Metals which are not silver or gold irritate my skin. I get an allergy when I wear earrings, necklaces, watches, even belt buckles

Hi I have what i think is the cheapest flute on the market, so as u can imagine, it is not silver or gold.

As a beginner, I have been playing it for 1 and a half year and my lips didn`t react to it. But a few weeks ago, I started having a reaction. My lips got dry, swollen, flaky, sore, HORRIBLE.

I can`t afford a golden flute or a silver flute. The flute I have right now is to rubbish to be customised and fitted with a gold lip plate. Has anyone got any tip? I have stopped practising and I feel like I`m really going backwards.

Send me your headjoint, and I will be happy to gold plate the lip plate for you free of charge. I have had to do this already for a couple of my students who are allergic to silver. Are you in the US?

I also forgot to add that if you don`t want it plated, there are such things at music stores that sell a clear like sticker to go over your lip plate. I think that you could probably order one from Flute World for a couple of dollars.

Thanks a lot for the offer. That`s so very kind!!!
I live in the UK, but please, do e-mail me and we can arrange something for the postage fees.

Again, thousand thanks.

A coating of nail polish would probably do the trick too.

My guess is that you are allergic to nickel &/or copper. Student flute bodies are mainly an alloy of copper and nickel. Sterling silver has copper in it, and some jewellery will have nickel plating or nickel in stainless steel.

Perhaps you have worn through the pure silver plating just enough for your skin to start noticing these metals beneath the silver.

I had the exact same problem but it also gradaully affected my hands aswell. So if you get the sticker thing for your lip plate you may want to get some for your keys if the silver plating is wearing away.

For people allergic to metals (especially nickel)... What do you use for cutlery? Always chop sticks, or plastic?

Well TedG, I do use plastic most of the time!
I also cannot wear jeans or any pants that have a snap, can`t have metal clasps on my bra, and some day when I know you REALLY well I`ll tell you all about the romantic get-away weekend that was planned... and thwarted by a really sexy "teddy" with a snap crotch. Ouch!

Ha! Ha! Oh my God!!! Kippsix, you are too funny!!! I haven`t seen you on here in a while and wondered where you have been. Glad to see you again.

Well, life has kind of gotten in the way, so I haven`t been posting recently!

Yes, I know how that can be with the whole Christmas seasons comming up and all. I am booked every weekend and during the week. At least I have been able to find time to come on here to relax a bit.

LOL! The mind boggles, Kippsix!
I`m still wondering just how metaphorical "teddy" is! LOL!