Not quite two weeks ago I spent a couple hours in front of the lathe turning duck call barells. I was turning Bolivian Rosewood (aka Pau Ferro, Morado), Bloodwood, and Jatoba (aka Brazillain Cherry). A nice satisfying evening. The next morning I woke to some irritation on the inside of my arms. A few days went by and it started getting worse and over the counter meds were doing nothing. Last Wednesday I went to a doctor as the rash had fully developed on my arms, hands, and fingers. Large blisters between the fingers and painful irritation along the creases of my palms was wreaking havoc with my state-of-mind. He gave me a steroid shot and I went home thinking that would do it. Nope. By Friday it was worse. Unbelievably aggravating. I couldn't sleep, concentrate, and missed almost two days of work. Went to my dermatologist on Friday and got some stronger steroids (30 mg prednisone a day for the next week and 15 mg for another. Water retention here I come.). I think as of Sunday afternoon I've turned the corner and the worst is over. It will be weeks or longer before the redness and blisters heel. The itching and blistering was unlike anything I've ever experienced. My arms are splotchy purple and look mean as Michelle puts it.
Obviously this event got my doing some searches on wood allergies and trying to id which wood nailed me. Odds on favorite is the Bolivian Rosewood which I've now read online more than a few personal experiences. This stuff can really mess you up. Cocobolo has long had a reputation for causing irritation but there sure are a lot of first hand testimonies of dealing with Bolivian Rosewood on the net. It must be worse. It was suggested 5-25% percent of the population is allergic to it. There's one rain forrest tree that deserves to be slashed and burned.
Since I don't know which one got me I'm ridding the shop of all of them plus a few more that are close cousins, Bocote and Cocobolo, and am going to stick with Bois D' Arc, walnut, ebony, persimmon, locust, and others that only rarely affect turners. There are plenty of choices out there that are safer so need to mess with stuff that makes me sick, or even might. Not going to fool with gloves, barrier creams, and long sleeves, to keep working with it. It will find a way to my skin no matter what.
Just thought I'd pass on my little misery so if it happens to someone else they will know not to pussyfoot around and get to a dermatologist ASAP.
Obviously this event got my doing some searches on wood allergies and trying to id which wood nailed me. Odds on favorite is the Bolivian Rosewood which I've now read online more than a few personal experiences. This stuff can really mess you up. Cocobolo has long had a reputation for causing irritation but there sure are a lot of first hand testimonies of dealing with Bolivian Rosewood on the net. It must be worse. It was suggested 5-25% percent of the population is allergic to it. There's one rain forrest tree that deserves to be slashed and burned.
Since I don't know which one got me I'm ridding the shop of all of them plus a few more that are close cousins, Bocote and Cocobolo, and am going to stick with Bois D' Arc, walnut, ebony, persimmon, locust, and others that only rarely affect turners. There are plenty of choices out there that are safer so need to mess with stuff that makes me sick, or even might. Not going to fool with gloves, barrier creams, and long sleeves, to keep working with it. It will find a way to my skin no matter what.
Just thought I'd pass on my little misery so if it happens to someone else they will know not to pussyfoot around and get to a dermatologist ASAP.
