O.K., allergies to Dektol/Selektol, et. al. Anybody have one? What's it llok/feel like, I may be developing it. I can't use tongs with Azo so I may have to use gloves or one of those protective cremes they sell.

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), February 08, 1999

Answers

Usually your hands itch, then may break out in reddish blotches. In the worst case I've see the skin actually dried and cracked over the knuckles; really painful. That came from years of fishing around in C-22 and Ektaprint chemicals.

-- John Hicks / John's Camera Shop (jbh@magicnet.net), February 26, 1999.

You probably have "metol poisoning" from the metol in Dektol. Suggest you try a phenadone based developer such as Ethol LPD. Phenadone is less likely to cause this reaction. Not only does it not have metol, IMHO it is a far superior developer.

OTOH, there is nothing wrong with using gloves in any event. Bare hands in any photo chemical should not be encouraged.

-- James D. Steele (jdsteele@erols.com), February 26, 1999.