Allergic to stockties?

[Arzny]

I am an eventer who occasionally hunts so I hope you don’t mind me jumping over to this forum, but I figured many of you have experience with stock ties.

Recently, I am been having reactions to my stock tie. I take it off, and the parts that go over my shirt have made it look like someone has tried to strangle me! Someone on the hunt yesterday said it looked like I was allergic. I have tried different stock ties, different shirts, and washing them with different detergent. I am at my wits end! Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? Am I tying it wrong? Tying it too tight? Is it possibly that I am really allergic to them?

[Willesdon]

That is a really odd problem! If you are not allergic to any other fabrics, detergents etc I would have thought that it is not an allergic reaction. Have you tried a pre-tied tie? That might not be so tight. http://www.wholehorse.co.uk/acatalog/Stocks.html

[Equibrit]

What is it made of ?

[Arzny]

I have used a pre-tied tie. The same issues were present.

[Arzny]

Equibrit, I am not sure what it is made of. I would assume mine is made of some cotton/polyester mixture. But this has occurred with different stock ties, even custom made ones, making me think that it is some other issue.

Edited: I looked at it, and it is made of pure cotton.

[jawa]

Does it only occur when you sweat in them?

[Risuena]

OP, I have the same problem! Unfortunately I don’t have an answer…but will be following this thread.

I’m not an “allergic person” and so I’ve been assuming they are rubbing due to how I’m tying them - yup, happens with two different types of stock ties (including a pre-tied and a lovely 4-fold). I’m experimenting with looser/tighter, but like you, I only hunt occasionally, so I haven’t figured it out yet (if that is indeed the problem).

[Arzny]

jawa, it occurs every time I wear one, no matter if I sweat or not.

Risuena, I am definitely what you would call an “allergic person”, which is why the person suggested it in the first place! I am allergic to grass, and the first time it happened we thought maybe it had somehow come into contact with that, but no matter how careful we have been since, it still happens. I also event in a stock tie, so I wear one quite often, but I assumed this forum would know more about them, considering they wear one every weekend during the season!

[wendy]

is this an itchy rash or a non-itchy rash? allergic reaction rashes are usually quite itchy.
What happens when you wear a turtleneck?

[Arzny]

To be honest Wendy, I’ve never noticed if it was itchy or not. I have a picture of it a few hours after the stock tie came off, let me try to find it.
I don’t wear turtle necks, but I do wear scarfs with no problem.

[B_Street_Tango]

A lot of my stock ties have extra sizing in them to make them stiffer - you could be having a reaction to that? That sizing should come out with several washings…how long have you had the ones you are reacting to? Or (I’m sure you’ve thought of this already) but do you use spray starch to iron them? I also know someone that takes hers to the dry cleaner and I know they starch the heck out of them! A lot of people are allergic to starch…even if you aren’t, it can still be pretty itchy.

[MissMilly]

Have you tried washing your hands before you tie it? Or wiping down your neck before you put it on? Maybe you are trapping stuff you are allergic to when you tie it on, and then the heat and friction cause a reaction on sensitive neck skin.
I’ve seen pure silk ties, those may be less irritating.

[SugarRush]

Have you tried a silicone (anti-chafe) spray on your neck before putting one on? That may create enough of a protective layer on your skin to keep you from having a reaction to your tie :yes:

[ISR]

If you’re an “allergic person” (like me!) you may already use this detergent, but I use All Free and Clear (with no dyes and no perfumes). I wouldn’t say I have an allergic reaction to my stock but it can rub–presumably because I tie it tight and am constantly looking around at the action!

How long does it take for the redness to subside? I would also suggest popping a bendaryl before you hunt (I do this because i’m allergic to horses…)

[Arzny]

B Street- all of the ties, with exceptions to the new one, have been washed north of 50 + times. Our ties get some wear here!

MissMilly- I don’t think I have, I’ll try that next time. The silk ties sound interesting, I’ll look into them.

SugarRush- I would, if I had not have had a reaction to something similar a few years before.

ISR- I make my own detergent. It’s 100% guaranteed for me not to react to my own! It takes a few hours for it to subside. I had not thought about the Benadryl, though that seems like an easy option!

[kookicat]

Can you try wrapping one around your arm/leg and wearing it for a similar length of time to see what happens?

[Hinderella]

My husband bought me one of these for hunting:

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-silk-scarves.html

It ties up beautifully and (hand) washes easily.

I had a terrible very itchy rash once along my neck and chest. I went crazy trying to figure out what I might be allergic to, but when I went to the nurse practitioner she immediately identified it as bacterial and it was easily treated with an antibiotic. Just a thought.

[alibi_18]

Do you wear a pin? And does that pin can touches your skin?

Maybe an allergic reaction to the metal?

[wateryglen]

I believe it’s your laundry soap. Those are very common allergens as are softeners. Switch to a hypoallergenic laundry soap AND run thru rinse cycle then repeat the rinse again. Absolutely avoid any perfumes in your products. No starches also, spray or otherwise. Contact dermatitis is what you have and it’s from something ON your ties. OR…from your body soap, shampoo, perfume, hair products, spray and so on. Make sure there is NOTHING on your skin before putting it on. Clean & dry. The rubbing/warmth involved in wearing your tie is rubbing an irritant/allergent into your skin. I am very concerned that you make your own soap…nothing is 100%. What are the ingredients and have you tried isolating them against your skin as a type of allergy skin test? Just this nurse’s humble opinion! Try it and good luck!!

[Arzny]

Kookiekat- I wrapped it around my arm and nothing happened! I’m now assuming it is rubbing?
Alibi- yes, I wear a pin, and no it doesn’t touch me.
Watery glen- this could be a possibitly, if I haven’t borrowed other people’s stock ties that have been kept with them and washed in their soap… I also don’t wear any perfumes, lotions, etc. I am now thinking it is more of a rubbing issue, as when I put it around my arm for a few hours while I worked a few hours, nothing happened.
I don’t know all the ingredients in the soap, as my mom makes it. It was done by a doctor recommended change when my sister started having some reactions, so I’m pretty sure it would be okay.