Anyone out there ever deal with a wood allergy? I think I am having an allergic reaction to the lacewood I’ve been working with. I have a rash in the bend of both arms and down near the wrist. It itches like crazy, and cortisone cream helps, but it’s not healing. I am seeing the Dr. this afternoon, but wondered how other knots members deal with their allergy reactions. Thanks. Tom
“Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand”
Replies
Tom, I did not see lacewood on the toxic wood list. Maybe it is listed under another name. Please see the list on the following URL.
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/arthazards/wood2.html
Since lacewood is not listed, is it possible that the reaction is to something else?
I hope that you get better soon.
Steve
SteveIt's entirely possible that it's something else, but I've definitely had a reaction to the lacewood--very itchy eyes when machining it (and to help things, I have no dust collection!) and some sneezing. That was pretty mild compared to the rash. Thanks for the good wishes. I'm off to see the Doc in a few...Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Tom,
http://www.woodzone.com/woods/lacewood.htm
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
BobGood link. The lacewood I'm working with sounds like the description there, but it looks a bit different from the photo, and the piece I'm working with couldn't be more flatsawn--the grain runs from one side of the board (4" wide) to the other with little arc. I'm making a mirror frame for a friend and she loves the look of the wood. It is pretty stuff, but I can't wait to get this out of my shop. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I'm back from the Doc and it's steroids to calm this stuff down. Lacewood is the first non-native wood I've worked with, but I've heard of folks having allergic reactions to oak, maple, mesquite, etc. I've still got to finish this project, but I'll be wearing a long sleeve T shirt, goggles and a mask. In my unairconditioned garage and Houston's heat and humidity, it should be a blast! :) Tom
I had a bad reaction to lacewood one time, but I've used it without a problem since. I was told that sometimes imported wood is treated before it is exported and that some people react to the treatment rather than to the wood itself. However, I've also been told that people who have sensitivity to a specific wood may find their sensitivity to be cumulative -- that, is gets worse each time. Sorry you had the experience.
I had heard of folks having an allergy to different wood species, which given how and what humans are allergic to, makes perfect sense. I remember an article in FWW where a woodworker was making a clock from a mesquite tree for a clinic in San Antonio. The mesquite tree he used for lumber was cut down to build the clinic. He was deep into the project when he figured out he was allergic to mesquite. He finished the clock, however. I should be able to finish the frame, but will take precautions to prevent another outbreak. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
My friend that I am making the mirror frame for has already volunteered to come over and sand the frame if needed with the ROS or by hand. I'll go in the house while he sands. The rash is similar to poison ivy--red spots that blister. I've already from the steroid shot and I am starting the oral steroids in the am. Lacewood is pretty, but from now on I'll admire it from a distance! Tom
There is a product called Ivyblock that can be applied prior to exposure to poison ivy (or oak or sumac) that prevents the absorption of rushiol, the oil on the plant, that causes the allergic reaction. I f you have a contact allergy to lacewood, Ivyblock may work...and be more comfortable than the long sleeved shirt. With poion ivy, washing with cool soapy water within 15 mins usually will prevent the absorption and subsequent reaction.
If the rash occurs within minutes to hours after exposure, then it is not a true allergy but more of an irritative dermatitis. Poison ivy like rashes occur 24-72 hours after exposure and are called delayed hypersenitivity reactions.
Neil
Thanks so much! Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
You must invest in a dust collection system, it will save you a trip to the doctor office which can get expensive and also save your lungs.
The topical reaction you are experiencing can be magnified internally. This could turn out to be a serious health risk for you and your family. Be sure to clean your shop and the surrounding area when you are finished with the project. Good luck, Steve
I got a nasty reaction to western red cedar about 3/4 of the way through shingling a roof. Promptly popped a couple of Benadryl capsules, showered & slathered Benadryl topical cream on it. Then, I had a nice long nap. Husband had to finish the roof. I sometimes have lesser reactions to working pine. Don't know if it's temperature related or species related. Or both. Have learned to work outdoors, use a dust mask, wear long sleeved shirts & use a barrier product on exposed skin when the sawdust is flying.
Tom.
I was talking to a turner the other night. He said that he has stopped turning lacewood because he always got a bad reaction to it. He mentioned a few other woods that he was allergic too.
Good luck.
Mel
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Thanks, mel. I have actually gotten worse and the wait to get into a dermatologist is laughable. So I'm just sittin' and scratchin' (not really, but it does itch like crazy!) Nasty stuff. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Western red cedar is one of the more common allergens in the NW US and in Japan. You might want to reconsider whether you ever work with it again since reexposure would probably get worse. Any of the spalted woods would also be allergenic due to the fungus that is the spalting. I would suggest that you very carefully vacuum out the whole shop to remove all of the residual dust and then wash out the vacuum itself.
Edited 8/13/2007 8:59 pm ET by dherzig
I got in to see the Dermatologist today, and he had never seen an allergic reaction to wood before--I made his day! I now have what looks like a great case of poison ivy between my wrists and elbows on the inside of my arms. He gave me a 15 day regimen of prednisone to take and is confident it will knock this out. This really took me by surprise even though I knew that wood allergies were out there. I'm not going to finish this project; I am going to set up the machines, and coach my friend through finishing the mirror frame. He will be wearing a long sleeve T shirt, goggles and respirator. I'm not going to be anywhere near the dust. I don't want to deal with this again! Thanks to Knots folks who sent me great links and information. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"Edited 8/14/2007 5:16 pm by ctsjr82
Edited 8/14/2007 6:20 pm by ctsjr82
Tom, sorry to hear of your discomfort! Must be pretty bad to have to resort to a course of pred. :-0 forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FGYep. At least the prescription was cheap--less than $4 for the 15 days. The dermatologist said that the short course of steroids last week was not long enough, and you have to stay on it over several weeks to knock it down. Sure enough, last week as the course tapered off it came raging back worse than before. I realize we humans can be allergic to anything anywhere. It could have been oak, maple, cherry, whatever. I've know people who have grown up in West Texas and been around mesquite their whole lives, but when they cut into the wood and encountered the dust, broke out like this. Just random universe weirdness. I do know this: If I ever suspect another wood allergy, out the stuff goes, and I am going to stick to woods that I know are safe for me for a while. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I don't have enough understanding of allergies to get why, once the allergen (lacewood) is gone, the reaction continues. Did he go into that at all?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FGMy understanding (this Dr. did not explain it but an allergist did years ago when I started allergy shots for hayfever) is the allergen makes the body produce histamine, a defense against the allergen. Antihistamines block the swelling, itchy eyes, itchy skin, etc. Happens whenever you get bit by a mosquito, wasp, ant, bull nettle, etc. This reaction I've had is really no different than poison ivy, just a different plant. My parents were both physicians and whenever I would ask them a question like this or 'how did you know that?', their response was "that's why it's a 12 year course!" LOL Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
My admittedly simplistic understand has been that once the allergen is removed, the reaction (usually) stops. But your reaction re-appeared after the pred was stopped, but the lacewood was no longer around, right? That where I'm confused. I know there's at least one MD here on the boards, maybe he'll stop by and explain. I have a persistent curiosity about such things.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FGI could take a guess at it, but my guess and $1.68 would get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks! Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
Forestgirl,
The type of allergy being described is a Type 4 or delayed hypersensitivity reaction. The offending agent (allergen) is absorbed into the skin where the body's defense system recognizes it as foreign. A series of reactions take place as the body mounts an attack on the offending agent. Unfortunately the commander of this assault takes the old Vietnam War philosophy of "We had to destroy the village to save it" resulting in all the uncomfortable symptoms of a poison ivy type rash. Histamine is a very minor player (if at all) which is why antihistamines like Benadryl don't really help except a little with itching (probably because it makes you drowsy).
The allergen stays in the skin for quite awhile which is why sometimes the rash returns when the prednisone is stopped. Most contact dermatitis will respond to a week of prednisone but occasionally longer courses are needed depending on the amount of allergen exposure.
The dermatologist hadn't seen a case because it's really not that common.
Neil
Thanks, Neil, I feel all better now. ;-) forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
forestgirl,
Ya but I bet you're just itchin for one o' dem doors, aintcha? <G>
Feeling a bit too roudy today,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 8/16/2007 12:04 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Tom,
Glad to see you're on the road to recovery. In your original post it caught my eye as I had heard that lacewood was highly allergic to some folks so I quickly searched the net.
Several years ago I was cutting flooring samples (outside w/dust mask on) of an exotic wood (don't remember what) and within minutes I was having a difficult time breathing. Ceased that operation real quick and was lucky that it only lasted a few minutes.
You never know about wood and its effects on folks. And they don't have to be exotic either, spalted maple comes to mind too.
Best Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
BobIt's just one of those strange things in life. You never know what you will be allergic to. Fortunately for me, this is fairly simple to cure. And you are right, it could be any wood, not just exotics. Lacewood does seem to be one of those that may be more troublesome than others, but that's just an impression I have based on feedback from knots folks and other woodworkers I've talked to. I am fortunately seeing improvement from the prednasone. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
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