Urticating hair resistance?

[Snipes]

Is any1 seemingly resistant to the u-hairs? I am just wondering because a while back i was holding a rose hair with a buddy of mine and she flicked off a bunch while she was in my hand. Later, my friend was itching like crazy and i had very little irritation. Recently i decided to test it by lightly touching my other rose hair on hte top of her abdomin, and again, i had a very little irritation. Is it possible that i could have some sort of resistance to whatever is in the hairs. Incidentaly, i also am not affected by nettles. Dont know if it has any parallel to it since nettles are irritating because of poison in addition to spurs.

 

[Sheri]

I am changing the name to include "urticating" to facilitate search results.

This is a good read if you haven't yet.

 

[David Burns]

It is possible to have a resistance to U-hairs. It doesn't mean that that resistance will work for all species. I have heard that the more exposure a person has to these hairs the less resistance you have. This also means that if you are effected badly now it will get worse.

 

[pitbulllady]

I have never had what I would consider a significant reaction to any urticating hairs, and I've been haired by some of the worst, including T. blondi, B. boehmei, B. smithi, B. albopilosum, and E. campestratus. The worst I've ever had was a mild itching sensation that lasted maybe 15 minutes, tops, from handling a live B. albopilosum and a freshly-moulted exuvium from a G. rosea, both times while my hands were damp. Washing with hot water took care of the problem completely. My B. boehmei is the hair-kicking champ, yet I've never had the slightest reaction to her hairs. I'm careful not to let them get near my face, and I always wash my hands after handling any of my T's or exuvia or cleaning cages, but insofar as just getting the hairs on my skin and having a problem, so far I've been very lucky.

pitbulllady

 

[Heartfang]

I have no reaction what-so-ever to G. rosea, P. scrofa, or californian T urticating hairs. I could probably rub my T's all over my hands and face with no reaction. Not that I would...

 

[Snipes]

we should consider ourselves lucky then

 

[Windchaser]

When I started keeping T's many years ago, I would never get a reaction to the urticating hairs. Now, I find that I am sensative to them, especially my B. smithi. I will get a rash and will sometimes itch for a couple of days. So, I firmly believe that is quite possible to become more sensative after increased exposure.

 

[FRAZE01]

I've never had any problems with any of my t's except when I used to clean my H.gigas cage

 

[CreepyCrawly]

I also never used to have troubles with urticating hairs. Not at all. I could handle my G. rosea forever and it wouldn't have bothered me. But now, seven years later, I am becoming more and more sensitive. Cleaning out my G. rosea cage (with my bare hands, grabbing handfuls of bedding) left me with a rash all over my hands for a good solid 10 days, and would wake me up out of a dead sleep because of the itching.

I think most people become more and more sensitive to them over time, as I did. I know there was at least one other thread about this, and it seems that this seems to be true for many people. Have fun while they don't affect you!

 

[Randolph XX()]

get a pair of construction working gloves, or just get OW Ts

 

[Apocalypstick]

If I mess with the webbed substate, which my T often 'hairs' up, I'll get an itching sensation first, then some small blebs...almost like poisen ivy. But if I scratch the areas too much, they start stinging and there is no fluid to speak of if I scratch the tiny blebs open. They only last about 24 hrs.

By the way, my angel T, Nadine, has NEVER flicked the 1st hair on me... she bit me once, but never... not one hair ever flicked I tell ya

 

[MysticKigh]

Is any1 seemingly resistant to the u-hairs? I am just wondering because a while back i was holding a rose hair with a buddy of mine and she flicked off a bunch while she was in my hand. Later, my friend was itching like crazy and i had very little irritation. Recently i decided to test it by lightly touching my other rose hair on hte top of her abdomin, and again, i had a very little irritation. Is it possible that i could have some sort of resistance to whatever is in the hairs. Incidentaly, i also am not affected by nettles. Dont know if it has any parallel to it since nettles are irritating because of poison in addition to spurs.

I asked a similar question a while back... can't seem to find the thread right now though. At any rate, someone sent me a link to an interesting article (I'll continue to try to dig that up). Different species have different types of hairs. There are 3 or 4 types I believe. I have no reaction to any of my T's hairs EXCEPT my G rosea's, which leave me with a mild spreading itch... fortunately they don't throw them, but I do have to be careful when changing bedding. It's just a matter of how sensitive (or allergic) one is to any given thing. Personally I haven't experienced becoming any more or less sensitive to said hairs, although I'm sure it's possible. I spent several years of my life allergic to bees and cats and now neither bother me <shrug> Only time will tell I suppose

After all that babbling... here's the link

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=26085

 

[bagheera]

I *seem* to be immune to the effects of the hairs. I didn't even react to the blondi I once had. I am also almost immune to hymenoptera stings. Of course I would cheerfully trade these immuities to lose my reaction to pepper and capsaicin...

 

[Arachnomaniak]

There are definitly different types of hairs that are classified by structure, size etc. A good resource is the Tarantula Keepers Guide as it has some good magnified pics of hairs from different species and some descriptions.
I haven't had much problems with U-Hairs yet but I'm being pretty careful becuase if the reactions do indeed get worse after multiple exposures it doesn't bode that well for someone who plans on dealing with Ts for the long haul I definitly opt for gloves for now!
-Arachnomaniak-

 

[Sheri]

Resistance is futile.

You will be urticated.

 

[Spider-man 2]

I have hardly itched from Day 1.

Even had T. blondi kick a huge cloud on my hand a couple weeks after she molted and not a single scratch.....

Have yet to find a sp. that will make me stratch like crazy.

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

I dont really itch either, though ive had a bit of irritation in my throat before. I did have a strange itchiness on my face before, but nothing id consider abnormal. So no, Id say it doesnt bother me

 

[Vampire]

I thought the same thing

Yup, I thought the same thing......never had any problems handling any of our Ts...Bsmithi, curley, Rosea, Avic.....anyhow as I posted the other day .....I got "haired" by the Bsmithi and now I know what is meant by urticating.....got an itchy red rash on my arms and I was so sure it would never bother me
So, I think sooner or later, they'll get to you....I'm still in denial! :8o

 

[Spider-man 2]

I dunno about that...every New World T I have has kicked hairs on me and not a reasction from any of them.

 

[Windchaser]

I dunno about that...every New World T I have has kicked hairs on me and not a reasction from any of them.

I am not sure you have had yours long enough. I really didn't start to notice the increased sensativity until I had mine over 4 years. I noticed in your profile that you have only had yours since 2003, which is no more than about 2 years. Perhaps you will be fortunate and not experience any problems, but I wouldn't be surprised if you became more sensative in a couple more years.