Message-ID: <36EBBF83.2539@erols.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 08:54:11 -0500
From: "Jeffrey B. Chipetine" <abcrental@erols.com>
Reply-To: abcrental@erols.com
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Subject: Skin Sensitivity
Mime-Version: 1.0

          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>
Those of you that have mentioned your methods for dealing with
protecting your skin from repeated assault of the solvents speak wisely.

A recent post mentioned the propensity for his hands to break open from
dryness after the slightest exposure to any irritant following years of
acetone exposure.  

I can tell you that acetone is not the only substance that can cause
this problem.  Gasoline,  Diesel,  Carb cleaner,  Parts Cleaner
solutions, alcohol, citrus based items and ordinary dishwashing soap (!)
can all cause these problems.  

On a positive note,  some people are reletively immune to even constant
exposure while others are more prone to this problem.  Genetics rears
its ugly head again against us "shallow end of the gene pool" swimmers.

If you experience this problem,  IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE CAUSE FROM YOUR
WORKPLACE AND PROTECT YOURSELF. Failure to do this can and will cause
you a lifelong sensitivity.  

After putting myself through College, Grad, etc. and paying off a couple
of divorces by tending bar nights and working engine rebuilding during
the days,  I had the problem so seriously that my knuckles would break
open and bleed after every customer handshake.  

Solutions,,, Prevention w/ gloves or barrier creams to stop the damage.
To get the healing started,(your body is no longer producing enough
emoliants to allow it to heal on its own), you can go to the
dermatoligist and sink your financial ship w/ topical ointments OR, use
a combination of "Bag Baulm  (available at any farmer's supply house)"
and "Chapstick" rubbed into the cuts several times a day and protected
with rubber gloves.  You are using a product intended for the treatment
of irritated and infected cow udders so the smell is not the best,  but
it is inexpensive and runs rings around the Doctor's "solutions".

Sorry about the length of this post,  but you will build for 5-7 years,
but the pain and constant infections you can suffer will last a lifetime
without prevention.   

USE THE GLOVES! Build safely.   Regards to all.  Jeffrey B. Chipetine

p.s.  Thanks to everyone that took the time to enlighten me on the
"vernatherm",   The sharing spirit on this forum speaks well for every
contributor.  THANK YOU MARV!