Is there a dermatologist in the house? I'm trouble....

[southerngirlwriter]

I helped stain the most adorable bookshelf tonight for a 3-year-old who's already reading -- in fact, is getting up in the middle of the night to read. Her mom is such a good friend that we refer to each other as sisters and to her daughter as my niece. She was afraid that my niece would break her neck, because her books are all on a high shelf. So, tonight we bought a great bookshelf that's just the right height, and has the letters A, B, C, and D cut into the sides, one on each shelf, going down. Too cute!!!

Anyway, we finished about an hour ago. I scrubbed as much as I could, but my hands are still kind of brown. I wasn't worried because I figured it would come out in the shower tonight.

Well, my hands and my right arm, which took a big splash of the stuff, are now flaming red and burning like crazy. Hot to the touch. Extremely painful.

I have no money and no insurance, and I'm not willing to go to the ER unless they can give me something I can't get at Walgreen's Pharmacy.

So.......what do I need?

I have $8.

DU Problem Solvers, help??

Thanks. I appreciate y'all. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Have you tried milk?

Milk is a natural neutralizer. As a hairstylist, whenever someone had a reaction to perm or color patch, we would soak the area in milk. Nine times out of ten it worked. Good luck. Hope it's better. If that doesn't work, I urge you to see a doctor. :hi:

Laura

[southerngirlwriter]

3. Trying it right now.

As soon as I click Post message.

Bless you, Mrs. G!!! :D

[MidwestMomma]

2. You probably already did this...but did you read the stain can for

what to do if there is contact with skin? Sometimes will state, flush with cold water, etc...

I'm thinking baking soda paste...something to soothe and pull the heat out but I don't know. Was it an oil based stain? That may make a difference. What was the name of the stain? I could look some stuff up for you if you want.

[southerngirlwriter]

6. I don't remember the name of it :-(

I did read it before we opened it, and it said nothing about what to do if there's contact with skin. For EYES, it said the whole flush with cold water, thing, but nothing about skin. Staining is so messy, I guess they figure there will be contact.

I am allergic to so many weird things. :shrug:

[MidwestMomma]

10. I have weird skin too

One time I cleaned out my fence line and the next day my arm swelled to twice it's normal size and hurt like hell. Went to the doctor and we could only figure out that neighbor had put some kind of weed killer on the brush (It was dead when I cleaned it out) and I had reacted to it. They gave me a cortisone shot I think. Do you have any over the counter cortisone cream? That might help.

[rednek_Liberal]

11. I think they figure

most people will know to wear gloves to do staining, Because they don't call it water soluble temporary color shit.

[MidwestMomma]

12. Went and looked up some staining products at the Household Product DB

They all pretty much said if skin irritation happens, wash affected area with soap and water and remove contaminated clothing. After that, I would try the cortaid if you have it. They'd probably give you a cortisone shot if you went to the ER but maybe you can get by with the over the counter cream.

Let me know if anything helps. Take care.

[NC_Nurse]

4. Benadryl!

the cheapest and one of the most effective antihistamines out there....I get the elixir. It will make you sleepy though. Don't drive after taking it. If it doesn't help, go to doctor or even ER if really bbad (like short of breath, swelling, etc.)

[southerngirlwriter]

9. I have some.

When you have no money or insurance, you tend to collect home remedy stuff. I have more ace bandages and burn creams and God knows what else probably than the local hospital does.

I'll try the Benadryl. Thanks, Nurse!! :D

[silverlib]

5. Benadryl -over the counter

That's the only thing I can offer. Benadryl can possibly keep you from having respiratory problems and will help with swelling. If you start to have problems breathing, go to the ER - they have to treat you.

I hope this clears up quickly. Pretty scary.

[southerngirlwriter]

7. The Milk treatment soothed the skin a bit.

Still hurts a lot, but it made it somewhat better.

I'll go to the ER if I have to, but I soooooo do not want to spend the next eight or nine months dealing with medical debt collectors...... :grr:

[Eureka]

20. As someone who lives where

medical treatment such as this is provided free I would just like to point out that it's terrible that you should have to even consider such things. Actually its not terrible, it's outrageous!

Aaarrrgghh. Whats the point of being protected by the worlds largest military if you can't even see a doctor.

Sorry, ranting over, it just really gets to me that folks have to think twice about their health because of cost.

I hope your arm gets better really soon.

[southerngirlwriter]

21. I agree, and thank you for ranting.

:D

[LanternWaste]

8. Grammy's Old Fashioned Home Brew...

Try this (it's actually a combo of two of the other suggestions) recipe by dear old Grammy:

Heat a pan of milk (heating it does something or other to the enzymes, either activating some or deactivatiing others) til it's simmering. Then allow it to cool to the point where you can put a finger into it w/o saying "#&$)%%!!!".

Use your hands or a washrag to apply it liberally to the spot(s) that have gotten irritated.

Then, after it's dried and looks a little weird, apply Benadryl.

Not part of her recipe, but she'd say it anyway, "Then make a Hot Toddy and get comfy in bed..."

This is from Grammy's Old Fashioned "We Ain't Need No Stinkin' Doctor's In This House" Therapy. Never tried this one specifically, but her ersatz medical brews, as odd as they were, never failed to work.

She taught me to put pure lemon juice on a bee sting....

[NC_Nurse]

13. Is it any better?

takes benadryl a while to work, 30 minutes or so by mouth.

[southerngirlwriter]

14. Not yet.

The warm milk helped some. Still waiting for the Benadryl to kick in.

[NC_Nurse]

15. Okay...

Just be careful if you start to feel worse. Anything like shortness of breath or wheezing is a reason to get to the ER or even call 911.

[southerngirlwriter]

17. I'm a little light-headed

but breathing just fine. :shrug:

I think I'm okay, but just in case I'm going to call my pastor (he and his wife are the friends who live closest to me) and ask them to not turn their phone off tonight. If I get sick and have to get to the ER, they'll help me.

[VOX]

16. If you can tolerate aspirin, take a normal dose (anti-inflammatory)...

If not, try Alleve or Tylenol. Again, you're looking for the anti-inflammatory effect here.

Also, do you have any hydrocortisone cream in the house? If not, you could make a paste with baking soda and water -- this will take some of the "fire" out of the irritation.

[southerngirlwriter]

18. Yes.

I have hydrocortisone and some aloe-based stuff for more serious burns. I'll try the hydro. Thanks!

[NC_Nurse]

19. Actually

alleve and Ibuprofen are anti-inflammatory like aspirin, tylenol is not as good in that regard. Good suggestion though, for pain relief too.