Allergic?

[carldamnit]

Hey guys
I am a 43 year old man. I spent 8 years of my youth in the Navy. I have come across lots of stuff in that time and have never had any reactions to anything. Unless I do something silly and take ground up poison ivy and rub it into the backs of my legs (long story) it doesn't bother me.

I have been shaving with soap and brush for 4 weeks or so. I have used williams, proraso and parker soaps with no issue. I recently purchased some hand made soap to see what the fuss was about. I got 2 different kinds, the first I have used for about 3 or 4 shaves with no issues. I tried the second this morning. After my first pass I felt a little irritated, I thought this may be due to the razor. I relathered and went for a second and could not finish. My face started burning, like chemical burn burning. I have had one or two of those in my life and that is what it felt like. I imediately rinsed really well, and put on some aloe gel, this stopped it from getting worse.

As I have never had an allergic reaction to anything before I really don't know if it was a chemical burn from lye or just something my skin didn't like in the soap. As you guys are well versed in most soap I thought I would ask your opinions?

Thanks

 

[Jefebadskin]

Probably from the scenting agent. I once bought a shave soap from a farmers market that gave me a pretty horrific reaction. After joining here I learned it was a melt and pour soap. The scent was strong and great, but too much for me.

 

[sychodelix]

Sandalwood is a common culprit. Burns me alive. Glycerin soaps with unsaponified essential oils can really mess you up bad. For the most part, I don't do melt and pour soaps, and stick with cold process ones.

 

[carldamnit]

Sandalwood is a common culprit. Burns me alive. Glycerin soaps with unsaponified essential oils can really mess you up bad. For the most part, I don't do melt and pour soaps, and stick with cold process ones.

The parker soap I have is sandalwood, not that. I kind of hate that I can't use the soap, other than the burning sensation I really liked it.

 

[demaro]

I had an allergic reaction to MWF , which is too bad , I loved the lather and I loved the scent

 

[eelhc]

Same happened to me with Cella and Mama Bears. Check this thread.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/309372-First-Cella-now-Mama-Bears

I'm slightly older than you and have never had an allergic reaction to anything including any soaps. I've no problems with Proraso or Arko. When I get enough nerve, I'll try MWF.

 

[OldSaw]

Yep, it happens. I've had a few that did the same thing.

 

[celestino]

Must be something in the soap. Essential oil or other fragrance more than likely.

 

[Go West Young Man]

What soap are we talking about here?

 

[Lamb Root]

It's never too late to become allergic to something. Study the ingredient list on the soap, if you still have it, and start looking for the 'allergen' on that list - one soap at the time.

 

[carelessninja]

Lanolin can often be a culprit too as well as scent. I'm allergic to fragrance oils and certain EOs as well. My suggestion would be to try an unscented soap with as few unpronounceable ingredients as possible to start ruling things out. Good luck finding something that works for you.

 

[carldamnit]

Lanolin can often be a culprit too as well as scent. I'm allergic to fragrance oils and certain EOs as well. My suggestion would be to try an unscented soap with as few unpronounceable ingredients as possible to start ruling things out. Good luck finding something that works for you.

Guys, Guys

I have handled, most every industrial chemical allowed in the U.S. I have used all kinds of soap, cleaners, degreasers. I have never had a problem. I have used other scented soaps with no issues. Don't know what was in that soap, but I will never use it again. I honestly think it will be a small issue in my shaving routine. Thats why I thought it was lye and not an allergic reaction. It acted just like a chemical burn, I have no rash, no break outs. My face was still a little tender this morning, my boar brush felt like an s.o.s. pad. But I'm good


Thanks for all the tips though.

Carl

 

[luvmysuper]

Guys, Guys

I have handled, most every industrial chemical allowed in the U.S. I have used all kinds of soap, cleaners, degreasers. I have never had a problem. I have used other scented soaps with no issues. Don't know what was in that soap, but I will never use it again. I honestly think it will be a small issue in my shaving routine. Thats why I thought it was lye and not an allergic reaction. It acted just like a chemical burn, I have no rash, no break outs. My face was still a little tender this morning, my boar brush felt like an s.o.s. pad. But I'm good


Thanks for all the tips though.

Carl

My thoughts were lye as well.
We have seen that issue before here with Prairie Creations Soap, when a batch made had unreacted lye and some folks got some chemical irritation of the face.
Glad to hear you are recovering.

 

[Lamb Root]

I remember a teaching professor in the university I went to saying that he is more afraid of a bee sting than a poisonous snake bite. Why, he was stung by a bee. Ergo, he had a chance of developing a hypersensitivity to a bee sting > allergy reaction.
More stuff you handled, more likely you'll become allergic to something. It's the nature of things. Sorry to have misinterpret your original post, but on the bright side, there's always a chance that you have an atopic dermatitis. There's no very successful way to fight against that one, only a hope it really was lime or just another plain ol' allergen.