Can carving Bass Wood cause an infection?

[woodsman1st]

I have been carving almost daily since my last post here sometime last Feb or March. I will tell more on how I am progressing in a later post.

I have developed an infection of some kind in both hands with cracked skin and bleeding on several fingers, this will not go away no matter what I use. Bag Balm is my latest attempt to cure it. This stuff helps but the cracked skin, pain and bleeding just moves to other fingers. This has been going on for the past 3 months; does anyone have any ideas if the Bass Wood could be causing it? As I stated, I carve an average of six days a week and I hate the thought of having to wear those surgeons gloves all the time when I carve; but thats all I can think of to do.

Any ideas sure would be welcome.

Thanks
Ken

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

[Buffalo Bif]

i guess one sure way to tell would be stop carving for a while and see if it subsides. I know it'll be tough.....
used to know a guy with the cracking you talk about, was seasonal for him- fall and winter.
let us know what you find out.

[carver6]

If you have no results by backing off carving for awhile the next best thing is to see a dermatologist (sp?). I understand trying to cure the problem without going to a Dr. but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
Good luck and hope you get the problem taken care of.
Garon

[Trebor56]

Go see a doctor.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Sounds like you've got a severe case of contact dermatitist from something so the only way to get rid of it is to eliminate everything new that you've been in contact with. But first I'd see a dermatologist to rule out anything else that might be going on. People can be allergic or supersensitive to anything. In our family we have a history of even being allergic to our own sweat.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I've been suffering from the infection of carving Basswood for the past 40 some years! I don't think there's a cure and if there is I don't want it!

[woodsman1st]

Last question on this topic; has anyone else suffered from the same thing regardles of the cause; craked skin on the fingers,bleeding, and pain; cure one finger and another gets the same thing. If its seasonal as Brian mentioned, how did he get rid of it?

Quiting carving??? Not likely; far too late for that.Dermatologist? Good suggestion and my last resort; that $45.00 copay could buy me lots of carving stuff. lol.

But thanks for the suggestions guys; much apprediated.

Ken

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.

[mdallensr]

I'd look first at what else you do. Your contact dermatitis has become sensitization dermatitis, and will only get worse if you don't deal with it. I would suspect glue, particularly epoxy, paint, and other chemicals before I would blame the wood. Mike

[telecarver]

I have a similar problem. Constant contact with wood and sawdust draws the moisture out of my hands and the skin cracks. A dermatologist told me that staph germs are everywhere in the environment and can get into the cracks. It's worse with older individuals and in warmer climates. When my fingers start to crack, I douse the cracks with hydrogen peroxide and rub lanolin on my fingers. You can it get from most pharmacies. I usually have to ask at the window but you can buy it over the counter. It works better than bag balm or any other skin treatment I've tried. It will get on your carving and leave it oily so I apply a thick layer at night before bed and wear a latex glove over my hand. During the day I put it on the cracks and wear band aids. When I am hand sanding, I use that green wrapping tape to protect my fingers. I think I got it from either Woodcraft or Woodworkers Supply.

[woodsman1st]

Thanks to both mdallensr and telecarver for your answers; I especially appreciate the details in how you have treated your simular problem Ron. Thats the kind of ansswer I was hoping for. I will try what worked for you and keep my fingers crossed; the two that dont hurt yet lol. An older individual in a warm climate fits me to a tee; 76 y/o in Phoenix, AZ..

Thanks again. Lanolin it is

Ken