What is the likely culprit for itchy red bumps on my arms?

[valerieinthegallery]

There's very little left in the bottle - none that will even really come out. I will wrap it up and trash it. As for getting rid of all the soap - can I give it away? This is an issue with me, right? Not with the soap? People make and use lemongrass soap all the time!

I'm so sad. This batch turned out SO nice.

 

[valerieinthegallery]

Also, why on earth was I not having any reaction whatsoever when I started washing my hands with it last night? And ALL DAY today? It wasn't until I showered with it in the late afternoon that this happened and it's just all up and down my arms - nowhere else. At all. Does that make sense? Why would I have not had a reaction to it when washing my hands and why is it just on my arms?

 

[galaxyMLP]

This is why:
"What Causes Allergies to Start?

It begins with exposure. Even if you've inhaled an allergen many times before with no trouble, at some point, for some reason, the body flags it as an invader. During this particular exposure, the immune system studies the allergen. It readies itself for the next exposure by developing antibodies, special cells designed to detect it. You are now "sensitized" to the allergen.
Then, the next time you're exposed to the allergen, your immune system kicks into action. The antibodies recognize it. That triggers the activation of special cells called mast cells. These cells are responsible for allergy symptoms in the lungs, skin, and lining of the nose and intestinal tract."

This is the web md definition. That's why DeeAnna's friend used lacquer for years then developed an allergy. It happens...

 

[houseofwool]

Because allergic reactions are often cumulative and sometimes logarithmic.

That is the first exposure is okay. The second is very mild. The third is moderate and the forth is even worse.

Also, in washing up, contact was limited to just your hands. But when you bathed, your entire skin was exposed.

 

[not_ally]

I saw this post earlier on my little hard to type tablet, and was going to say: I am one of the people who do not have EO/FO sensitivity too, I can do a tiny swab on my arm without any reaction. But if you are used to doing that, and it happened in this case, you have an issue with that one, at minimum. I don't do well with lye (which kind of sucks), full safety gear when I use it - and I always do CP/full water, so not ultra concentrated - b/c of that.

Lots of better advice than mine followed after my thoughts, though. I sympathize about having to give up the scent, I love it too (sad face emoticon.)

I am glad that you got so much good advice, took it seriously - allergans are not something to safely disregard - and are cuddled up in bed getting some no doubt needed (we all do) peaceful time

 

[galaxyMLP]

Because allergic reactions are often cumulative and sometimes logarithmic.

That is the first exposure is okay. The second is very mild. The third is moderate and the forth is even worse.

Also, in washing up, contact was limited to just your hands. But when you bathed, your entire skin was exposed.

I would also imagine that bathing in hot water would cause more of the eo to volatilize, possibly leading to even more exposure.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you. It must be very disheartening that such a lovely batch caused a negative reaction. I thought I couldn't make any soap for myself since I'm very sensitive to coconut oil (not exactly sure if I'm allergic but I cant use soap made with it, my skin peels with 30% and its verrrry tight and dry at 10%) and almost every recipe contains it! It turns out there are plenty of wonderful soaps I can make without it. I'm sure that will be the case with you. I'm sure you'll find some lovely scents and recipes you're not allergic to!

 

[valerieinthegallery]

Because allergic reactions are often cumulative and sometimes logarithmic.

That is the first exposure is okay. The second is very mild. The third is moderate and the forth is even worse.

Also, in washing up, contact was limited to just your hands. But when you bathed, your entire skin was exposed.

Right - my entire skin was exposed. I bathed from head to toes, but only my arms got the itchy red bumps.

I'm not trying to be argumentative at ALL -I appreciate the replies, the support and the info! I am just befuddled as to why it's just my arms and nothing else that reacted this way.

 

[houseofwool]

It could be just where the rash developed. Most likely because they already had a higher exposure due to the previous washing up.

Or who knows... So much about the human body is a mystery. We understand lots of it, but there is always more to learn!

 

[valerieinthegallery]

Well, thank you! You and everyone else for the great replies. I am really bummed. My friend wants me to send her the soap, and I would love to but now I feel scared to let someone use it, even though I know it's not the soap.I know it's not - I KNOW I calculated everything perfectly! But because of this awful reaction, I feel like no one should use it. lol. My best batch yet.. I have an unscented batch cooling right now, but I put it in the same silicone mold as the last one, and the scent didn't really come out of it completely so now I don't know if I should use THAT soap or not! Do silicone molds made for soap (this one is for baking) do better with smells not sticking?

 

[galaxyMLP]

Was it your forearms? If so, that is a very sensitive part of the body along with the crease of your elbow. Did you develop a rash there as well? Often times they recommend testing new skin products there to test for allergic reactions b/c it is so sensitive. I don't know why though. Just that it is.

 

[valerieinthegallery]

Was it your forearms? If so, that is a very sensitive part of the body along with the crease of your elbow. Did you develop a rash there as well? Often times they recommend testing new skin products there to test for allergic reactions b/c it is so sensitive. I don't know why though. Just that it is.

Yes, the inside of my forearms from the wrist to the inner elbow (the crelbow as Blossom's brother would say) mostly on the "fatty" part of the forearm.

 

[snappyllama]

I'd head to an allergist to check it out. In the meantime, be cautious around Thai food (lemongrass is heavily used in those dishes).

Sorry to hear about your soap... take a picture and chunk it. You'll be able to refer back to the shot and recreate it in a another soap. Without being able to test it, I wouldn't give it to someone else. It's not worth the risk to them or you.

 

[Susie]

Don't toss the soap. I can't have lemongrass touch my skin directly, either. But I have used it over and over in soap with no problems. Just give it time to cure before using again.

I also suspect that since it is only one area, you may be looking at a combination reaction to the lemongrass and something else you have that touches your forearms.

 

[valerieinthegallery]

snappyllama - I don't eat thai food, so that's not a concern. I did take some pictures - it's a beautiful soap. I didn't color it at all - just HP with some scent, but it was the best batch I have done so far and I just love it.

susie - That is good to know. I am wondering if I leave it to sit for a while if the lemongrass will mellow out - maybe it wasn't an allergic reaction, just irritated skin from the properties of it? I don't think I want to test that theory, but I don't want to throw out a perfectly good (great) soap just because I'm sensitive to lemongrass. That doesn't mean everyone is.

Someone suggested tossing it if I can't have it tested, but tested for what? I checked soapcalc multiple times and the actual recipe was perfectly fine (and I do use a scale that measures in graduations of .05 ounces and I measure very very carefully) and I checked my fragrance calculators multiple times (multiple calculators) and I was WELL within safe guidelines of use for lemongrass oil, so I know the soap is fine.

Someone else mentioned that it was frighteningly early to use HP soap, but if you google "How soon can you use HP soap" every single link that comes up says it is safe to use immediately, it will just be a bit soft, which was true. This was definitely not due to lye.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. It was a concerning night and having you all here to bounce things off of helped so much.

Back to the drawing board!

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

No, it IS frighteningly early to use HP soap, regardless of when it is safe. How the soap performs above and beyond the longevity increases with age, just like CP. The curve is not so pronounced, that is to say, it is better at 3 days than CP will be by a large margin, but at 3 weeks the difference will be less pronounced with both soaps improving a lot from where they were at 3 days old. Mildness is something that comes with age with HP, regardless of safety. As with CP, after 24 hours it can be safe, but still harsh on the skin.

"Safe" and "good" are two very different things.

 

[valerieinthegallery]

Yes, I agree with you on that! I do understand the difference between "safe" and "good" and I know that soaps get better - i.e.: milder/harder the longer they cure, etc. even with HP.

It seemed as though the statement was made with safety in mind, in terms of lye/saponification, etc. so that is what my response was targeted at. I have never had a reaction to essential oils before, just mixed in an oil and put right on my skin, so if I hadn't been sensitive to lemongrass, I don't see that there would have been a problem. That's all I meant by that.

I know I'm a newbie here, I don't want to step on any toes. But I also don't do things carelessly (ever) and I stand behind my choice to use HP soap soon after making - lots of experienced soapers do as well. That's all.

 

[Susie]

I know that on CP safe and good are worlds apart. I don't make HP, so I am no help there.

However, I do know that I react to lemongrass EO if applied directly to my skin(which may be the issue with my lip balm and hand balm), and not in soap after a good cure. Which begs the question of if HP is "safe" soon after making with regards to the EOs/FOs rather than the lye/oil saponification issue. It is something to think about at least.

I am still sort of leaning toward the possibility of you having a reaction to something other than JUST the lemongrass EO. It seems to me that you should be having the itchy red skin on your whole body if it is the lemongrass EO. I would look to lotions, whatever is used to clean your desk or computer, Febreeze used on the arms of a chair, hand sanitizing gel, etc. Something that only touches your hands and forearms. You probably wash your hands enough to remove whatever it is from there, so it may not cause an issue.

Don't send that soap to anyone until you figure out what is going on, though. Best to err on the side of caution.

 

[valerieinthegallery]

I can get on board with the thought that HP might not be safe for some people to use right after making if there is an eo in the soap that might be less irritating once it has mellowed out in people that are sensitive to it.

The comment made about it being early was made in reference to lye/saponification safety and my response was based on that.

I have thought and thought about anything else it might be - I am not a person who uses "new" things - I find things I like and stick with them. I only use one brand/scent of hand sanitizer and only in the car when I can't wash my hands. It is kept in the car. I hadn't used it in at least 2 days and had showered in between. I don't wear lotions on my arms. I hadn't used any new soap, I hadn't worn sprays or fragrance in several days. I used the same old shampoo/conditioner that I have always used... I am a creature of habit, truly. Same laundry soap I have used for the last 2 years. There was nothing I would have used that would have JUST been on my arms and nowhere else.

The ONLY thing I can think of is that I pick my cat up to snuggle him and that his body would mostly be touching my forearms in that scenario - I have not given him any flea/tick treatments, nor have I bathed him or anything like that. The only thing I can think of is that now that Maine is finally getting warmer (although we still have some snow in our backyard!) he has been going outside and we do have poison ivy all around our house. It is not leafy yet - still dead from winter, but I have heard that you can get it even from "dead" plants. So maybe he transferred some oils to me and the lemongrass irritated it before it had broken out, causing it to break out? But it is still pretty chilly here, so I have been wearing long-sleeved sweatshirts literally every day. He didn't touch any bare skin, so that would be a longshot. And even in the summer, when the poison ivy is raging, I pick him up regularly with short sleeves and it's not been a problem. (Although I do get poison ivy if I touch it directly).

Anyway.. sorry for the rambling.. just brainstorming.

And again, if I have sounded angry and/or defensive, I'm not. Context is difficult to convey online. I am not an angry/defensive person. It's not foolish stubbornness, it's conviction. And when I'm wrong, I do admit it. I am a pretty humble person, believe it or not. :razz:

 

[Seawolfe]

It was my comment about "frighteningly early" so I should probably clarify.

I come from a brewing background, so putting something aside to get better is very familiar to me. Its "safe" to drink a bottle of beer just after secondary fermentation, but MAN does it taste awful. I avoid grand openings of brewpubs for this very reason - they push the beers too soon and there's a cloying sweet taste to beer thats not ready yet that just makes me gag. Just because the fermentation is finished doesn't mean that the beer is ready, it has to condition a while.

Same with soap, just because saponification is finished it doesn't mean the soap is good. Sure maybe you can use it on your hands, but thats about all I'd try. Before a decent cure it will be harsh (which could also cause skin irritation), the essential oils haven't had a chance to burn off whatever is sticking to the surface (if you didn't stir the EO in well, or even if you did, there would have been undiluted EO on the surface of your HP soap), or any one of a number of things that make the difference between "ok to wash the laundry or floor" and "beneficial to my skin".

 

[Susie]

Sounds like you are on the right track here, at least. You are ruling out one possibility at the time. That is often the only thing you can do to determine an allergen. The bad thing about it is that you can become allergic to anything at anytime. You only have to have been exposed before. So, you may yet have to eliminate one potential issue at the time in the products you have been using for years. But I would wait until I determined for sure about the soap/EO.

I understood that you were reacting to the previous comments about safety regarding lye and oils, but it got me thinking about the EO issue. So, no offense taken, whatsoever. I just had my brain click into gear as I am guilty occasionally of testing "young" soap.

Seawolfe-I can vouch for the beer being horrid if too young. I don't drink beer, but I used to help homebrew it, so I have tasted beer at every step of the process. It is definitely better if you let it condition a while.