Side effects - Skin burn from 'new formula' poppers?

[Routemaster Flash]

SWIM is (figuratively) kicking himself - and (literally) applying vaseline to himself rather gingerly - four or five days on from a weekend multi-drug binge which unfortunately included whatever vile crap is being sold as "poppers" in the UK as of 2009. Now don't get SWIM wrong, he's not down on poppers per se, like a lot of people are, and these did the trick as far as the good ol' sixty seconds of dirty sleazy fun are concerned. But the stuff has left SWIM's face looking somewhat like that of a homeless crackhead: red, blotchy marks, some of which developed into big pusy blisters which now seem to have subsided for the most part, thank god. SWIM had this once before, from the same bottle, though it was localised to his top lip just under his nose, but this case is widespread enough to be quite noticeable.

Anyway, enough bitching, here comes the science bit: SWIM has read on a couple of websites (inluding this one) that in 2007 the UK government banned the chemical that used to be sold as 'poppers', namely (iso)butyl nitrite, and that manufacturers started selling isopropyl nitrite instead. But this compound apparently has a boiling point of just 40C, compared to 67C for isobutyl and 99C for amyl, the original 'poppers' (which apparently has not been publicly available for years). The lower boiling point makes the stuff evaporate faster, which apparently makes it much worse for skin burn. Now SWIM stupidly threw his bottle away before seeing what was in it exactly, but it had a child-proof cap which apparently is a dead giveaway that you've got a bottle of the "new improved" kind instead of the older formula.

So SWIM would just like to know if anyone other UK members had had similar experiences lately? Or if other members had any light to shed on different alkyl nitrites and whether any of them were known for particularly bad side effects, especially skin burn? And how likely SWIM will have to wait for the redness and soreness to subside, and whether to expect any lasting scarring or discoloration? Well, probably a bit over-dramatic there, it doesn't seem to be really deep skin damage, but all the same...fucking government and their big ideas..."ooh, let's ban this substance so people have to use something much nastier, that'll teach those damn drug abusers."

[sandoz1943]

SWIM misses Amyl Nitrate. The new cousins they sell as VCR cleaner are horrid. SWIM and her friends call it brain rot. Funny story tho (cause it wasnt me). Her friend and his partner were using this during sex. Friend went to hit it during climax. Thier partner was also climaxing and bucked her hips causing SWIMs friend to end up with it in his eyes, nose, and mouth. SWIM received frantic call from her friend saying he had blinded himself. After numerous eye washes and much vomiting SWIMs friend made it out with red swollen eyes and minor facial burn that lasted about three days.

[Routemaster Flash]

Well it's been two weeks now and things finally look back to normal. SWIM though they probably would, but still...two weeks! Gah. Not touching that crap again (he says now...).

[Sushi]

Originally Posted by Routemaster Flash

SWIM has read on a couple of websites [...] that in 2007 the UK government banned the chemical that used to be sold as 'poppers', namely (iso)butyl nitrite, and that manufacturers started selling isopropyl nitrite instead. [...]The lower boiling point makes the stuff evaporate faster, which apparently makes it much worse for skin burn.

Swim has been afflicted by exactly same symptoms. Swim recently purchased 3 different brands/formulas. Isobutyl was very good. Cyclohexyl was quite ok. And isopropyl nitrite gave him awful, nagging burns under his nose. And this is already the second time it happened to him. At first swim couldn't identify which one of these 3 poppers is responsible for this (and whether it's really poppers use to blame). But yesterday only isopropyl nitrite was being used and the result is just like swiy described it:

The stuff has left SWIM's face looking somewhat like that of a homeless crackhead: red, blotchy marks, some of which developed into big pusy blisters [...]

Last time it took more than a week for the burns to heal. And now, before they were entirely gone, swim has new ones. Great. What's interesting, swim's friend was using same isopropyl poppers yesterday and the guy's nose is just fine. So there must be some unknown factor involved - pressing a bottle too tightly? skin sensitivity? something else?

Does anyone know what can be used to treat such (chemical) burns?

[sandoz1943]

You could try Aloe. I used to treat burns with a combo of vitamin E cap goo and antibiotic ointment when I didnt have Aloe on hand.

[Routemaster Flash]

Originally Posted by sandoz1943

You could try Aloe. I used to treat burns with a combo of vitamin E cap goo and antibiotic ointment when I didnt have Aloe on hand.

SWIM was looking into this and found that several clinical studies have found that applying vitamin E oil to broken or damaged skin made it heal more slowly and leave a worse scar than normal skin lotion. So be warned!

http://www.derm.net/Derm_PDFs/vitaminEpaper.pdf

Reputation Comments on this post:

excellent article, good find.

[barker55]

Swim used to regularly be out raving his tits of in some club and someboby would inevitably shove a poppers bottle under his nose. the effects of the other chemicals he had partaken of usually meant that he forgot to just sniff the stuff but rather tended to splash it on his boatrace like aftershave.
The scabby debacle around the nostrils which resulted some days afterwards did,nt do nothing for his appearance or self esteem, so he,s taken to mixing it in a bottle of water with the fancy pull up sucker top and giving a good old suck.
It works wonders and hey! no mister zombie nose afterwards, NOTE -if you do try swim's method please remember that drinking from the bottle is a definate no no.