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[Nickbat]

Back in May, I had a haircut. The hairdresser's clippers were quite sharp and I felt a slight 'nick' as he clipped round the top of my ears. there was no blood or anything dramatic like that and I barely noticed it. A few days later, my ears started burning and itching, specifically at the top and round the back. Eventually, I went to the GP with red raw dripping ears...and she gave me some antibiotic cream. No luck. I went back and the next GP said, "Oh that IS bad", and gave me oral antibiotics and cream. He said that if it didn't improve, he'd send off sample to the lab. Still, not much of an improvement, but too busy to go back. I started using all sorts of creams including E45 with cortisone. The condition was a bit improved, but flared up on occasions - especially when I had a lot of work on (leading some to say it was stress-related).

I got really fed up with this embarrassing problem. It was truly yukky.

Then I had a Eureka moment...!

I use reading glasses and obviously wear them more when I am working more. Surely, there could be no connection? I Googled "itchy ears and spectacles" and discovered that the plastic covers on spectacle frames contain the UV inhibitor resorcinol monobenzoate, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in some.

I covered the plastic with sellotape and then wound some wool (liberated from Miss Nickbat) round to make them comfortable.

That was a week ago. My ears are now completely healed. No itching, no redness, no weeping fluid(!!) no flaking skin. 

I guess the dermatitis was triggered when the outer layer of skin was compromised by the hairdresser's clippers as I had been wearing the glasses before without any ill effects. The only problem I am left with is to find a more aesthetic way of covering my glasses!

Interestingly, I just read about someone who had a similar problem with his hands and it was traced to resorcinol monobenzoate in the steering wheel of his car. I understand it was used in pre-1970s vehicles. It is also found in some footwear>

http://www.online.karger.com/Article/Pdf/17953   

[aaronjb]

Slip a bit of heat-shrink tubing over the frame end, heat, shrink, done?

Assuming it doesn't contain the same stuff, of course

[Nickbat]

Slip a bit of heat-shrink tubing over the frame end, heat, shrink, done?

Assuming it doesn't contain the same stuff, of course

Thanks, Aaron.

Where can I buy that? 

[aaronjb]

Maplin sell it - in little packets, pick whichever size will only just slip over the widest part and (assuming your specs don't have an obscenely large bulge) gentle persuasion with a lighter will make it shrink to a tight fit

[05omegav6]

Helfrods sell it as well, either in small selection packs, or a variety box

[aaronjb]

Good point, I forgot about them 

One thought - it's slightly rubberised (usually) but very smooth, so if you sweat I don't know how well it'll continue to grip.

Easy & cheap to try it, though, and if it doesn't work just slit it with a knife and it'll fall right off.

[Nickbat]

Thanks Guys! 

[cem_devecioglu]

Then I had a Eureka moment...!

I use reading glasses and obviously wear them more when I am working more. Surely, there could be no connection? I Googled "itchy ears and spectacles" and discovered that the plastic covers on spectacle frames contain the UV inhibitor resorcinol monobenzoate, which is known to cause contact dermatitis in some.

I covered the plastic with sellotape and then wound some wool (liberated from Miss Nickbat) round to make them comfortable.

That was a week ago. My ears are now completely healed. No itching, no redness, no weeping fluid(!!) no flaking skin. 

I guess the dermatitis was triggered when the outer layer of skin was compromised by the hairdresser's clippers as I had been wearing the glasses before without any ill effects. The only problem I am left with is to find a more aesthetic way of covering my glasses!

Interestingly, I just read about someone who had a similar problem with his hands and it was traced to resorcinol monobenzoate in the steering wheel of his car. I understand it was used in pre-1970s vehicles. It is also found in some footwear>

http://www.online.karger.com/Article/Pdf/17953

  Congrats Nick.. good find

[Sir Tigger KC]

So that'll be the last time you have your haircut then Nick?!     

[Nickbat]

So that'll be the last time you have your haircut then Nick?!     

Yeah, going to become a beatnik like Albs.