Bolivian Rosewood Rash, how bad does it get?

[figuredwoods]

I have a pretty bad rash from working with Bolivian Rosewood (Morado) and I was wondering what I can expect from it. How bad does it get and how long does it last? I realize that everyone is different, but I'm a hurtin'pup right now and doubt if my Doctor knows about exotic wood reactions. Would you see a doctor for it? THanks,
Itchy in Delaware
aka Figured Woods

 

[theeviltwinn]

No personal experience but I've heard that each successive exposure will be worse than the one before. Even cleaning your shop many trigger another attack.

Stay away from all of the rosewoods. It isn't worth the risk.

Mike

 

[C Edward Moore]

Itchy,

Where in Delaware do you live? I was raised in Seaford and went to U of Delaware many years ago.

Try washing with Burt's Bee's Poison Ivy Soap and then spraying with Herbs Etc "Ivy Itch Releaf". Yes, I spelled it right. These remedies MIGHT relieve the itching of the rash. The spray does a great job of reducing itching.

Now that you know that you are sensitive to rosewood, have someone else vacuum your shop and blow the remaining dust out with a leaf blower and remove the wood. They might want to wear a good dust mask. Then, give the wood away with the appropriate warning.

This might not help, but it is worth a try.

Mike is right, it may only get worse.

 

[dkulze]

Figure the chemicals in the wood are pretty similar to poison ivy. You should also avoid all the rosewoods, cocobola, and probably ebony. The advice to get someone else to clean out your shop is a good one. Also, the various ivy treatments reccomended are good, although I've found a good scrubbing down with Head & Shoulders dandruff shampoo to work pretty well. If you get exposed to it and know it, wash off immediately with rubbing alcohol then soap and water. This treatment is good for about 1-2 hours after exposure.

On a side note, if you're that allergic you should be careful of lacquer based inlays like you see coming out of Asia. These use similar chemicals in their colouring.

Good luck and my sympathies.
Dietrich

 

[Mike Schwing]

I find exotic wood rashes to be very similar, in both effects and duration, to that of poison ivy/oak. In fact, thats what I always think it is at first. Same type of bumps and redness show up on my sensitive skin areas - wrists, underside of forearms, and anywhere I sweat - elbows, etc.. Even sometimes gets in to the seam of my jeans and i get a little line around the waist. Seems to last a little longer than ivy rashes, and I find cortisone creams work well for the itch.

I no longer turn anything that I don't already know my sensitivity to. That includes rosewoods.

 

[uniquewoodworld.com]

Its definitely an alergic thing. Theres a 6 day steroid pack your doc can get ya if its severe, that will tame it down straight away.

Im a Delaware guy myself, for the record, although Im in West Chester now.

Nice to meet ya!

 

[Wilford Bickel]

I just got on the board today and saw where you posted this yesterday afternoon. If you still have the rash and it is getting no better - go to a doctor. It does not matter if they know about exotic woods - they know how to treat allergic reactions. The 6 day cortisone pack should work well but they have other treatments they can use also. The big danger is if the reaction starts affecting the lungs and causes you to have trouble breathing or even swelling internally that shuts off the air into your lungs completely.

So far I am lucky and have not had any reactions to the rosewood family - of course I have never had a poison ivy reaction either. Based on my reading they are quite similar in causing allergies from their oils. I have seen where one of the major ways to get exposed is through the sweat glands - I make sure that I keep my shop extra cool when working with rosewoods and also wear dust mask in addition to dust control. As soon as I leave the shop I go shower and change.


If you were nearer Alabama I would help clean the shop - you do not need more exposure!!

Wilford

 

[figuredwoods]

Thanks all,
I went to the dr. today and got that 6 day pack. I can't sleep for all this itching! Here's one for the stupid books, check out these pictures and tell me what's wrong. Hint those vines are poison ivy. Duh!!! That was today, as I was checking out a source of wood. I gotta start thinking about something other than wood. Thanks again guys!
Figgy