Not looking good...

[Vkamicht]

Here's an update, if you'll recall I posted a thread a few days ago that I thought I was having an allergic reaction from the HF-1, possibly from the mahogany (can't see what else it would be)

Well, the doctor gave me some dosage of medication, he didn't necessarily make a conclusion on what was causing it but he said that it should clear up. Which it did! I had maybe 3 days in a row where I was grooving to my HF-1, and life was good.

But, now that I'm down to the last final pills (I took 3 today, will take 2 tomorrow, and 1 on Sunday) my rash and itching is starting to return. Maybe it's because I'm getting a little freaked out, but when I wear my HF-1 too long now I feel like my head is heating up and I start to feel weird.

I guess if it's true and I am allergic to them, it's just so dissapointing to me because I like them so much... I guess what I'll do is let my father pick which one he likes better (HF-1 or MS-2i) and sell the remaining one. While I could trade with him and get my MS-2i back, I'd just be depressed and wouldn't be able to enjoy them. I really want to keep the HF-1s around because of their limitedness, so I may end up selling the MS-2is to fund some other hobby.

I mean, I'm a college student with no job, there's just lots of other stuff out there I want to buy and I have no money at all. It's been a good run, but the end may be near. (For now)

 

[ricardo diaz]

Isn't there some way that you could put a protective coating on the wood of the Grados? Like a glue layer/film?

=\

 

[Vkamicht]

Well, IF IT IS the wood, it's not from physical contact, because the wood does not come out from the pads. It would be something utterly ridiculous like a combination of the driver and moisture in the air causing some fumes or tiny particles to come out and enter my ear... I just don't know anymore. Nothing is certain yet, I will leave them out of my room and out of my life for a week or two and see what happens.

 

[KenW]

Not saying you aren't having a reaction to something but I wouldn't assume anything. I'd get a material list of everything in those cans and see an allergist. No way I'd part with gear I loved until I were certain of what the problem was. Simple skin test will tell the tale but the md has to know what he's supposed to be testing for so get that list. Heck, I'd bet Grado would even fax the list to your md.

 

[Vkamicht]

Well, I figured it wouldn't be anything else in the Grados because I've gone through a brand new SR-80 (in 03 or 04) and an MS-2i with no problem.

So yeah, I'll just hide them from me for a while, if my problem goes away, put 'em back on and see what happens.

 

[earjam]

Certain types of foam outgas for a long time after manufacture. You are probably having an allergic reaction to the chemical components in the foam pads. Try this, take the cushions off the headphones, and then wash them, then put the cushions in an old sock and run them thru the clothes dryer, on moderate heat, for a couple of drying cycles. The heat of the dryer should cause most of the volitile chemicals to evaporate from the foam pads. It might be easier to just try another pair of pads on the phones, such as radio shack pads to see if this is the source of the allergic reaction.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Yeah, I would definitely try washing the pads. Have you tried switching pads with your other grados and only using those for a couple days? It's possible there's some chemical on the new ones that wasn't on the old ones. My brother had an allergic reaction when my mom switched laundry detergents once.

It doesn't sound as likely to be the wood, but it's certainly possible. Touching the wood and then your neck could transfer it. You might not have the reaction on your hands, though, since the skin on your palms/fingers is thicker and more protected than the skin on your neck.

I'd go through and remove one factor at a time, until you get it. Hell, maybe take the wood from the grado and rub it all over the side of your leg, and see if you develop a rash there. There may be some psychological factors also. Allergic reactions can absolutely be affected by your focus and concern about it. If you worry about a rash a lot, it can get worse, when if you ignored it, it would go away completely. It's very strange. So since you know you're running out of pills, your expectance of a problem could be contributing to it.

It would suck if you had to return or sell them. I think you should sacrifice yourself for the hf-1's. But maybe that's just me

 

[kramer5150]

Might want to go to an allergy specialist and have him narrow it down further... Run one of those tests where they expose your skin to controlled amounts of known allergains (SP?).

Garrett

 

[Vkamicht]

I'm pretty much willing to endure it for the HF-1s

, but it impairs my ability to do anything else if it gets too bad

See, whatever is causing it, it's not as simple as rubbing it on myself to see if I develop a rash. When I react to it, you can't see what happens. My skin looks normal UNTIL I scratch it or it becomes irritated. Then my skin in that area turns red and becomes itchy, and sometimes bumps/hives are visible (small ones)

So, even if it was the Grados, my entire head/ear area could look completely normal and the rest of my body could be broken out from my scratching.

 

[ricardo diaz]

!

When I (used to [ omg.

]) have to take off my Grados, I put them on my thigh near my knee. Keep yours there for a while and see if you start scratching it like a madman!

Also, if it is an allergic reaction, I guess you could try to get some anti-histamine duuurrrgggz. See if those could be a temporairy fix?

 

[Lisa]

Just air them out.
I'm allergic for many chemicals. (Or oversensitive at least. I can't stand most perfumes, give me rashes and headaches) Airing stuff out helps most of the time. Most of the fumes go away and the allergies won't play up anymore. I have to air out a lot of new things.
For instance. A new book gives me a rash. But not if the ink has dried out (do I say that right?) before I read it. So I can't read a newspaper but I can read a book that's been in the bookstore for a while before it's sold.

The reason why you might not have had any problems with SR80s is that they weren't build two days before you got them. The chemical fumes might have had enough time to go away enough (aired out, dried out, whatever) for you not to have an allergic reaction.
Washing the pads seems like a good idea too.

 

[go_vtec]

I think you should definitely wash the pads or try older pads (may be put a WTB ad on for sales forum). Meanwhile, if I were you, I would see a specialist to determine the exact cause of your allergic reaction.