snakes
536 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:18 PM
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And if so what did you do to get it to go away?
Problem => I have had a problem with what seemed to be chapped lips with one sore area on my top lip for 3 months or more. It has progressed to a painful situation and I can't practice much now. I've not changed anything in my routine nor what type of harps I play. My lips peel several times a day and one area has what looks to be a cold sore that peels as well. I've got a doctor appt., but it is way out there and I've got a couple gigs coming up. I can't get to the dermatologist sooner so should I look to get a harp player to fill in the harp playing for me and just sing?
Please keep the jokes to a minimum as my primary physician mentioned the c word, but I am optimistic as I think cancer is not this painful.
Your advice is appreciated as I've just been having some success playing out (mostly for vocals, but the harp comes with...).
Also, does anyone use Burt's Bees (or whatever) while they play and if so doesn't it plug the reeds? I've been using
Carmex, Blistex, and Burt's frequently while not playing and am hoping that I have just made it worse with those and that the doc will give me some better guidance as to how to get rid of this malady. I've tried to not play harmonica, but only make it about a couple days.
Thanks all.
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nacoran
2222 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:28 PM
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You might want to see if the harps you have contain nickel in the plates. Some people develop real bad nickel allergies.
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Nate
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jim
178 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:37 PM
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hoho... almost ALL modern harps' covers are nickel-plated!
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www.truechromatic.com
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snakes
537 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:40 PM
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Thanks, but these are the same harps I've had for some time.
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groyster1
133 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:53 PM
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snakes
do you play wood combs? marine bands or blues harps? when I first tried to play I used mb and blues harps and when the wood would swell from moisture a dr. said I had micro splinters in my lips hope your appointment goes well but as far as cancer not being painful thats just not true people with cancer can have horrible pain and need oxycontin for relief
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Greg Heumann
564 posts
Jun 20, 2010
12:58 PM
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First, playing is gonna irritate it. You have to stop until it heals, all the way. Second, it could be a lot of things. Sounds like cold sore, not canker sore from your description - but those two are different and have different treatments. Getting a harp player to fill in for you may be a good idea - only you can decide.
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/Greg
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pharpo
320 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:00 PM
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Snakes.... Hope this passes for you. I get chapped from time to time but take Lysine daily and use Blistex in the blue can. I get the Lysine at my local grocery store in the vitamin section. Have you ever tried Kanka ?
Paul
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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snakes
538 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:02 PM
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I play mostly Suzuki Fire Breaths with a rosewood comb that is sealed and custom MB's (and one 1847 Seydel with a wood comb). This has been going on for so long I have changed it up a bit and played some plastic comb harps I have, but the change didn't seem to make a difference. I've been playing the Fire Breaths for quite a long time now - perhaps 1 1/2 yrs or more. Thanks for posting George and everyone else.
I was hoping to hear that others had experienced something akin to chafing, etc. I played for about a half an hour last night and today I am getting an increase in pain as well as a slight discharge. Ugh...
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2010 1:02 PM
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snakes
539 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:04 PM
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Thanks Greg and Paul. I'll talk to my guitar player (we are obviously a duo) about a fill in harpster.
Paul, I know what Lysine is, but not Kanka. Will Google it.
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harpwrench
299 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:10 PM
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I have painful reactions to nickel plating- not all modern harps use that any more Jim. The ones that affected me worst were Hohners from the late 90's. They're the ones that develop a goldish/brown patina where your lips touch it. You might check your custom MB's for that patina, and if you play a Hohner chromatic check the mouthpiece on it if it's older.
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Joe Spiers Harmonicas
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harmonicanick
788 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:18 PM
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@snakes
Stop playing harmonica with immediate effect. You need to get some medical advice as soon as poss.
Here in the UK the Chemist or Pharmacist will give on the spot advice, can you do the same?
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pharpo
321 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:21 PM
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Snakes...also when I was young I used to get cold sores. Campho - Phenique used to dry them right up.
PM
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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snakes
540 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:26 PM
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Wow, thanks for such a great response everyone.
@ harmonicanick
I have to wait for my appt. on the 29th. When it comes to seeing a specialist here in the USA it is not so easy to get right in - even in a well known medically advanced metropolitan area like Seattle.
@harpwrench
I only have three customs and I be,lieve the oldest is from 2000 (all MB's). The MB from 2000 is the newest, but I bought that after this condition was already in progress.
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eharp
676 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:34 PM
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it could be you need to disinfect the harps.
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jim
179 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:43 PM
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Joe,
you mean it's nickel that is yellowish, and chrome that has the blue color?
I know hohners had a different coating - I had to clean it with lipstick (great method by the way).
But I always thought it WAS chrome and now is nickel. I don't know - I was so super-sure that I never bothered to check the encyclopedia :)
My prewar MB has also developed cracks on the cover coating. Isn't it chrome that cracks?
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www.truechromatic.com
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nacoran
2224 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:46 PM
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Snakes, the thing with nickel allergies, as I understand it, (or any allergies) is they can start later in life. One day your fine, then, poof, you've got the allergy, and since you aren't doing anything new, you don't know what it's from. Wooden combs can chew up your lips. So can protruding reed plates. Salt will do it. (I destroyed my lips the other day with roasted, salted pumpkin seeds.) Definitely get it checked out though, but I'd mention all these possibilities to the doc. Not all doctors are going to know details like rough wooden combs or nickel plates. Good luck.
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Nate
Facebook
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jim
180 posts
Jun 20, 2010
1:47 PM
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hm...
"Nickel has a warm, amber tone while chrome has a colder, blue hue"
then I guess I was wrong :)
Yeah, nickel sucks in harmonicas, for sure.
Thanks Joe!
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www.truechromatic.com
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2010 1:48 PM
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Andrew
1025 posts
Jun 20, 2010
2:28 PM
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I'd listen to Greg if I were you - I've got this picture in my head of a guy with an open wound playing harp for 3 hours per day instead of 5 thinking he's neglecting his instrument!
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
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Aussiesucker
645 posts
Jun 20, 2010
2:30 PM
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This used to happen to me all the time. I'm 69 and started playing the harp as a child but gave it away for 50 years due to unsightly sores that I thought were cold sores. I always had a harp in my bedside table but disaster every time I touched it. Later was diagnosed with nickel allergy. The good news is that most new harps are ok. Hohner told me that their diatonics are nickel free for ca 10 years. I have not experienced problems with Suzuki, Hohner or Lee Oskar in daily use for close to 4 years now. I did have a problem with a Harpmaster that was ca 2 years old and had been cleaned numerous times and had developed a yellowish tinge on the coverplates. Nickel bleeding through???
Nickel is probably still used in production of some harps. I have a son in law involved in research of metals & he tells me nickel is used by the medical industry in replacement body parts. The nickel however is used in such a way that it is contained and doesn't bleed (not sure if this is correct term). Nickel allergies are in 10% of the population and more commen with women due to jewellery.
Once you have developed a nickel allergy you always have it. But as I said the good news is that most modern harps do not give me a problem. Do I still have the allergy -yes. But, I am always careful.
I was suspicious of Seydel as they claim their model 1847 Silver is 'German Silver'. German Silver is nickel. I have a Seydel 1847 but use it rarely and as yet have not experienced any problems.
Incidentally, I have never ever had cold sores. I have and do experience, in cold dry windy weather, chapped lips which make playing uncomfortable but it's only minor problem.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2010 2:33 PM
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harmonicanick
789 posts
Jun 20, 2010
2:36 PM
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Aussie, is there nickel in Suzuki firebreath harps mate?
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Joch230
192 posts
Jun 20, 2010
2:39 PM
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I've used the Burts Bee Balm and Lipsaver sticks per advice from Adam. They both help but I don't use it while I'm playing. I will use it when I'm done or at night to help them recover faster. Don't need it too often.
-John
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tookatooka
1459 posts
Jun 20, 2010
2:52 PM
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@Snakes be sure to let us know how you get on, won't you? I don't know if anyone has mentioned Herpes yet. I don't know how it may affect the lips but it is fairly common. Not wanting to worry you but it may be worth noting.
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snakes
541 posts
Jun 21, 2010
8:51 AM
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Thought I'd report in that I've put the harps away for a bit. I'll just practice my vocals and maybe learn a guitar chord or two. I see the doc on the 29th and will definitely mention the potential for a nickel allergy. I sure want to thank everyone that offered advice. Really - you folks are awesome!
My colleague across the hall here at work said I was starting to look like the joker from the Batman movies. Think I'll go put a tack in his chair when he isn't looking. LOL!
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groyster1
135 posts
Jun 21, 2010
9:08 AM
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yo snakes
hope your drs appointment goes okay I took one of my marine bands to a dr @ the hospital and he noticed the comb swelling from the moisture he also noticed the dead epithelial dead skin cells that were coming from inside my lips he swore that I had micro wood splinters in my lips after that I changed to special 20 and the problem never resurfaced see you next year at hch
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Greg Heumann
568 posts
Jun 21, 2010
9:14 AM
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"I was suspicious of Seydel as they claim their model 1847 Silver is 'German Silver'. German Silver is nickel. I have a Seydel 1847 but use it rarely and as yet have not experienced any problems."
I have a bunch of 1847's and the cover plates don't discolor like Hohner's do - so if they have any nickel it must be "trapped" chemically like those replacement body parts....
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/Greg
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barbequebob
962 posts
Jun 21, 2010
10:24 AM
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I'd also suggest that peiodically that you clean off the cover plates with a lint free paper towel and some isoporopyl alcohol because something that most players don't realize is that what is also cutting the crap out your lips is old dried on saliva a nd dead skin and these need to be cleaned off every few weeks so that these things don't build up and harden.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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nacoran
2235 posts
Jun 21, 2010
2:00 PM
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BBQ- Seydel has a polishing rag. With that and a toothpick I can keep my harps looking spiffy.
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Nate
Facebook
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jbone
352 posts
Jun 21, 2010
8:34 PM
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one other thing to consider- how hard do you hold the harp in your mouth? hard enough to abrade your lips? if so, it may be as simple- once you heal up- and using a gentler touch holding and moving the harp. kiss that thang!
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Aussiesucker
648 posts
Jun 21, 2010
8:58 PM
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@ harmonicanick> I have never used a FireBreath so am unsure as to their build materials.
@ Greg Heumann> The claim they make re German Silver is in reference to the Seydel 1847 reed plates not the cover plates. The reed plates do come into contact with the lips though. However I do note that Seydel do offer an 1847 Silver with an enclosed comb as well as the open comb models. The enclosed comb would be safe ie if at all there was any risk.
I would imagine that no reputable manufacturer would put a product on the market which contained nickel & which could give rise to the allergy. I was told by a jeweller that in Oz it is illegal to sell any pieces of jewellery that are in contact with the skin that are nickel. It is saliva & sweat that is the conduit for the nickel. Its not life threatening or even a serious complaint but for a harp player it's yuk and it's also unsightly.
After playing my harps I wipe them with Kendall Webcol -Skin Cleaning Alcohol Wipes. They come in boxes of 200 & only cost cents each. One wipe will do a number of harps.
There is plenty of info on the web re nickel allergies.
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groyster1
145 posts
Jun 22, 2010
11:21 AM
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jbone might have it right you may be putting too much pressure on your mouth with the harp I have been advised by a harp vet not to use too much pressure
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snakes
542 posts
Jun 22, 2010
11:30 AM
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Thank you all for your caring input. I'll heed it all. I do take a lot of supplements so we should be okay there. Maybe I am using too much pressure... I'll be more aware when I get back to it.
I'll post the diagnostic details when I get them. I did call back the doc and got my appt. moved up to this Thursday - good news!
Thanks again!
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Pluto
78 posts
Jun 22, 2010
12:32 PM
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Hey,
I'm no medical professional, but my wife fell off her bike years ago and it took for ever for her lips to heal (like a year). The doctor said something like the skin on your lips is different than other parts of your body.
Pluto
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snakes
546 posts
Jun 24, 2010
2:51 PM
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Saw the dermatologist today and his is sure it isn't the big c. Prescribed some steroid cream and said to lay off the harps until it is better. I mentioned the nickel allergy and he said that should not be ruled out without testing. I am schedule for a patch test which will include testing for nickel in August.
On a side note I am going to see Mark DuFresne Saturday night - woohoo!
BTW - the patch tests are just that. They put patches on you for 5 days and you cannot shower (sponge bath, etc.). You have to visit the doctor's office on 3 of the 5 days. Just in case inquiring minds had to know...
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Andrew
1031 posts
Jun 24, 2010
3:45 PM
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"the skin on your lips is different than other parts of your body."
It's endoderm, not exoderm. And that's all I can remember from biology from 35 years ago. Also, there are things called amoebas. And if you leave yeast dough for a week it goes mouldy.
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Andrew,
gentleman of leisure.
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gene
509 posts
Jun 24, 2010
7:57 PM
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I'm glad to hear it ain't the BIG "C"
!!! :) !!!
LET THE JOKES BEGIN!!!
Last Edited by on Jun 24, 2010 7:58 PM
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Jfllr1
195 posts
Jun 25, 2010
5:25 AM
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Eat loadsa fruits and veg- get as many vitamins as you can... reduce infection and improve protein synthesis :).
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"Blow as thou pleaseth"
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groyster1
164 posts
Jun 25, 2010
6:05 AM
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hello snakes
glad you did not have the big c I had to go thru getting prostate cancer diagnosis 2.5 years ago however licked the big c from my last psa report in march
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