Wood Dust Allergy Cure ?

[Ed Davidson]

Here's an interesting article, re-published with permission from the author: New Therapy for Wood Dust Allergies.

 

[Bill Boehme]

That's a very interesting read, Ed. I know a turner who has an allergic reaction on his skin when turning exotic woods so he would be interested. I think the article also helps to underscore the need for respiratory protection.

 

[waltben]

I find this quite interesting, especially since I spent an hour with an allergist (MD) last Monday discussing my seasonal allergies including my being a wood turner. After going through the battery test (made both arms look like Christmas tree!), she told me I wasn't allergic to anything. My problem was the volume of allergens in the spring and fall where I live. I told her about my problem with black walnut, but she said that was similar to the seasonal issue. What she said I should be concerned with was VOLUME of dust from any source. Small amounts aren't an issue, but larger ones will overwhelm your natural resistance and cause problems. Reasonable protection and good dust collection should suffice in most cases.

 

[Richard Baker]

Definitely interesting. I have minor allergy to the sanding dust of a couple of domestic woods, and this is easy to protect against. However I was recently surprised to discover a considerable rash on my left forearm. I had just completed constructing and turning three large segmented walnut salad bowls, and realized that I had repeatedly brushed walnut chips/shavings off my left forearm with my right hand. The rash took ten days to two weeks to finally disappear. Not fond of wearing long sleeves while turning, but I think a gentle shot of low pressure compressed air (instead of mechanical brushing) will solve the problem.

Since allergies are said to worsen over time, using increased protection at the early signs of allergy would seem to be a good idea, even when the initial allergy is not particularly severe.

 

[hughie]

This procedure although it seems new to wood turners etc. My daughter ran through a coarse of this many years ago for her allergies. It worked for her very well and In her case it was over several months .

 

[MichaelMouse]

This procedure although it seems new to wood turners etc. My daughter ran through a coarse of this many years ago for her allergies. It worked for her very well and In her case it was over several months .

Scratch tests. My mom had them back when I was a kid, and they concluded that her body was reacting strangely to being scratched more than to the allergens applied.

Desensitization. Increasing dosage is a pretty old technique that can work very well with the right people. They even do it for peanut allergies in kids with a fair success rate. Easier to ban peanuts in school than treat the individual, though.