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If you or anyone in your family suffers from psoriasis(sp?), You'll want as much protection as you can get, including a respirator. I'd never had Psoriasis, but my sister was a sufferer, so due to genetics I was at risk (tho i didn't know it).
Within a week or so of my first glassing job I started breaking out in red patches of peeling skin. Luckily, after six months on some fairly heavy duty medication it is mostly gone. My dermatologist says there is no concrete evidence that my psoriasis was brought on by exposure to epoxy, but he is 99% convinced that is was. I know it was, cause if I do a little glassing job I can be sure that the next day it will flair up again and if I protect myself it doesn't.
Note, that this wasn't after months or years of exposure, But from one exposure of a few hours, I had worn gloves and I didn't get any epoxy on my skin. You can become sensitised imeadiatly if you are one of the unlucky ones. Now I can only risk working on my boat every two weeks or so, even the sanding dust is a problem.
No wonder It's taken me over a year to build Nick's S&G!
Then again there seem to be a lot of folks on this board who don't appear to have had any problem. It's probably best to er on the side of caution.
Anyone else had skin problems after glassing?
Hope this helps,
Paul.
This is an archived message from The Kayak Building Bulletin Board.
Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
