CCW rash?

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outofbattery

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Just wondering if anyone else has suffered from this:I CCW either IWB with a tshirt between me and the pistol in the summer with a button down or golf shirt over it ( New England summers are still mild to a Georgian ) or OWB when heavier cover garments are comfortable.I end up getting a rash where the butt contacts me,even through the tshirt,and will be mildly irritated even if I have say, a tshirt and heavier button down between me and the grip.However,I'm not bothered where the heavier leather or Kydex covers the pistol,only the grip.Could it be that I am a liberal at heart and am just allergic to my own guns?:confused:I'm not sure if it's the lack of grip texture or smaller surface area or what,but my SP101 with Hogue monogrip doesn't seem to bother me like the autos do.I know,the best solution would seem to be just carry it or another wheelgun but I shoot autos so much better.
 
You could be allergic to solvent or oil on the grip. I have had rubs from grips but never a rash.
 
yeah, i suffer from the same problem, but the t-shirt solves it for me. oddly, when i started CCWing, i became sensitive to it, and now any metal rubbing my skin causes the same reaction. e.g. if i wear a belt with a metal buckle and no t-shirt, i'll get a rash from the buckle. that never happened before i started carrying. i just wear t-shirts always now and it's not a problem.

i figure a topical cream of some sort would fix it, but i just can't bring myself to think about it after that south park episode
 
Try UnderArmor, its not just trendy clothes for NBA/NFL wannabes, it is a thin, lightweight, wicking layer that you should be able to keep tucked between your skin and gun.

Also, if your shirt keeps coming untucked try shirt-stays. they are a little uncomfortable, but better than a rash. Ask the military guys where to get them and how to wear them.
 
You may be allergic to some metals. I am. I can't wear watches or anything. I carry a G26, though, also with an undershirt in-between...so no problem there.
 
FWIW,I've had it happen with SIG 230/2340/225/239, Glock 23, Beretta 9000,S&W 669 so it's been plastic grips and/or rubber grips on plastic and alloy guns.I've also made sure that the guns have been wiped as clean as possible of solvents and oil externally.It's really impressive/disgusting looking-it spreads out in roughly the shape of the butt but several times larger and looks much like diaper rash in color and texture.Is it pure craziness to think that maybe there is something in the ammunition that I have a reaction to as it's the grips of any automatic that really set it off?

I guess I should just experiment with taping Gold Dots to my waist and carrying around a totally cleaned,unlubricated gun and the like to narrow it down.It really is a big enough deal that at the end of a long day trip up to Boston,by the time I get home it's downright miserable:(
 
In the interests of eliminating possibilities one-by-one, perhaps:

a) degrease pistol and relube with different brand of oil
b) swap grips out for different material
c) Failing that, can you assume that you're allergic to that alloy of metal?

Are you sure that it's not caused by just plain friction?

I used to get a terrible rash on my left leg, which went away immediately after I stopped carrying a Zippo in my left pocket, so I sympathize.


-MV
 
Do any of your autos have cocobolo grips?Some people are allergic to that wood,some are allergic to a alot of wood.
 
You need to see an allergist.

What they do is, they wash the back of your hand thoroughly, put a small dab of a suspect allergin down and then do a tiny pinprick stick through the suspect material. If you get a bump, bingo.

You COULD do such a thing yourself but sterilization of the suspect allergins (and needles) would be tricky. Not recommended.
 
Are you sure that it's not caused by just plain friction?
Click to expand...
That's what I thought as well.

I only doubt it's an allergy because I think you would have problems while cleaning/handling the gun as well. I bet it's from the edge of the grip constantly rubbing in that same small area. If that's the case, your probably chaffing more than developing a rash.

You can purchase the tape you see a lot of football players wear on their elbows and forearms. It's more of a cloth-like material, and will absorb the friction.

FYI: I'm no doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
 
Do it yourself

allergy test that should work.
Find an adhesive tape you are NOT allergic to, don't want false positives.
Clean, shave if you want to, the top of one thigh. Put samples of each of the suspect antigens, grip sawdust, oil, lead, nickle, etc under tape (liquids on small cotton balls). Put it on thigh, remove after 24hrs. Should show the culprit, then change that.
Good luck.
 
I have heard of people being allergic to their wives, but being allergic to a gun would be horrible!:what:
 
It may be a heat rash, caused by your body heat being held and reflected back by the grip. Chafing has also been mentioned, and that is usually a combination of heat and friction. If you sweat a lot, your sweat may be leaching something away from the grip and you may have an allegic reaction to that material in your sweat.

Try wearing a fishnet type of undershirt with your T-shirt on top, so that your sweat is dried out by air circulation and you still have some protection from friction.
 
To check the friction theory, I'd suggest walking around the house wearing the gun IWB with no cover garment, bending over, walking, twisting, sitting down and standing up, etc. and seeing whether the gun butt rubs against you. I know when I carry IWB, a difference of an inch or two in left-right position, or a small change in the angle, can be the difference between comfortable carry and annoying discomfort.

If revolvers don't bother you, it may be because the butt of a revolver is held away from you a little by the bulk of the cylinder area, whereas a pistol is generally fairly flat.

If that's the problem, you might look at different types/brands of IWB holsters that might keep the gun from pressing against your body so much.

Also try different types/brands of T-shirts. Under Armour is a good idea; I'd also try a thick, 100% cotton shirt that's been washed in a hypoallergenic detergent (All "Free and Clear" is a good choice). If it's an allergy issue, it could be that you're slightly irritated by your laundry detergent and break out where the pistol rubs it against your skin, for example.
 
No rash but I have a few shirts with holes in them right where the corner of the rear sight "snags" on my shirt......that corner is damn sharp.
 
outofbattery,

If the Hogue Monogrip on your SP-101 does'nt bother you, then see if Hogue makes either panels or wraparound grips for your semiautos. I have had them on all my 1911's and love them. Same compound as on the revolver grips which I love as well.
 
Most of my family is allergic to cottonseed (linseed) oil, which is used in many food products and some gun cleaning solvents. We have discovered that many are allergic but do not know what is bothering them. The patch test mentioned above is a great way to find out what is bothering you if it is an allergy.

Good shootin'....
 
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