Help! Itchy rashes after pole (developed recently)

Emikoisabella started this discussion · 1/15/2014

Hi Veeners! I'm a little concerned because I woke up this morning and had very itchy rashes on parts of my body that were used as points of contact from my class yesterday (under my armpit and knee pit from brass monkey and my side from a sad girl drop). Also, the class was only an hour and I did these moves 2 - 3x tops so it's not like I was training for hours. I have been poling for over a year and this has NEVER happened to me before. I am allergic to nickel but I have been using a chrome xpole for the past year (both at home and at my studio) and haven't had any issues until now. I haven't changed or used any new grip aids, shower gels/soaps, body lotion, etc., I always wipe down my pole with rubbing alcohol and these rashes are only in the areas that made contact with the pole from last night so I know that it must be from pole. The only thing that has changed recently is that I switched to a new studio. However, the new studio also uses chrome xpoles and are cleaned with rubbing alcohol so I'm a little baffled. So, my question is, can it be possible for me to develop a sensitivity to pole over time? Maybe something like overexposure to the metal? If this were true though, I don't see why it would take over a year to manifest when I've had plenty of exposure to pole over the last year (I've been poling an average of 4 hours a week). I've put cortisone cream on it to reduce the itching, which has helped, but are there any preventative measures I could take that could possibly help with my problem? Switching my studio again is out of the question and I would never give up pole for something like this so any tips/pointers are much appreciated!

30 replies

poledanceromance · 1/15/2014
I have seen lots of people complaining about this lately and frankly I think it's far more likely that you've developed a sensitivity to something that you're using to clean the pole or something in a grip aid. I would try using a steamer to clean the pole really well to remove any residue of cleaners or grip products, and also make sure to use a clean towel to wipe the pole and yourself every session, as your towel could also be holding something that's irritating you. This is especially true if you have shared towels at the studio....bring your own clean one. It's also worth a try to wipe your pole with water only. Giving the pole a wipe with a damp cloth and then a dry one does a good job cleaning it and you can eliminate any outside factors of substances that could be on the pole. If you try to eliminate the possible chemical irritants and you STILL get a rash from the pole, then you might consider nickel allergy. But if you switch away from chemicals and the rash goes away, you can find the culprit by doing "patch tests" of the different chemicals. Basically taking a little rubbing alcohol or grip or whatever, rubbing it on a little quarter sized spot on your forearm and leaving it there overnight to see if you get any rash. The most important thing if you're having a recurring issue like this is to be systematic in checking different potential irritants otherwise you won't know what it is.
poledanceromance · 1/15/2014
I just realized it might not have come off how I intended with the use of the word "complaining," I didn't mean that to sound like I think you're whining! I've just seen a few people lately with rashes blaming it on metal allergy to the pole but we use SO MANY CHEMICALS on and around the poles that I think that's the most logical place to start in ruling out an irritant, not the pole itself.
Emikoisabella · 1/15/2014
No worries, I know what you meant by "complaining" :) The only reason why I think it's a metal allergy is because it is the same type of rash I get when I wear jewlery with nickel in it (and I have already tested positive for a nickel allergy). I've always used my own fresh towel that I bring to class everyday and wipe the pole down really well with rubbing alcohol before using it. Maybe I'll try just water (or maybe vinegar?) and avoid rubbing alcohol to see if that helps. As for grip aid, I only use tite grip and a little bit of dry hands on my hand (which doesn't bother my hands) but maybe it's rubbing off on the pole and other area of my body may be sensitive to it? But I've been using these products consistently for a year without any trouble so it would be strange to start having a reaction this late. But I'll try not using them to see if that helps.
Dancing Paws · 1/15/2014
I second trying to eliminate all other factors first. It is possible to develop a sensitivity to anything over time. It is also possible that the chrome poles have been heavily used over the last year and it is exposing more nickle than before. Only way to know is to do a process of elimination like PDR said. Good luck!
Dancing Paws · 1/15/2014
Do an experiment at home. Spray some rubbing alcohol on your arm in one spot, put some grip aid somewhere else, see if that shows any rash. If not, do the wash the towel with water experiment, don't use any grip, if possible, and rub yourself on the poles at the studio.
Emikoisabella · 1/15/2014
Thanks for the tips, I will definitely try that!
poledanceromance · 1/15/2014
There's alcohol in most of the liquid grip aids so be aware of that if you do a spot test of alcohol and grips and get reactions from both. If it looks like you are having issues with metal allergy from contact with the pole, you might be able to prevent the effects by showering immediately after poling if possible, or washing off/wiping down at the studio before you leave. And it can depend on the severity of your nickel allergy. For example, some people have a nickel allergy such that wearing jewelry in a fresh piercing that has a high nickel content will cause a rash, but wearing something like a bracelet or even jewelry in a healed piercing might not cause a rash. Then again some people can't even wear costume jewelry because just the skin contact is enough for a rash. Since you tested positive you might have a severe enough allergy that the contact with the pole repeatedly over areas that get tenderized by say, doing sad girl drops or working one knee pit grip heavily in a session, could be enough. Good luck, and consider reporting back on the process of elimination you use in trying to figure it out since it seems like there's been a couple people with questions on this lately!
korinne · 1/15/2014
I definitely get a similar reaction whenever I use brass. I don't have any advice. Just wanted to let you know I feel your pain!
Emikoisabella · 1/16/2014
I will definitely report back after experimenting. I am the type who breaks or immediately after any contact with nickel - I had to return a Michael Kors watch because I started breaking out in rashes right underneath my wrist after wearing it for a couple of hours. With that being said, I'm still hoping that this is being caused by something chemical rather than the pole itself. I also read online that our skin is more sensitive when we sweat/our pores are open - and I was sweating more than I usually do during this particular pole session. So I think I'll bring body wipes from now on and immediately wipe off after I finish to see if that helps.
poledanceromance · 1/16/2014
Keeping your skin clean could be the key then. This is weird, but so you know if you look in a pharmacy, they make basically baby wipes for taking care of bed/wheelchair bound people, but they're much bigger. Like big oversize baby wipes for sponge bathing. Those could be good for wiping down during/after pole practice provided you don't find them irritating, but they're usually pretty gentle.
Emikoisabella · 1/16/2014
That's a great idea! Thanks!
Emikoisabella · 1/18/2014
So here is an update: I did the spot test on my skin for rubbing alcohol and dry hands - my skin didn't react. Yesterday I went to my new studio for an hour of pole and didn't use any grip aids just in case, brought my own towel, etc. and I broke out in rashes on my right leg and it kept waking me up in the middle of the night because it was so itchy! It's crazy because I worked on my phoenix spin, handsprings and tick tocks...so my legs only came in contact with the pole for not even 1/3 of the class. Here is the picture of the rash for those that are curious: http://imgur.com/NZITlWj So, it's looking more and more like I am reacting to the pole itself. But there are 3 more things that I'm going to try so I can rule out what is causing this. - I'm going back to my old studio tomorrow, so I will see if my skin reacts (it never did in the past year and a couple months but we will see). - The next time I go back to my new studio I'm going to try a different pole. I've been using the same pole since I've been at the new studio and I was thinking it could be so worn down from use that the nickel plating under the chrome might be exposed. - I haven't bought the wipes yet, but if switching poles doesn't help I'm going to see if wiping down my body immediately after reduces/eliminates the reaction. Wish me luck!!!
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poledanceromance · 1/19/2014
Thanks for the update! You're being awesomely methodical about this. No matter what solution you find this is really good information for people who have been struggling with rashes.
Emikoisabella · 1/24/2014
Update #2 So, I've determined that I'm definitely reacting to something at my new studio. I went back to my old studio on Sunday and poled for 2 hours and my skin was completely fine. No rashes and no itchiness that night or the next day. I went back to my new studio on Monday and poled for 2.5 hours - I used a different pole that I hadn't used before and wiped it down really well with rubbing alcohol. Unfortunately, I woke up in the middle of the night scratching everywhere. The next morning I had rashes on my legs, parts of my back and even my elbow pit. I think the reaction was worse this time though because I am still itchy today and I haven't poled since Monday. Another side note, I found out these poles are definitely chrome xpoles, which I normally don't react to, and they are only a little over a year old. Is it really a possibility that the chrome started to wear off in just a year? I know that these poles are used heavily (much more that my old studio and obviously my pole at home) but this is giving me hope that maybe it's not the pole. I just find it so strange that I only react to the chrome xpoles at that studio and no where else - most people who have severe enough nickel allergies react to ALL chrome. Anyways, I'm starting to get a little frustrated but hopefully I'll uncover this mystery soon. I'm going back to my new studio tonight and I will try another pole that I haven't used before and will also try wiping by body down with towelettes afterwards to see if that helps.
teachtrinity · 1/24/2014
I know you have probably already tried it but just in case you haven't lol, have you tried taking antihistamines and fish oil supplements, when I first started poling I had rashes on my legs from the pole (I did have small patches of eczema occasionally) I went into the health food shop and that is what they advised….. It is very common to suddenly develop allergies/sensitivities to things you have been in contact with for years, since I have been taking my fish oils and antihistamines I have had no problems :)
Dancing Paws · 1/24/2014
Do you know what the studio owners use to clean the poles? It might be that. 1 year seems awfully soon. Does the studio you go to where you don't react have chrome poles older than that?
Emikoisabella · 1/24/2014
Teachtrinity - thanks I will have to add that to the list of things I should try :) I know that you can develop allergies over time but what makes this so strange is that I can still use the chrome xpoles at my old studio and at home and not get a reaction. AerialGypsy - they use rubbing alcohol and windex, but I always wipe down my pole before I use it with the rubbing alcohol. The poles at my old studio are at least 2 years old but they are not used nearly as much (1 - 2 hours a day 5 days a week vs. 4 - 5 hours 7 days a week). I'm also going to talk to the studio owner tonight to see if she has insight into what might be causing this reaction.
Dancing Paws · 1/24/2014
Try patch testing windex?
Emikoisabella · 1/24/2014
Yea, I'll definitely have to try that too.
Emikoisabella · 1/28/2014
Update #3 Patch tested windex and itac (since I found out that many people in studio use it and I don't) and they were both negative. Went back to my old studio again one last time and my skin was perfectly fine. After poling for 2.5 hours last night at the new studio, I immediately wiped down my body with these antibacterial wipes (the athletic body wipe) that I bought from Amazon, showered as soon as I got home, put a ton of calming lotion on and a little bit of Benadryl anti itch gel near my underarms (where I am most prone to breaking out in rashes). I woke up briefly in he middle of the night feeling itchy but I tried convincing myself that it was psychosomatic and fell back asleep. I woke up this morning and I had rashes on my underarm area, obliques, and part of my leg. However, they weren't as bad as the rashes I got last week. So, I think it's safe to say that these rashes are contact dermatitis from the actual pole (most likely nickel). I don't know why I never noticed this before, but when I took a good look at the chrome poles at my new studio, I noticed that the finish is dull and they aren't shiny like my chrome pole at home/chrome poles at my old studio, so it's possible that the chrome later is stripped and the nickel underneath is being exposed. My next step is to try some barrier cream, since wiping down my body after poling didn't prevent 100% of the rashes. I read online that a zinc-oxide based cream can help protect the skin so I will try that next. I know that some people suggested taking Benadryl before poling, but I really don't want to rely on oral medications/become dependent on them, especially since I'm trying to find a permanent solution. Also, should I be concerned with exposing my body to nickel on a daily basis? After reading articles on nickel allergy and the harmful side effects associated with nickel over-exposure, I'm starting to freak out a little since I will be training at my new studio 6+ hours a week. Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out!! :)
cij1916 · 1/29/2014
Whats wrong with the original studio that you don't want to go there instead of going through all this just to pole at the new studio...What does the new studio have over the old studio?
poledanceromance · 1/29/2014
If it really is from the nickel, and if you bring the wipes with you and periodically clean your skin, and shower immediately after pole, and you're getting no rash or very little rash, then I don't think you have literally any reason at all to worry about nickel toxicity from a topical encounter. As to the difference in the poles, xpole has said that they use a slightly different process for applying the chrome coating than they did originally and in years past and I think they have a bit of a different look to them. However look closely at the surface of the poles...look for lots of little scratches/scuff marks, it's possible that at some point they used an abrasive chemical or treatment like fine sandpaper or magic eraser which roughed up the coating and is giving you more exposure to the nickel but...from what I understand about how chrome plating works and seals the surface, you're not talking about a high level of exposure here. Possibly enough to cause a slight surface reaction but if you are allergic enough to react from just that, if you were having enough contact for nickel toxicity you would be in bad shape.
Emikoisabella · 1/29/2014
Cij1916 - my old studio is not just a pole studio (they have Zumba, yoga, dance, etc.) so they only offer pole a couple times a week. Also, in terms of the difficultly of classes thy offer, I have outgrown them. My new studio is at a higher level and dedicated solely to pole which is why I decided to make the switch last month. Poledanceromance - I looked at the poles that I react to and there are no scratches or scuff marks, the entire pole looks dull compared to other chrome xpoles. You can also tell that they used to be shiny and have since worn off because the base of the pole is still shiny. But, like you said, because my rashes are definitely on the mild side I guess I don't have to worry about nickel toxicity. It seems like I only get rashes on areas that are very sensitive (armpit area, legs, stomach), since when I did shouldermount work the other day I didn't get any kind of contact dermitis on my shoulder.
Zoiiys · 3/24/2014
Hi. I am allergic to the chrome x pole that my studio uses. I didn't have much problems until I progressed to more than spins. Anyway what I usually do is pop an antihistamine before class and liberal steroid cream use if any rashes do appear. Normally it works quite well. I have a titanium gold pole at home with no issues. As of now, I already have some permanent patches of thickened scaly skin at areas of contact like between my thighs. UGLY!!
quancutie23 · 3/24/2014
Maybe its not the pole it could be the reaction to the cream and the chemical they used to clean the pole. Just call your doctor

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