Gunpowder allergy?

ZA206

ZA206

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 24, 2014
293
315
#1
Any of you guys have allergic reactions to gunpowder or other reloading/shooting stuff? (not talking about high prices!)

I ask because I think I’m very allergic to AR-Comp powder/residue.

Last three trips to the range (only trips I’ve ever used/shot AR-Comp loads), I had major blistering and itching on both my hands. This last time it was so bad, I went to the doctor today and got a shot and some prednisone to help out. I only figured it out after this last episode. Looks like really bad poison ivy all over the tops of my hands and fingers.

And no, I haven’t been around any poison ivy/oak. I can spot that stuff from a mile away.

I wanted to know if any of you guys had ever heard of something like this. Kinda crazy. I may have 8.5 lbs of AR Comp for sale soon…
 
#2
That sounds like no fun.
I have seen a lot of MIL and LEO kids in my lifetime, I have seen folks react to strong hydrocarbon solvents and vapors, but not to gunpowder residue.
I would go through everything again and see if your stuff has been contaminated with something that is irritating you. Good Luck!
 
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#3
When I get healed up, I’m going to do some self allergy tests in a few non critical area on my body to see what’s what.
Maybe crush up a few powders and lightly dab some small areas on my leg with the crushed powder on the end of a Q-tip.

The whole situation is depressing. AR Comp is a fantastic powder, it’s right there with XBR-8208 in my opinion!
 
#4
Very strange, never experienced anything like this before personally. I would be surprised if it is the powder though, sounds like something on your grip if you have the reaction on your hands - presumably at the range the only exposure you would have had would be airborne and if you were allergic Id be more concerned about it affecting your lungs than your hands.

AR Comp is great, was one of my favorites pre covid, I refuse to pay current prices for it though.
 
#6
I’m a dermatologist, but tend to do a lot more Mohs surgery than patch testing (for contact allergies). That type of a reaction definitely could indicate allergic contact dermatitis, although I would wonder about the distribution of your rash (tops of the hands in this case). Do you wear gloves only when you shoot?

Poison ivy, nickel (or really any contact allergen) tend to lead to rash where exposed. I like your idea of basically self patch testing at home. If you rash up after some of the powder, residue, etc is applied to the skin, that would indicate an allergy. I’d have no clue what the potential allergen would be though and I would think there would be very similar compounds across multiple powders.
 
#7
Doom said:
OP, do you have a dog? Does me makes trips in wooded areas or around a creek or pond? The oil on his coat can be transferred to you. Took me two or three exposures to figure that out!
Click to expand...
Two dogs, but they stay in our fenced in back yard and there is no poison ivy in the yard, I’ve checked three times.
 
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#8
waspocrew said:
I’m a dermatologist, but tend to do a lot more Mohs surgery than patch testing (for contact allergies). That type of a reaction definitely could indicate allergic contact dermatitis, although I would wonder about the distribution of your rash (tops of the hands in this case). Do you wear gloves only when you shoot?

Poison ivy, nickel (or really any contact allergen) tend to lead to rash where exposed. I like your idea of basically self patch testing at home. If you rash up after some of the powder, residue, etc is applied to the skin, that would indicate an allergy. I’d have no clue what the potential allergen would be though and I would think there would be very similar compounds across multiple powders.
Click to expand...

I looked at the SDS sheets on AR Comp, H4350 and TAC and there was a chemical on the AR Comp that was a couple of ingredients in it the others don’t have, one having a very high skin irritant rating.

I’ve been shooting H4350 for over a year and TAC for over 10 years…
 
#12
This allergy of yours tops my deer dander allergy in weirdness. :ROFLMAO:
Oh, and whey protein allergy. That shit swells up my sinus cavity and that dangle thing, Uvula, in the back of my throat.
 
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