Klarinet Archive - Posting 001351.txt from 1997/08

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Allergic reaction- ligature
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 1997 15:40:41 -0400

At 08:37 AM 8/31/97 +0600, you wrote:
>Since I am not a doctor, I would not be able to tell the difference between
>an allergic reaction and contact dermatitis. My student does not practice
>very much, perhaps a 1/2 to 1 hr per day. Her lip got very swollen and
>discolored. Her allergy was suggested by her band director, who happens to
>be a trumpet player. I assume hers was an allergic reaction because the
>symptoms went away after she changed from a Bonade to a Rovner.
>
>In my case, my lips are not swollen, they are irritated (but not to the
>point of discomfort), and it looks like I have lip liner around my lips. My
>lips don't hurt, they just look funny. Since my symptoms are less severe
>than my students, I am thinking something else might be the problem...

I am no doctor either, but I believe that contact dermatitis is a sort of
highly localized allergic reaction at the point of contact with the
offending substance. Poison ivy causes a relatively severe form of contact
dermatitis. Are you quite sure that it is not the reed? I used to know
someone who, due to such a reaction with reeds, was forced to use
Plasticover reeds. Also worth noting is that some people are sensitive to
SILVER plating, too, which is one of the main reasons for gold-plated lip
plates on flutes.

Your problem probably is different. If you are now practicing much more
than you were previously, it might merely be chapped lips from having them
constantly moistened with saliva while you play. Just some more thoughts.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.