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A Kara For Sensitive Skin


BahaPolska
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It's hard to find a decent bracelet of any kind where I live, even it it's not the kara. I am so tired of painting nail polish on the inside of my kara because of allergies! I will get contact dermatitis otherwise: my skin where it touches the metal can get red and blistery. I heard there were places where a stainless-steel kara can be found, but I've had no luck. the closest thing I can find are link bracelets or something that looks like a watchband. I'd been trying to find something approximately a centimeter wide. Any ideas where i can find somethig that won't react with sensitive skin?

Blessed be,

Polska

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Prescribed metal for Kara is iron, not silver or gold. Iron or steel generally do not cause allergy. Nickel and some other metals in various "stainless steel" Karas could cause rash.

DTF Bookshop on Soho Rd in Birmingham UK has these Karas. If you live far from this place look it up on the web. I think they do mail order.

Metal chromium is an essential part of stainless steel. Most of the stainless steels from which the stainless steel Kara s are made also have a very significant amount of metal nickel. Many people have skin allergy to one or both of these metals (Chromium and nickel- much more likely from nickel). Iron (ferrite and a very small amount of carbon) or ordinary steel (ferrite and a little bit more carbon) generally is not allergic. (Ferrous is an important element present in our bodies)

What is generally known as 'loh' (as was called in 1600s or 1700s) could have been Ferritic iron, ordinary steel, or cast iron. The casting process is the usual method of making items from cast iron. So its use would have been limited to he pots and skillet type of of items. Besides the items from cast iron are heavy and brittle. The reason that I am elaborating on this is to point out that what we call 'loh' these days is most likely to be either wrought iron or ordinary carbon steel. (mild steel / low carbon steel). So, Kara made from 'loh' is most likely to be made of carbon steel. They may be labeled to be made of "loh" (the name loh is most likely to justify higher mark up by the sellers)

Kara made out of ordinary steel (not stainless steel) should not cause any allergic reaction. One can keep it shinning by cleaning it occasionally with abrasive wool. People with allergy to nickel should be able to tolerate kara made from an ordinary steel.

You could try:

http://www.sikhishop.com/store/index.php?c...8cfc538867887ce

I'm not sure of any other...

Gurfateh

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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh Jiii !!

since i was small i used to get rashes and irritated skin on my wrist after a few days of wearing a karra...my wrist used to turn green sumtyms hehe :S

but its only recently that i found a thin..(about 6mm) sarab loh karra to wear..had it on for bout a year or two now and it was a bit itchey at first for a week or so..but after that ive not had any problems..

i found that steel karreh and any karra with metal plating on didnt work for me, watches included!! ..but sarab loh karra has been perfect!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh Jiii !!

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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh Jiii !!

since i was small i used to get rashes and irritated skin on my wrist after a few days of wearing a karra...my wrist used to turn green sumtyms hehe :S

but its only recently that i found a thin..(about 6mm) sarab loh karra to wear..had it on for bout a year or two now and it was a bit itchey at first for a week or so..but after that ive not had any problems..

i found that steel karreh and any karra with metal plating on didnt work for me, watches included!! ..but sarab loh karra has been perfect!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh Jiii !!

Sarbloh is the answer. All this steel and gold business. If you ever ask kuriya why they never wear Kareh its because of a rash they'll say.

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Contact dermatitis is a relatively common problem and I know many Sikhs who have had problems with their karas. As far as I can see the only solution is to try out different karas in between eczematous flare ups. As someone pointed out Nickel and chromium are common allergens to hypersensetive individuals. I once had this problem with previous karas in my childhood. I would reccommend that you try all sorts of iron (whether technically iron or steel karas) and I am certain that you will settle upon one that agrees with your skin. The carbon iron karas that are available on sikh websites (known as sarabloh karas) may be appropriate as impurity in them seems less than other karas (I am a doctor and not an engineer / mineral expert!). Do not let them rust - clean with an abrasive cloth (ie a very fine iron wool from a hardware shop or specialist jewellers workshop) and then coat them in wax by rubbing ordinary non coloured or perfumed candle wax over them (laborious but helps keep rust away - but omit may be overkill - just an additional tip to bear in mind). Do this regularly, as rusty metal can irritate the skin and you want to avoid this. Also consider when first wearing a new kara, to use 1% hydrocortisone ointment around the wrist / forearm for the first 5 days to help de-sensetise your skin to the new contact (one tube application the length of your fingertip equates to an adult palm sized area of skin to be covered - use no more than twice a day). At night wear the kara over a sleeve or even place it near you within arms reach eg on a bedside table. If you are amrit -chhak then discuss this with Panj first to get their permission as removing a kakkar from the body is not reccommended (but Sikhi is practical and sensible and that is why we have Panj for such issues).

How old are you (no need to answer this). Most people with contact dermatitis as children (in the UK it can affect up to 20% of children) will grow out of it by adulthood as we naturally get exposed to allergens and the body de-sensetises itself to these and an immune-tolerance is built up.

Great courage for airing this personal problem, as I am certain many out there will empathise.

Hope the above helps. If it remains a problem down the line then consult with a dematologist who may identify the specific allergen by conducting a RAST test (in the UK referral is via the GP).

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It's hard to find a decent bracelet of any kind where I live, even it it's not the kara. I am so tired of painting nail polish on the inside of my kara because of allergies! I will get contact dermatitis otherwise: my skin where it touches the metal can get red and blistery. I heard there were places where a stainless-steel kara can be found, but I've had no luck. the closest thing I can find are link bracelets or something that looks like a watchband. I'd been trying to find something approximately a centimeter wide. Any ideas where i can find somethig that won't react with sensitive skin?

Blessed be,

Polska

Dear BahaPolska

We do have a steel and sarbloh karra in. We can send one of each out to you (Free of charge). You can try them and see which one suits you better. They you can pay for the one you want to keep. If you would like to do this please PM us your address and we will get this arranged for you.

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i had the same problem its best to ask in the gurdwara, when i bought one from different places i had an allergy to them because it wasnt real steel, and iv apparently got some nickel allergy as well lol btw doesnt iron go rusty?

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  • 8 years later...
On 13/12/2016 at 5:54 PM, Premi5 said:

I have noticed for a while that on my right wrist, the kara is causing a lot of hair removal. Anyone else had a similar issue, and where can I get blunter kara from? Mine is made from Iron

I can second this one except my sarbloh kara does not have a sharp edge, it's completely blunt. :/

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  • 10 months later...

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