inside.

When I make a pen I wear a long-sleeved shirt. The pens I make are all acrylics.

I did have a problem that when I used CA and inhaled the fumes, I got like a really bad head cold for 3 days. Now I use an organic vapor half-mask made by 3M and as long as I maintain a good seal, it takes care of the breathing problem.

One theory is that my condition is caused by the CA dust when I am sanding.
Another theory is – I had shingles about 2 years ago – could this be related?

I haven't made a pen in 5 days and my condition MIGHT be improving, but I'm not sure about that. I haven't gone to a doctor, yet, but I am going this week.

Has anybody else had something like this happen to them?
Click to expand...
Sheeeeesh,, you need help.
 
Man unless you are in the middle of some god forsaken rain forest get your butt to a DR. if you are in a rain forest go see the nearest village Shaman, before some appendage falls off.
 
Clay..run, don't walk to the doctor. NOW!
You could be setting yourself up for some nasty secondary infection,
and you are likely running your immune system down.
Stuff like this usually doesn't just "go away" on it's own.

Let us know what you find out from the doctor, I expect a report tomorrow.
 
Update

I couldn't get in to see my doctor today, so I went to the urgent aid clinic.

I have contact dermatitis.

I got a steroid shot that really hurt for 1/2 an hour but helped relieve the itching in the same time.

The dr prescribed something for the itching and something to make the rash go away.

Thank you all for the comments.
 
You still need to see your regular DR. and keep on top of this. If you contenue to have problems let me know and I can send some drawings for an inclosed lathe and down draft table to keep the dust off of you while you work.
Mark
 
Glad to hear that it was nothing more serious, (not that contact dermatitis is fun) but you may want to consider wipe on Polyurethane for a finish. It takes a lot longer, but it does give a far more durable finish than any of the friction polishes, I've used it on quite a few pens, and found it to be a good durable finish, it just takes forever. there are also some Lacquers that are decent, Probably not as durable as CA, but adequate for most pens.
Hope you feel like turning again soon.
 
Have your Doc call in a script for permetherin 5 % cream, if it is dermatitis it won't hurt. But I bet if you use this stuff for a week it will be gone. My wife says humor an ol women an try it. Thee script will cost ya 6 bucks.
 
Clay,
I'm glad you went to get it looked at. From what you describe it sounds like
it was getting pretty bad. I hope this gets you taken care of!

Jack mentions mites..we recently had a friend who got mites, it was a nasty,
bug bit/rash looking thing. It spread pretty quick for her, and got on areas you mentioned
which are typical infestation points. This is not uncommon, from what we heard.
They can infest clean people, as she was a very tidy lady. She has no idea how she got it.
She got the Permethrin cream and it helped.
Keep this in mind if what you have does not work. I read that a Dr can do a simple skin scraping and examine it under microscope to check for mites, to verify it is or is not.

Thanks for the update, please take good care of yourself!
 
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