Hi, y'all.

I assume that there are several here who have successfully dealt with
the problem I have:

I seem to have developed a sensitiviy/allergy to West System epoxy
sanding dust, or perhaps fiberglass.

Over the time we were working on the bottom of Flying Pig (now
launched, hooray!), my left arm, one day, itched uncontrollably. All
the usual itching relief failed: hydrocortisone cream, steroid
lotion/ointment, spray topical anesthetic (Lanacaine, e.g.) and the
like.

The only way I found relief was mopping it with clear vinegar, and
overdosing on Benadryl. The vinegar provided temporary relief from the
itching, but depending on how severe it is/was (more below), it took
constant application to keep it at bay. The benadryl apparently
worked, or, possibly, it just knocked me out so I was unconscious.

Later, by a couple of weeks, however, this seems to be spreading. My
initial spot, the top of my left forearm, has now spread to all the
forearm, and creeping up my bi/triceps. Worse, I'm now experiencing
the same thing in my right arm.

Heavy activity, such as was the case yesterday during our splashing,
seems to keep it in check. The symptoms come most aggressively shortly
after going to sleep. This morning was the worst - every hour to 90
minutes I had to get up, vinegar, and take another benny. No relief.

It's impossible to sleep like this - and overdosing on Benadryl puts me
to sleep, which is one thing, but I have too much to do on the boat to
allow that to continue.

Anyone here successfully dealt with this problem? That is, found a
means to keep it at bay and still function?

Thanks.

L8R,

Skip, off to another vinegar batch and then try to get a nap so I can
function today

SkipGundlach wrote:

I seem to have developed a sensitiviy/allergy to West System epoxy
sanding dust, or perhaps fiberglass.




Hi Skip:

im not a doc but, I think the other poster has a good place to start.,
that is, why do you think its epoxy sensitivity?

Cured epoxy I believe is reasonably inert. So epoxy dust on the skin
should not be a problem for most.

Glass dust is a bitch and presents a real problem removing it from
clothing. I wore long sleeved cotton shirts when 40 gritting some
glass. I got a rash on the inside of my arms around my elbows. It
stayed around for a week. I noticed nearly micron lengths of glass
fiber still in the shirt after washing. I stopped grinding, tossed the
shirts after one use, and all was well..

Some antibiotics create a sun sensitivity and will produce a skin
rash.

A friend of mine drank alcohol daily and after a few years "got a
weird rash" nobody could cure. He stopped drinking cause he was in jail
and his rash disappeared after two months of jail house sobriety. Do
you drink a pint of booze daily?

Boat yards and boat work are very dirty places with lots of killer dust
and chemicals. Ahh for the refreshing smell of Port Orford cedar on
white oak frames.
bob

The west system and other brand epoxies have an warning as to some people
developing an sensitivity or allergic reaction to the epoxy , the only cure
is to avoid it . Check out their safety sheet.

Sal

"SkipGundlach" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, y'all.

I assume that there are several here who have successfully dealt with
the problem I have:

I seem to have developed a sensitiviy/allergy to West System epoxy
sanding dust, or perhaps fiberglass.

Over the time we were working on the bottom of Flying Pig (now
launched, hooray!), my left arm, one day, itched uncontrollably. All
the usual itching relief failed: hydrocortisone cream, steroid
lotion/ointment, spray topical anesthetic (Lanacaine, e.g.) and the
like.

The only way I found relief was mopping it with clear vinegar, and
overdosing on Benadryl. The vinegar provided temporary relief from the
itching, but depending on how severe it is/was (more below), it took
constant application to keep it at bay. The benadryl apparently
worked, or, possibly, it just knocked me out so I was unconscious.

Later, by a couple of weeks, however, this seems to be spreading. My
initial spot, the top of my left forearm, has now spread to all the
forearm, and creeping up my bi/triceps. Worse, I'm now experiencing
the same thing in my right arm.

Heavy activity, such as was the case yesterday during our splashing,
seems to keep it in check. The symptoms come most aggressively shortly
after going to sleep. This morning was the worst - every hour to 90
minutes I had to get up, vinegar, and take another benny. No relief.

It's impossible to sleep like this - and overdosing on Benadryl puts me
to sleep, which is one thing, but I have too much to do on the boat to
allow that to continue.

Anyone here successfully dealt with this problem? That is, found a
means to keep it at bay and still function?

Thanks.

L8R,

Skip, off to another vinegar batch and then try to get a nap so I can
function today

The active ingredient in "Afterbite", a campers cure for insect bites
seems to be ammonia. Maybe you could try some of that. Maybe some ice.
I had slight itching problems but only for a few hours at the end of
each day after a week of sanding epoxied GRP surfaces. Had the same
reaction to some species of hardwood dust too. Went away when I
stopped doing it.
I doubt if it's the 105 that did you in all though it could have
trigger something in your system that started the ball rolling. There
are some rash and hive type problems that come to people later in
life. Doctors don't know much about it and can't do much for it.
Sorry you're having a tough time. This can drive you crazy, I know as
I had adult chicken pox once. Imagine a grown man laying there with
oven mitts duct taped to his hands screaming.
Smooth sailing, I'd go with the ice, it's cheap.

On 10 Oct 2006 06:57:32 -0700, "SkipGundlach"
wrote:

Hi, y'all.

I assume that there are several here who have successfully dealt with
the problem I have:

I seem to have developed a sensitiviy/allergy to West System epoxy
sanding dust, or perhaps fiberglass.

Over the time we were working on the bottom of Flying Pig (now
launched, hooray!), my left arm, one day, itched uncontrollably. All
the usual itching relief failed: hydrocortisone cream, steroid
lotion/ointment, spray topical anesthetic (Lanacaine, e.g.) and the
like.

The only way I found relief was mopping it with clear vinegar, and
overdosing on Benadryl. The vinegar provided temporary relief from the
itching, but depending on how severe it is/was (more below), it took
constant application to keep it at bay. The benadryl apparently
worked, or, possibly, it just knocked me out so I was unconscious.

Later, by a couple of weeks, however, this seems to be spreading. My
initial spot, the top of my left forearm, has now spread to all the
forearm, and creeping up my bi/triceps. Worse, I'm now experiencing
the same thing in my right arm.

Heavy activity, such as was the case yesterday during our splashing,
seems to keep it in check. The symptoms come most aggressively shortly
after going to sleep. This morning was the worst - every hour to 90
minutes I had to get up, vinegar, and take another benny. No relief.

It's impossible to sleep like this - and overdosing on Benadryl puts me
to sleep, which is one thing, but I have too much to do on the boat to
allow that to continue.

Anyone here successfully dealt with this problem? That is, found a
means to keep it at bay and still function?

Thanks.

L8R,

Skip, off to another vinegar batch and then try to get a nap so I can
function today

Hi, Charlie, and group,

Are you sure this isn't sun poisoning? If it is, the only thing that
will calm it down and let it heal is to keep the affected areas
slathered in SPF 30 or higher sunblock at all times, and wear long
sleeves. Long sleeves alone won't do it.

I suppose it's possible - but it would surprise me, as I've not really
spent all that much time outside.

Worse, my prior solutions (or at least symptomatic relief) are now
failing. Bennies aren't making me sleep, lanacane isn't numbing, and
all vinegar is doing is stinging. Beginning yesterday afternoon when I
went to buy more, I have been taking a couple of bennies an hour or so
apart, keeping my coffee intake up as well. Before I took my shower
last night, I took 4, but only got about 3 hours of sleep. Each time I
woke up I took another two and repeated the vinegar, steroid lotion and
lanacane. As the symptoms aren't abated, but at least a bit muted, I
was able to get an hour or so each time. Now, however, I'm in agony,
unable to go back to sleep and both arms extending their sensitive
areas.

As to the fiberglass potential, throwing away the shirt would represent
my entire t-shirt wardrobe, as we've been at this for 6 weeks - but the
shirt isn't involved in the affected areas, so I don't think that's the
problem.

As to the epoxy, West sez it takes a week to fully cure. There were
many areas of prior repair that, in the course of chasing either wet
spots or delaminations, I would have ground out "adolescent" epoxy.
However, the biggie (which occured after the first flareup), therudder
shoe/skeg area was very large. I was fairing it for several days, and
at the very end, cut through about 1/8" for about 3 feet. I'd thought
I'd had the grinder such that the dust was going away from me, but
witnesses said the fan we were using blew most of it right on me - and
that time I wasn't wearing a suit.

So, it might be sun poisoning, but I'm betting epoxy. Either way, I
guess I'm going to have to see some medical folks, because I no longer
can even treat the symptoms...

L8R

Skip

CWM

Skip, Everyone's sensitivity and reaction varies but I have developed an
allergy to Proset but not to the basic West epoxy. Proset uses a much more
viscous hardener so it was to be expected. The rash goes away after a few
days though. Also it stings more than itch. If your rash is persistent
even when you are not exposed to uncured resin I would look for some other
cause.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"SkipGundlach" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, Charlie, and group,

Are you sure this isn't sun poisoning? If it is, the only thing that
will calm it down and let it heal is to keep the affected areas
slathered in SPF 30 or higher sunblock at all times, and wear long
sleeves. Long sleeves alone won't do it.

I suppose it's possible - but it would surprise me, as I've not really
spent all that much time outside.

Worse, my prior solutions (or at least symptomatic relief) are now
failing. Bennies aren't making me sleep, lanacane isn't numbing, and
all vinegar is doing is stinging. Beginning yesterday afternoon when I
went to buy more, I have been taking a couple of bennies an hour or so
apart, keeping my coffee intake up as well. Before I took my shower
last night, I took 4, but only got about 3 hours of sleep. Each time I
woke up I took another two and repeated the vinegar, steroid lotion and
lanacane. As the symptoms aren't abated, but at least a bit muted, I
was able to get an hour or so each time. Now, however, I'm in agony,
unable to go back to sleep and both arms extending their sensitive
areas.

As to the fiberglass potential, throwing away the shirt would represent
my entire t-shirt wardrobe, as we've been at this for 6 weeks - but the
shirt isn't involved in the affected areas, so I don't think that's the
problem.

As to the epoxy, West sez it takes a week to fully cure. There were
many areas of prior repair that, in the course of chasing either wet
spots or delaminations, I would have ground out "adolescent" epoxy.
However, the biggie (which occured after the first flareup), therudder
shoe/skeg area was very large. I was fairing it for several days, and
at the very end, cut through about 1/8" for about 3 feet. I'd thought
I'd had the grinder such that the dust was going away from me, but
witnesses said the fan we were using blew most of it right on me - and
that time I wasn't wearing a suit.

So, it might be sun poisoning, but I'm betting epoxy. Either way, I
guess I'm going to have to see some medical folks, because I no longer
can even treat the symptoms...

L8R

Skip

CWM

SkipGundlach wrote:
I seem to have developed a sensitiviy/allergy to West System epoxy
sanding dust, or perhaps fiberglass.


Others have written that cured epoxy is inert, which is
true; but it is still possible to have a reaction to it. I
have seen this in a few people where a fully cured (as in
several years old) epoxy surface set off a skin reaction.
Very uncommon.

Even uncured epoxy resin is relatively safe, it's the
hardeners that are bad. Do not get epoxy hardener, or mixed
resin, on your skin. If you do, don't clean it off with any
kind of solvent including vinegar. Use a soft cloth or paper
towel to blot off the bulk of it, then plain old soap &
water for the residual film.

Skip, you don't mention exposure to uncured epoxy or
hardeners. IMHO your skin reaction is much more likely to be
the glass in the sanding dust. If you're getting this on
your bare skin, you're probably also getting it in your
lungs. So STOPPIT!

Also quit taking drugs. They will only make you worse in the
long run.

Bob wrote:
Glass dust is a bitch and presents a real problem removing it from
clothing.

Agreed. The best way to remove it from clothes is to hang up
the clothes in the wind for about a week. Do not wash them
in a washing machine with other clothes!

Fiberglass dust will also ruin Gore-Tex rain gear.


Some antibiotics create a sun sensitivity and will produce a skin
rash.


That's definitely true, as will some PABA sun blockers all
by themselves.

One thing I don't think anybody has mentioned... good old
fashioned Vaseline is a good way to protect your skin from
all kinds of irritants including fiberglass dust. just be
sure to wash it off with cold water, hot water opens the
pores and the dust gets in.


A friend of mine drank alcohol daily and after a few years "got a
weird rash" nobody could cure. He stopped drinking cause he was in jail
and his rash disappeared after two months of jail house sobriety. Do
you drink a pint of booze daily?


heh heh in some boat yards, it's hourly.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On 11 Oct 2006 06:43:24 -0700, "SkipGundlach"
wrote:

As to the epoxy, West sez it takes a week to fully cure. There were
many areas of prior repair that, in the course of chasing either wet
spots or delaminations, I would have ground out "adolescent" epoxy.
However, the biggie (which occured after the first flareup), therudder
shoe/skeg area was very large. I was fairing it for several days, and
at the very end, cut through about 1/8" for about 3 feet. I'd thought
I'd had the grinder such that the dust was going away from me, but
witnesses said the fan we were using blew most of it right on me - and
that time I wasn't wearing a suit.

So, it might be sun poisoning, but I'm betting epoxy. Either way, I
guess I'm going to have to see some medical folks, because I no longer
can even treat the symptoms...

Hi,

If you'v been using a grinder for a long while it might be hand arm
vibration syndrome:

http://www.google.com/search?lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Hand%20Arm%20Vibration

If it's epoxy and you're sleeping on the boat, you might want to try
sleeping off it or at least having very good ventilation.

cheers,
Pete.

Are you wearing latex gloves? It could be latex allergy, very common.
Switch to vinyl. I have the same problem, latex was part of it. I
used shea butter as a barrier and also found it suprisingly soothing
for the death of a thousand cuts itch you get from fibreglass. I wait
2 years in between boat projects, wear an organic vapor mask and long
sleeve shirts even in hot weather when working with epoxy. Atarax
(hydroxyzine), another antihistamine you'll need a perscription to get,
it works better for itching than Benedryl. You can also take Zyrtec,
another perscription antihistamine, it's an active metabolite of Atarax
and it's far less sedating so you can take it during the day, it lasts
24hrs. As always though, you should first discuss this issue with your
doctor.

Ed.


Pete C wrote:
On 11 Oct 2006 06:43:24 -0700, "SkipGundlach"
wrote:

As to the epoxy, West sez it takes a week to fully cure. There were
many areas of prior repair that, in the course of chasing either wet
spots or delaminations, I would have ground out "adolescent" epoxy.
However, the biggie (which occured after the first flareup), therudder
shoe/skeg area was very large. I was fairing it for several days, and
at the very end, cut through about 1/8" for about 3 feet. I'd thought
I'd had the grinder such that the dust was going away from me, but
witnesses said the fan we were using blew most of it right on me - and
that time I wasn't wearing a suit.

So, it might be sun poisoning, but I'm betting epoxy. Either way, I
guess I'm going to have to see some medical folks, because I no longer
can even treat the symptoms...

Hi,

If you'v been using a grinder for a long while it might be hand arm
vibration syndrome:

http://www.google.com/search?lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Hand%20Arm%20Vibration

If it's epoxy and you're sleeping on the boat, you might want to try
sleeping off it or at least having very good ventilation.

cheers,
Pete.

SkipGundlach writes:

I have been taking a couple of bennies an hour or so
apart, keeping my coffee intake up as well.

If you mean Benadryl (diphenhydramine), then you may want to give Claritin
a try instead. Both have worked well for urticaria. You shouldn't be
taking diphenhydramine so frequently.