Hey, I came here with a question. Does anyone else get that black mark (sometimes known as the “flute tattoo”) on their chin where the headpiece touches after playing? If so, do you know what causes it? I’ve been doing a research project; I’ve ruled out nickle allergies. Could it be the polishing solution on the polishing cloth, or possibly make-up? I don’t think it’s the cloth since I rarely polish my flute and I still get the mark. But any ideas would be appreciated! Thanks.
I’ve not had it happen to me (or else I just have mildly cruel friends who don’t tell me because they like to watch me walking around with such a mark), but I do recall seeing this once or twice in the past … both were women who wore a fair amount of foundation makeup, so maybe a chemical reaction???
I wonder if the old postage-stamp trick would work – would it be worth sticking one on your lip plate (probably the non-self-adhesive variety is better) just for grins? We used to put them on our flutes/piccs, especially in hot weather for lip-slip reduction. To get them off, just soak with a damp sponge and peel with a non-metallic object like a popsicle stick or your fingernail.
Anyway, good luck!
I’m assuming this is a silver flute, or at least silver plated:
The common silver tarnish is a sulfur compound with silver, silver sulfide I think. Sulfur is a very common ingredient in acne creams. It could very well be present in some kinds of makeup.
The black in a black and white photograph is small silver crystals that are formed from silver chloride or silver bromide. Free Chlorine or Bromine seens less likely to be in something on a face, but maybe there’s an environmental factor here.
I’m not a chemist!