Irritative Tanned Fur

Does anyone have skin issues with freshly tanned fur? I’ve bought tanned fur, had garments made, and has a few furs tanned a long time ago without any issues. However, I just had three bobcats tanned by moyles. It’s been several weeks and the smell has died down, but every time I touch them my hands get red and itchy even if I wash them afterwards. Anyone else had this issue?

I wear fur, skin out critters and I used to sew fur. But, I can no longer sew it as I developed an allergy. Doesn't make any sense as I can still wear it. Crazy.

I'm the same way with bobcats specifically. If I handle them I get a red rash. I'm not allergic to housecats, but there is something about bobcat fur that really makes me break out

Tanned bobcats or any? I don’t have any trouble when skinning and putting up.

Both, although handling while skinning and putting up causes much worse irritation to me. The cats are the only fur that do it to me.

Like I said I'm not allergic to housecats, but a lot of them probably have some sort of hypoallergenic gene whereas a bobcat being a wild animal doesn't.

People pretty commonly have allergic dermatitis from domestic cat hair. Symptoms include raised, red patches of skin, hives, Eczema and itchy skin. You may just be allergic to bobcat hair.

Keith

In addition to tanning I also pickle mine in an acid solution. If I don't do a good job neutralizing it the leather will irritate me and I'll have to give is another soaking to raise the pH.

My mom helped my dad in the fur shed for many years putting up fur until one year she became alleregic to raccoon fur. Years latter even if she handled a tanned coon her hands would break out.

As of 6 months ago I had no issue with raw bobcat fur. When I handle these tanned cats I can feel something on my hands almost like a film of chemical so I’m hoping it’s a chemical thing. Though it doesn’t happen to my wife or daughter.

Anyone nearby have a tanned or untanned bobcat you can handle. See if the same thing happens ???

Is it just your hands or do your eyes react too ?

A buddy of might have one but it’s been tanned for a few years. I won’t have any raw until December. I sure hope the raw ones don’t do it because I catch a lot.

It’s just my hands. It’s certainly better now than when I first got them back but still happens.

Try a different fur dresser and see if it still happens.

That’s where I was leaning boco. I have bought quite a few furs from glacierwear over the past couple of years to have stuff made for my wife. Never had an issue with that fur but also didn’t buy any cats. Do y’all know who glacierwear uses?

If we assume it is a reaction to a chemical........perhaps working a bunch of borax into the fur and leaving it for a while might help. ??

Are you allergic to mineral spirits?
The dressers use mineral spirit based glazing to finish the fur.
It dissipates over time so you may be more sensitive to freshly dressed fur than stuff that has been hanging for a while.
Just a guess.

Tubari

Not sure, never handled mineral spirits. We have my wife’s fur garments glazed most years and I haven’t had a problem. Not sure if it’s the same stuff though.

Thanks Flipper for the tubari

I think you're probably dead on the money with this assessment Boco. Over the years I've noticed most women with fair skin have a reaction to this very thing until the mineral spirit base has a chance to dissipate completely. This can take quite a few months and impart a faint chemical odor as well. This fresh tanned smell has been a hurdle for a lot of women to overcome