On 07/02/2011 11:16, wrote:
Jeff wrote:
I swear I didn't touch anything without gloves! But within minutes my face
and neck were itching so much I had to go in and wash hands and face in cold
water - even then, as soon as I came back out it all started up again. And
even now, several hours later, I still feel uncomfortable. :-(
Well, no, as your hands weren't itching it seems that you could have
transferred something from the outside of your gloves to your face and
neck. It's so easily done.

Ah, but when I've touched them with my hands in the past, it's always my
face and neck which have itched! I don't remember it making my hands itch

You could always try some Hydrocortisone Cream (despite the warning
he
http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/868.aspx...CategoryID=104
which is plain daft for a one-off use, and recognises this itself with
some weasel-wording!). But whatever you decide, it's obvious you are
allergic to something on the outside of those bulbs, and will need to
take care in future. Unless, of course, it was a coincidence and there
was something else outside to which you are allergic...

Nah, happens every time, that's about half a dozen incidents now (looking
back and adding in the ones where I didn't realise at the time that that
was what it was). I should probably just stop growing hyacinths. They're
not /that/ nice. :-}

It could be that the bulbs were treated with a fungicide prior to
storage. You might be allergic to that or the hyacinths themselves. Do
you get any reaction when you touch/smell hyacinths? Do you get
reactions from any other Hyacinthaceae such as muscari or bluebells?

Whatever, you need to avoid hyacinths (and possibly get medical advice
if the reactions get worse).

--

Jeff