Stupid question about urticating hairs that I should have asked before

[greensleeves]

Yes, I got haired.

Well, just my right index finger. And nobody tried to kick or otherwise press hair into me. So I was wondering if it was possible to pick up urticating hairs yourself by touching a T, without the T actually kicking/pressing them into you?

Don't laugh, but I think I got the hairs from Bungee because I was touching his Web to see what it felt like, and he probably shed a little in there. I can hardly see the little dark hairs on my fingertip - they've got to be too small to be Aggie's.

I've got some ointment on my finger and it doesn't feel really bad, just slightly... irritating. :8o

Greensleeves

 

[Sean]

Yup, they will drop all over the place, kinda like when a dog long haired dog sheds, i know avics put them on there webs perposly, what kin of T web did you touch???

And the more your around them the more irritating the hairs get, atleast with me, my parahybana has turned into to a major hair kicker whenever i come around dosent like me at all and it gets so bad something i cant sleep at night because the ointment wears off it dosent make it feel alittle better though, code monkey said to wash your hands in warms water with soap as soon as you get nailed or are around your T's and it works for the most part.

 

[Mendi]

I've found when I end up with hairs that Benadryl works quite well. Luckily, I'm not that sensitive to very many species hairs, but I always try my best to remember to wash up asap after working with them. I never had any luck with ointments and found that antihistimines work best for me

 

[Code Monkey]

The primary way Avics use their urticating hairs is to embed them in their tube webs - it's booby trapped to say the least.

Your best defense is to not get the hairs embedded in your skin in the first place. Tongs and gloves are my friends for that one.

A soapy wash without too much pressure on your skin shortly after will dislodge and wash away most hairs. If you wait too long, these things are minature porcupine quills and will dig in deeper & deeper.

After that, you're into the period of itching. Benadryl, cortisone creams, etc. are found to be effective by some.


In all seriousness, I urge you to take precautions to avoid getting haired in the first place. Sensitivity will likely increase over time. After 20 years of having NW Ts I wind up with hives and swelling for a few days if I get sufficiently haired, and it itches oh so badly.

 

[genious_gr]

Well, I've never had such a prob but I do have a question. My logic says that warm soapy water softens and losens the skin. Doesnt that make it easier for the hair to "dig" in the skin? I mean it sounds more reasonable to use cold water. But since I havent tried and since you experience says otherwise, I guess I'm wrong somewhere....

 

[Code Monkey]

Originally posted by genious_gr
Well, I've never had such a prob but I do have a question. My logic says that warm soapy water softens and losens the skin. Doesnt that make it easier for the hair to "dig" in the skin? I mean it sounds more reasonable to use cold water. But since I havent tried and since you experience says otherwise, I guess I'm wrong somewhere....

I can't conceive that there is any form of human skin (except maybe grandma's half-inch thick foot bunions ) that is any more or less impervious to the hairs. OTOH, the combined action of the running water, gentle washing, and the soap seems to do wonders for dislodging the hairs on the surface and barely in there.

 

[arachnopunks]

I've posted this before but what works for me is what I learned from working with fiberglass. When I get hit with hairs I use a Hot/Cold water technique. I turn the water on as hot as I can stand it, rinsing for a little while, then turn the water as cold as it will get rinsing for a while and keep repeating this until the itching stops. This opens and closes the pores which helps push the hairs out of your skin. Panty hose over the arms works well in keeping the hairs off the skin in the first place. I only use panty hose when cleaning out enclosures or removing remains not for handling, as the T can get hung up in the hose. Plus, they're very slimming and they make my arms look nice and tan.

 

[Code Monkey]

Arachnopunks, sorry to burst your bubble, but pores do *not* change their diameter. It's a complete myth fostered by the cosmetics industry. You do cause the connective tissue in the lower layers of the epidermis to contract and loosen through your treatment which can help loosen fiberglas or hairs, but then so doesn't gentle washing. The catch is gentle, you don't want to drive in the irritating crap any further in the process of trying to remove it.

 

[Ultimate Instar]

I wear gloves usually when cleaning out a NW tank, but you need to watch out for an allergy to latex. I wash my hands quite a bit after handling but if I still get the "itchies", I put tape on the affected area and pull out the embedded hairs. For me, the tape trick works very well.

Karen N.

 

[Lostkat]

Urticating hairs really irritate me badly. I'll suddenly wake up in the middle of the night with itchy hands and scratch until they go red and get tiny hard lumps on them. There's absolutely nothing I have found that will stop this except for not handling my urticaters. I even get it when cleaning them out. Think I'm gonna have to start wearing gloves.

 

[abstract]

I've handled all of my T's semi-regularly (except the OW'ers), and I never have been irritated in the slightest by the hairs.

You guys all make me feel lucky!

 

[atavuss]

Originally posted by Ultimate Instar
I wear gloves usually when cleaning out a NW tank, but you need to watch out for an allergy to latex. I wash my hands quite a bit after handling but if I still get the "itchies", I put tape on the affected area and pull out the embedded hairs. For me, the tape trick works very well.

Karen N.

Karen, I developed an allergy to latex from wearing latex gloves @ work. I have since switched to nitrile gloves and no more problems, the nitrile gloves are more expensive though.
Ed