The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi everyone
Looks like i have some kind of nickel allergy, nothing like major breakouts but still bothersome.It's only on my right hand where it comes in contact with the strings when blocking. I know about the stainless strings but it looks like only the wound ones are stainless plus i use half round strings.My question is, are there any kind of coatings i could use (just on the spot where i block)to help with the allergy.
Thanks
Pascal

Allergies to nickel (and other metals) are well documented in the dermo journals. There are three things you might try:
1. Try a different brand of stainless strings. You might be able to find ones with a higher chromium (and less nickel, or more iron) content.
2. If it's only the plain strings, silver-plated plain strings used to be available, but I'm not sure if they still are.
3. Barrier-type hand creams are available for people who work with chemicals and detergents. One of these cremes might help.

would coated strings help?

Yes, Mike, coated strings would definitely help, but I seem to remember some Forum posts where users of those strings didn't like them for steel. Also, I think the abrasion from the bar and metal finger picks would be harder on the coating than frets and a plastic pick.

I have this as well; resting my hand on the strings near the changer (muting/blocking/harmonics) leaves me with an eczema outbreak on the side of my palm. Same with playing 3 strings. Coated strings do help, but they really just work for acoustic guitar: I find that they do sound different with magnetic pickups.

I use a product called Prevex; it's essentially a really thick petroleum jelly. It works to create a barrier for you. Other than that, most string types contain some nickel in them. It's really hard to get away from.

One thing that helped me, was eliminating nickel from other places in my life. Most importantly, diet. I'm a vegetarian, so reducing the vegetables with higher levels of nickel in them, and ensuring that any vitamins that I was taking did not add to the levels of nickel in my body has helped a great deal in reducing outbreaks. And when it's feasible, if you notice an outbreak, stop doing what you're doing and let it heal. It sucks, but usually within 2-3 days of an outbreak starting for me, it is under control again. In that time I'll focus on 6 string, or mixing some recordings.

Or even doing crosswords

Hi
Thanks for the replies,i'm going to try some protective cream and see how it goes.
Have a nice day!
Pascal

I have psoriasis on my hands and it comes and goes. When I have problems I wear surgical gloves. They actually work better than you might think. Make sure they fit tight and playing with them is really not a problem.

Those with "sweaty palms" probably will find the stainless steel strings, which are only the wound strings, probably won't help.

I use George L's, with are Stainless Steel (wound) and had put a new set on my guitar. A friend stopped by and wanted to try my Franklin. I let him play it. The next day I sat down at the steel and noticed the new strings sounded somewhat dead. I later found out he had the "sweaty palm" syndrome and I can only assume that is what caused it. I had to replace the strings.

All wound strings are wound with a specific amount of tension on the windings. Anything that decreases the tension causes the string to go dead. In this case, the moisture from his sweaty hands acted as a lubricant and allowed the winding tension to "slip". Extreme heat (or cold) can also cause the windings to slip.