Does anyone else get blisters?

Kitty · Post by **Kitty** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:24 pm

I have been playing flute for several years now, but just this last 12 months i have been getting a sore lower lip every time i play. I get tiny little blisters just on my lower lip line.
My flute is a Martin Doyle made from africa blackwood.
Has anyone else had this problem?

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:30 pm

Not me, but maybe you've got an allergy.
One thing one might try, if I may suggest it,
is a strip of translucent tape, even packing tape,
as a lip plate just below the embouchure hole,
so that the upper edge of the tape creases
the lower edge of the hole.

If that clears it up, odds are you are
reacting to the flute--either to the wood
or to a finish on it. You might
ask M Doyle if he's using a finish.
Hope this helps.

Casey Burns · Post by **Casey Burns** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:45 pm

It sounds typical of a developing contact dermatitus or allergy. The same thing happens to me with most of the Rosewoods which is why I don't make flutes out of most of them, except Blackwood. For me its usually the wood dust in between my fingers. Even blackwood is challenging when it gets really hot and humid - yet another reason for taking a break in July, as I am planning!

Barriers of some sorts as Jim suggests sounds like the best place to start.

Casey

Post by **Nanohedron** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:47 pm

Kitty wrote:I have been playing flute for several years now, but just this last 12 months i have been getting a sore lower lip every time i play. I get tiny little blisters just on my lower lip line.
My flute is a Martin Doyle made from africa blackwood.
Has anyone else had this problem?

I feel your pain. I developed blackwood contact allergy on my lower lip after several years of playing. It got worse over time. I'm afraid that the likelihood for you will probably be the same, sorry to say. It's no fun, I know. There are a number of other players here on the Chiffboards who have this condition, too. If you want to keep playing a blackwood -or cocus, cocobolo, or other exotic hardwoods, probably including rosewood- flute, you need to have some sort of barrier. I went with a sterling silver inset lip plate. You might contact Martin and ask him if he can do this for you, and ask him if tape or some other form of intervention is kosher in the meantime. Some people apply a layer of superglue to where they set their lip (wait until dry, of course!). I don't recommend any form of true lacquer as that's likely to be an irritant, too. Go for the lip plate if you can. It looks sharp, anyway.

Best of luck!

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:47 pm

Nanohedron wrote:I went with a sterling silver inset lip plate.

Many of the Boehm players develop the same issue with sterling silver lip plates and have to go to a gold plated lip plate.

This is not fun...

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:25 pm

We are exposed to many environmental chemicals in our everyday living, at work, in the home, and in the yard and garden. Some people seem to be more resistant to these chemical, but others tend to develop sensitivities with time. I wasn't aware of any particular chemical sensitivites when I was younger. However, by the time I was in my late thirties, I began to develop allergic reactions to several things that previously never bothered me. This sort of increasing sensitivity can develop into full-blown MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity, which can be quite debilitating, requiring you to leave troubling work environments, etc. At 62, my MCS sensitivities are not as bad as they were a few years ago, but probably because I am more able to avoid the chemical exposures that are most offensive. With regard to a developing contact allergy to blackwood, I would follow the good suggestions that have already been given.

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:48 pm

I get these awful bruises when I play my 4-key. They form in the middle of my forehead whenever I try to play in F, Bb or Eb.

The wallboard in my studio is getting some dents in it as well. Is there a connection?

jaime! · Post by **jaime!** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:01 pm

Chiffed wrote:I get these awful bruises when I play my 4-key. They form in the middle of my forehead whenever I try to play in F, Bb or Eb.

The wallboard in my studio is getting some dents in it as well. Is there a connection?

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:34 pm

Translucent packing tape, or adhesive tape, several
strips of it across your forehead, may help.
Also you might wish to find out the
chemical composition of the paint
on your studio wall.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:36 am

Chiffed wrote:I get these awful bruises when I play my 4-key. They form in the middle of my forehead whenever I try to play in F, Bb or Eb.

The wallboard in my studio is getting some dents in it as well. Is there a connection?

tape one of these to your forehead prior to practice...

<img src="http://www.nortonconsumer.com/media/doc ... Sponge.jpg" width="800" height="500">

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:56 am

Thanks!

I also had a thought: I'll just cut an inch off my flute and play the Eb tunes in D. I'll stick the end back on with Fun-Tak when I'm done.

Terry McGee · Post by **Terry McGee** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:48 am

Certainly sounds like a blackwood allergy to me, Kitty. Not common, but would we want to be common? Nah!

To be taken seriously - they normally get worse. Temporary measures are as above - plastic tape, maybe superglue. Long term solutions - silver lip plate or a flute or head of different materials. If you detect any problems with the fingers, then get out of blackwood alltogether. A person I know had a severe reaction to blackwood but proved fine with mopane.

Cocus and cocobolo are known troublemakers, so if you are sensitive, these are probably not the most promising direction. Has anyone had or known anyone have trouble with mopane, boxwood, cooktown ironwood or delrin?

Terry

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:46 pm

I think Doug Tipple noticed an allergy to Mopane after getting a Burns Folk Flute, am I correct Doug? I am pretty sure I have a very slight allergy to Blackwood, as my fingers used to itch after playing and I had a blister type thing on my lip, but now that I am playing on Boxwood and Ironwood I have no problems. Although I only was itchy after oiling the wood, maybe the combo of Almond Oil and Blackwood did some thing. Although it was really bad when I first got the Flute, as the previous owner was experimenting with different oils.

Avery LeVine

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:17 pm

I think that I am especially sensitive because I have multiple chemical sensitivity to many things, from perfume to fabric softener, cleaning chemicals, deoderants, etc.

Yes, I was sensitive to the mopane CB folk flute. Also, black delrin, gray pvc electrical conduit, yellowish CPVC, and some darker ABS plastics do not feel comfortable in my hands, and I feel a buzzing sensation at the contact of my lips and fingers.

The object is to not get as sensitive as I am if you can avoid it. You need to pay attention when your body is trying to tell you something.

Kitty · Post by **Kitty** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:51 pm

Thankyou so much everyone for all the really great advice.
At least now i know it's not just me it has happened to. I was beginning to feel like some sort of freak.
thanks again xxxxxx
I do wonder though why my fingers don't get sore, why is it just my lip?

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