Help - how do you wash allergic DCs clothes?

[Chartreuser]

DS14 is having the most rotten fine and had just been put in another week of oral steroids for his allergies. There is not a cm of him that is not covered in an itchy/scaly rash that looks awful but is so uncomfortable it's stopping him sleeping.

He will be starting immunotherapy later this year for tree and grass pollen, his nut allergies require epu-pen and although the GP thinks it's just his normal allergies on overdrive is best to change how we wash his clothes in case it's residue.

So, what washing powders/liquids work for you/your allergic family?

Thank you, sorry it's in chat but for traffic as I'm on lunch and desperate

My DD was very allergic and suffers still. We had issues because up until secondary age she still needs wet wrapping and I often had to go into school to do a lunchtime gloop and rewrap. It was hell. We only use tesco non bio tablets. ( half the recommended dose per wash). Extra rinsing. No fabric softener. We did for a short time use ecover powder because they sent me a years worth free ( I was featured in a magazine about eczema). And also used their orange fragranced cleaner to clean out my washing machine after every wash. The washing machine company also sent me a special door seal ( as the normal ,one perished every few months with all the gloop ( white soft paraffin). Never dry her stuff outside ( nor mine as I have mega contact with her, she happens to now have very severe ME and is totally bed bound) . Close her windows in summer. Used to make her shower, pat dry and gloop twice a day. Special shampoo. Use an air purifier.

School allowed 100% cotton clothing but DD hated standing out. And got bullied. Kids used to spray deodorant and hairspray into her face as she got in the bus. She would then have a severe asthma attack on the journey home. Eventually we moved her to a new school.

Experiment with different emollients, it took as ages to find what worked and I think puberty changed it. Good luck. It's hell watching them go through this stuff

I tried to get my highly allergic teen to take ownership of their eczema and asthma so I wasn’t constantly ‘nagging’. I wanted her to make the connection between self care and health but had very limited success. It’s absolutely heart rending to see them suffer, and especially if they won’t take steps to keep themselves comfortable.
I agree with the extra rinse after clothes washing as a good tactic. Damp dusting bedroom everyday, door and windows closed against dust and pollen, as little from the outside (shoes, bags, coats) going into bedroom.

Thanks again. I've written to school to ask he be allowed to swap his shirt for a polo shirt as more breathable. I've also asked for a meeting to get his stories classified as a disability so they have to consider reasonable adjustments, he has his first GCSE next year but exams are always when he is literally rattling with drugs and surviving on v little sleep. Thank you for suggest he should be granted RA, wouldn't have thought to ask otherwise

In other news this reaction had now triggered eczema, 95% coverage. He has not been this bad since he was 18 months . There is no way he is going to be able to use emollient ointments in this weather so will see what I can buy otc

Good idea to have a meeting with the school. Here's a link to the definition of disability under the Equality Act www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010

chartreuser why can't he use emollients in this weather? Because he is already hot? I know my DDs eczema was often worse in summer and we simply had to do the whole emollient things including wet wrapping her at school. You should ask for advice from the dermatologist

He can use creams but it's sweat that seems to have triggered this so anything too occlusive is causing his seat to pool making things worse. So I think we're best getting him using creams that I know work slightly less well but he's more likely to use them. And he's not under a dermatologist, just a allergist. If the steroids don't calm this down we will ask GP for referral to dermatologist nurse, we have really good ones here.

School have agreed the Polo shirt, exemption from (outdoor in field) sports day and meeting with SENCO, have been v impressed.

Thanks again, you've really helped me job the dots and be more proactive.

Great to hear and that makes sense

BioD is amazing, has cleared up DH’s psorasis, no one else has reacted to it. And it’s made in the UK and comes in a cardboard box.

bio powder
40 degrees, 60 for bedding, towels, underwear
long wash
extra rinse
then hang up inside to dry, never outside in pollen season

My DD has horrendous Eczema if she has Cows milk. We have stopped it altogether now & she has Oat.

You would have to stop for 3 weeks before you see a change.

Childs Farm moisturiser after a cool shower was the only thing that completely stopped the itching.

I was never so severely allergic as your son, but the eczema calmed down a lot after puberty and only flares up now at times of intense stress (and accidentally using Fairy!). I was under a dermatologist last year for a flare up which wouldn't respond to steroids and he prescribed Protopic which suppresses the immune response locally - it can be used as a prophylactic too to prevent recurrence in problematic areas. Might be worth investigating.