Vinegar or Club Soda for Playa Foot????

horsecut · Post by **horsecut** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:07 pm

I remember seeing in an email from the BM crew that using club soda or tonic water, was just as effective in neutralizing the playa from destroying feet/hands.

Cant find the email anymore, so tell me burning man community is this true?

Sincerely,

"Mr. Tired of Reeking like a Douche-Bag" (like a real douche-bag, not some frat boy, Ed Hardy wearing asshole!) :)

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:34 pm

Playa is alkali (basic). Acid + Base = Water and salt.

Carbonated water (Seltzer water) is mildly acidic (Carbonic Acid). Vinegar is acidic (acetic acid).

-Badger

Token · Post by **Token** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:37 pm

Anything acidic will work.

Lemon juice, vitamin C, vomit, etc

But the foot problem stems from playa dust being a desiccant so adding acid might make things worse.

Washing with soap and water, then using a lotion is usually good for the feet and hands.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:49 pm

Token wrote:Anything acidic will work.

Lemon juice, vitamin C, vomit, pee, etc

But the foot problem stems from playa dust being a desiccant so adding acid might make things worse.

Washing with soap and water, then using a lotion is usually good for the feet and hands.

Also very true. Always figured it was a bit of both.

Thankfully never been a victim of it. Granted I love my boots and don't run around barefoot out there.

-Badger

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:14 pm

> I remember seeing in an email from the BM crew that using club soda
> or tonic water, was just as effective in neutralizing the playa from
> destroying feet/hands.

I took a first aid course specific to the playa from some medic who volunteers out there.

As Token says, the two issues are the baseness of the powder and it's dryness. The dryness is actually what makes the skin crack, and the base cauterizes the wound to keep it from bleeding, which also helps prevent it from healing (it doesn't scab over and grow back).

Prevention is the best treatment, and that varies from person to person. I'm more susceptible than most, and I have to wear shoes and socks to keep from getting playa foot. If I wear sandals or flipflops, I get cracks between my toes, the skin turns black, and it burns like crazy. Nothing helps after that other than leaving the playa and getting back to the world without playa powder. Other people go barefoot the whole time without consequence. My fingers also get playa burn, so I tend to wear gloves, but they're not nearly as bad as my feet.

I wear shoes and socks, and I soak my feet in water daily and use moisturizer. The instructor recommended weak solutions of vinegar or ascorbic acid (orange, lemon, or lime juice) to counteract the alkali. I don't bother with any acids on my feet because other things work for me.

If people are using tonic water or club soda, I'd be surprised if that was more effective than washing carefully, although as with all folk remedies, believing it's working is a quarter of the battle. shrug - Coca Cola is acid isn't it? Phosporic? Soak your feet in that. :->

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:19 pm

Yeah, but who wants sticky Coke feet?

-Badger

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:37 pm

capjbadger wrote:Yeah, but who wants sticky Coke feet? ;)

-Badger

I figure _someone_ would lick Coke off your feet. :->

horsecut · Post by **horsecut** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:59 pm

[quote="Token"]Anything acidic will work.

Lemon juice, vitamin C, [b]vomit[/b], etc

[/quote]

Well thats good know! Bring on the frenet branca!

Thanks, just wanted to confirm if I remembered correctly, my feet are fine, but my hands get destroyed out there

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:41 am

horsecut wrote: Well thats good know! Bring on the frenet branca!

Fuck yeah!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:49 am

In a pinch you can always open your car battery.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:10 am

theCryptofishist wrote:In a pinch you can always open your car battery.

delicious......

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:41 am

phil wrote:> I remember seeing in an email from the BM crew that using club soda
> or tonic water, was just as effective in neutralizing the playa from
> destroying feet/hands.

I took a first aid course specific to the playa from some medic who volunteers out there.

As Token says, the two issues are the baseness of the powder and it's dryness. The dryness is actually what makes the skin crack, and the base cauterizes the wound to keep it from bleeding, which also helps prevent it from healing (it doesn't scab over and grow back).

Prevention is the best treatment, and that varies from person to person. I'm more susceptible than most, and I have to wear shoes and socks to keep from getting playa foot. If I wear sandals or flipflops, I get cracks between my toes, the skin turns black, and it burns like crazy. Nothing helps after that other than leaving the playa and getting back to the world without playa powder. Other people go barefoot the whole time without consequence. My fingers also get playa burn, so I tend to wear gloves, but they're not nearly as bad as my feet.

I wear shoes and socks, and I soak my feet in water daily and use moisturizer. The instructor recommended weak solutions of vinegar or ascorbic acid (orange, lemon, or lime juice) to counteract the alkali. I don't bother with any acids on my feet because other things work for me.

If people are using tonic water or club soda, I'd be surprised if that was more effective than washing carefully, although as with all folk remedies, believing it's working is a quarter of the battle. shrug - Coca Cola is acid isn't it? Phosporic? Soak your feet in that. :->

and if all that doesn't work, we just wrap Phil in cellophane, put a big floppy hat on him & sing Mr. Cellophane from Chicago.

Zhust · Post by **Zhust** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:01 am

I heard at one point that the alkali parts of the Playa dust dissolved more readily in water than the salts that are formed by adding acids.

So I recommend soaking in plain water first. If you think using an acidic solution is better, soaking in water will have no adverse effect. It's probably the best idea anyway: soaking in water will dissolve quite a lot, then adding a little vinegar or lemon juice will counteract the alkalinity.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:48 am

How about a slightly acidic moisturizer? This is where the club soda/seltzer water would come in.

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junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:49 am

jaycerochester wrote:[...] lemon juice will counteract the alkalinity.

Lemon juice! There you go.. So crazy, it just...might..work..

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:55 am

junglesmacks wrote:
jaycerochester wrote:[...] lemon juice will counteract the alkalinity.

Lemon juice! There you go.. So crazy, it just...might..work..

and if it doesn't you can always make lemonaid.

crstophr · Post by **crstophr** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:30 pm

Here's my solution:

Two spray bottles: one pure water, the other 50/50 water and lemon juice

Spray feet with water, wipe down well to get the dust off
Spray feet with lemon juice, let soak for a minute or two to neutralize the alkalinity
Spray again with water for a rinse
Dry feet well
Follow up with a good moisturizing cream

Funny thing is that I bring this stuff every year and just let other people use it. My feet stay in my docs whenever I'm out on the playa and I rarely need this treatment. I highly recommend the lemon juice. It's a much more friendly and clean smell than vinegar.

--Chris

alt12 · Post by **alt12** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:48 pm

horsecut wrote:I remember seeing in an email from the BM crew that using club soda or tonic water, was just as effective in neutralizing the playa from destroying feet/hands.

Cant find the email anymore, so tell me burning man community is this true?

One year I started developing bad playa foot after the 11-12th day out on the playa... Since then, I have used regular vinegar wash on my feet and have not had any problem at all.... I definitely agree to follow up with a moisturizer after washing and you are good to go....

I haven't tried with other substances (lemon juice, carbonated soda, etc.) but I have tried with water and water enough doesn't do it....Vinegar is quite cheap ($1 a gallon).... Given what I've heard here I'll try diluting it with water a bit but its a great recipe and has worked well for me and my folks....

baconqurlyq · Post by **baconqurlyq** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:52 pm

I am so nervous about this as I normally get dry, cracked feet if I wear sandals for a few days in a row (living in LA) and don't scrub off the callouses and treat them with thick moisturizer and wear thick socks at night. I'm definitely going to be wearing thick socks and shoes every day and soaking them every night.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:18 pm

> treat them with thick moisturizer

Rub bacon on your feet.

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:23 pm

pre-playa pedicure takes care all of the callouses/dead skin...

aknod · Post by **aknod** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:59 pm

I prefer tonic. It keeps the malaria off the feet too.

Vinegar or Club Soda for Playa Foot????

Vinegar or Club Soda for Playa Foot????

Re: Vinegar or Club Soda for Playa Foot????