The effect of playa dust on piercings

oFZo · Post by **oFZo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:03 am

Hi there.

I've been invited to come to Burning man for the first time this year
and I wondered if the playa dust might cause a problem with my most recent nipple piercing, which will be about 2.5 months by then.
The other is over a year old and fully healed.
Anybody with experience?

Love,

oFZo

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:22 am

No direct experience, but in general the dust is caustic (diluted vinegar or lemon water rinces it off) but has few if any bugs in it. So you may have sensitivity, but not likely to pick up anything new in the way of infection.

Lorgasm · Post by **Lorgasm** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:41 am

And as you know, with piercings, its always good to have sea salt and some anti bacterial soap on hand.

Good Luck on your jouney.
See you soon!!!

Lorgasm

oFZo · Post by **oFZo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:22 am

Thank you!

It's pretty much what I expected but hey, I'm going from low & wet (Amsterdam) to high & dry (Nevada) so I thought I´d better ask :)

Lorgasm · Post by **Lorgasm** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:28 am

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:43 am

I guess that I should add--Keep It Clean. Once or twice a day. I'm just hoping that was obvious anyway.

oFZo · Post by **oFZo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:06 am

theCryptofishist wrote:I guess that I should add--Keep It Clean. Once or twice a day. I'm just hoping that was obvious anyway.

Yeah that's pretty obvious, no matter what climate. It's just that I'm going somewhere rather different than my regular surroundings and don't know completely what to expect. Thanks again anyway, I really appreciate it!

Love,

oFZo

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 12:53 pm

Stop by Jungle camp and visit with us. We host a long time burner who, has more piercings below the waist than anyone we have ever heard of (he may actually have the record).

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:05 pm

Does he fly?

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:09 pm

He goes through metal detectors constantly as he does visits to prisoners as a part of his work. His piercings are surgical steel and therefore seldom set off the detectors.

At last count he has 156 piercings below the waist.

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:39 pm

Nipple piercing can take 3 to 8 months to fully heal. Men tend to heal faster due to smaller length of tissue incision.

Since you already know how long your first piercing took to fully heal, you will know best where you are in the healing process.

Playa dust is alkali, super fine grit and will get into everything, including your fresh unhealed piercing. Chance of direct infection from the Playa dust is low due to the relative sterility of the Playa dust, but it is a caustic substance which will interfere with your normal healing ability.

In general, cuts do not heal well on the Playa due to the constant presence of the alkali powder. Healing will become suspended for the duration of your stay.

An increase in care is highly recommended, including regular soaking in saline solution.

Bear in mind that getting your hands clean before cleaning the piercing will be a lot more difficult out in the bush. Take the time to scrub up before you tend to your piercing. You may consider bringing extra water dedicated for this task.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:42 pm

Token wrote:An increase in care is highly recommended, including regular soaking in saline solution.

Dang, now I have this picture in my head of a cot, with a strategic cut out, a basin of some sort and oFZo lying on his belly....
I want jpegs!

oFZo · Post by **oFZo** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:04 pm

Thank you everybody!

Token wrote: Men tend to heal faster due to smaller length of tissue incision.

I guess that's true for men pierced in the same way as women usually are, through the nipple itself. Mine are through the area surrounding them(, whatever that's called in English

), a little higher up.
I've been told that's safer for men as our nipples are smaller and piercing those would be risky as they'd tear easily. The length of the incision is actually as long or longer than what I've seen with women.
The first one had some troubles at the start but healed very quickly once that was over with, this one seems to be doing even better, with no problems (yet?) . And lousy as I am with keeping time, telling time or whatever it's called I now realise it won't be 2,5 months old by then but 3,5...
I should put away this pipe.

theCryptofishist wrote: I want jpegs!

Who knows....

Love,

Rob

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:19 pm

after two months I'd suggest just brining your regular anti-septics. The caustic nature of the dust also serves as a decent desiccant.

<hint> don't follow the water trucks through BRC trying to get a quick shower. Other than that I think you'll be OK.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:56 am

Bag Balm heals larry's inflamed nicks and scrapes on his hands, works even on the playa, and for some reason the dust doesn't stick to it at all. I'd think a tiny can of it may come in handy.

(Bag Balm is what they use on cow's udders for healing up scratches and scrapes)

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:01 am

One of my daughters frequently had a rash of dry skin that covered most of her arms and chest. The thing that worked best for it was bag balm.

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:58 am

Oh pray tell, where does one get this miracle udder salve in an urban setting?

Though I'm a bit hesitant to use a veterinary product on myself, I do have a dog that could use some paw treatment every now and then.

Does the Green Mountain Hoof Softener heal Playa Foot as well?

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:24 pm

Token,

Bag Balm is one of the Top 10 things I make sure I pack when heading to the playa. Most people are familiar with the dry skin caused by the dust but for some - myself included - fingernails also tend to get very brittle and will often crack in very ugly ways that often get down to the quaick. Bag Balm as a moisturizer is the *only* thing I've ever found that prevents this.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 12:53 pm

Token wrote:Oh pray tell, where does one get this miracle udder salve in an urban setting?

Though I'm a bit hesitant to use a veterinary product on myself, I do have a dog that could use some paw treatment every now and then.

Does the Green Mountain Hoof Softener heal Playa Foot as well?

Bag Balm is one of those things that once you've used it you find it's worth more than their weight in gold. Even tho it's a "veterinary product" per se (it's official use is to soothe and help heal dry and chapped teats and udders on milk-producing animals from milking machines or - as the case would be - in harsh, dry environments) it's relatively inert and harmless - to cows, sheep, oxen, goats, or peoples.

The downside as it's a vaseline-type product it's a little n the greasy side of overused. But ohhh, does it feel good!!

I've seen it in drug stores all over (Longs, Thrifty, Eckards, Walgreens, etc.) as well as most of the big box stores with the skin treatment stuff... it's in a green, square tin. You can also get it on line by googling it.

I am assuming the quip about Green Mountain was a jest. Different thing, different purpose, different compound. However... after doing the vinegar (or lemon juice) and water footwash, bag balm works wonders. And as it has an antiseptic quality to it, will help promote healing.

bb

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:44 pm

Yes Sue, the hoof softener was indeed a jest.

Jokes aside, I will try the Bag Balm despite the lack of FDA approval since so many of you wise folks recommend it.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:26 am

Last night I hopped on the truck with larry for a short run up to Corinne, since it was just a few hours I didn't grab my "big" purse. I had no lip balm and dry, dry lips. Ow! But larry had the bag balm; I was hesitating to put it on my mouth, but larry assured me that bag balm was the only thing Shania Twain uses on her lips. Apparently the woman buys it by the case.

I was laughing, but he was right, it did work and no ill effects I know about. Now I have to get my own tin, one of the cute tiny purse sized ones so I can have soft kissy kissy lips.

The larger question is why does my husband know what Shania Twain uses cosmetically?

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:20 am

I saw "Badger Balm" in a hippie store in the castro last week. I guess the hippie store thing is why Badger doesn't use his own balm.