I have been working in my yard using Rail Road Cross Ties for landscaping and although I have been using Gloves and long sleeved shirts my forearms have gotten more than a few splinters. I have also have an alergic type rash on my forearms and wrists. I have tried scrubbing with an old bath scrubber my wife was going to throw out. Now I have arms which are both Irritated and Pink. Allergy type creams are not helping. Anybody have a different solution for this?
I just had occasion to research and write an article about chemicals used as wood preservatives - creosote among them. I know that there has been evidence since the 1940s, that creosote is toxic and is implicated in certain illnesses. All I can advise at this point is common sense things. Don’t irritate your skin by further scrubbing. The splinters themselves - even if they were from untreated wood, can cause the irritations you describe. Take some oral benedryl - available over the counter, and if that helps, then it’s probably not the creosote per se, but a reaction to the splinters. You may still have bits of wood you can’t see embedded in your skin. That will cause irritation until they work themselves out. Gloves and long sleeves should provide good protection from any effects from creosote- though maybe you need longer gloves. If you can prevent direct contact with the material so that the creosote can’t be absorbed by the skin, you should be OK. Try the Benedryl - creosote has been implicated in long term problems but not immediate localized reactions. You can combine oral Benedryl with Benedryl cream - which should provide topical relief. Or Benedryl taken orally with a really good emolient cream like Basis or Nivea.
I just had occasion to research and write an article about chemicals used as wood preservatives - creosote among them. I know that there has been evidence since the 1940s, that creosote is toxic and it is implicated as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) with long-term exposure.
All I can advise at this point are common sense things. Don’t irritate your skin by further scrubbing. The splinters themselves - even if they were from untreated wood, can cause the irritations you describe. Take some oral benedryl - available over the counter, and if that helps, then it’s probably not the creosote per se, but a reaction to the splinters. You may still have bits of wood you can’t see embedded in your skin. That will cause irritation until they work themselves out. Gloves and long sleeves should provide good protection from any effects from creosote- though maybe you need longer gloves to protect against the splinters.
If you can prevent direct contact with the material so that the creosote can’t be absorbed by the skin, you should be OK. Creosote has been implicated in long term problems but not immediate localized reactions. Try the Benedryl - you can combine oral Benedryl with Benedryl cream - which should provide topical relief. Or Benedryl taken orally with a really good emolient cream like Basis or Nivea. Leave the affected skin uncovered when you are not working with the creosote. Exposure to the air will also help. But quit scrubbing - it’s only adding insult to injury at this point.
Thanks Violet.