How can I find out what I'm allergic to?

[tectonicplates]

I've had problems with washing powders and perfumes for a long time but it's got worse over the years. I'm really annoyed at the moment as Ecover have changed their ingredients and I haven't been able to find a laundry product that doesn't make me itch. I've tried several brands recently and they're all awful.

I went to see an allergy specialist and he said that you can only do a psych

Sorry, posted too soon. I went to see an allergy specialist and he said you can only do a patch test for things that make you come out in a rash or eczema. He said there isn't a reliable way of testing for things that make you itch or burn in a way that other people can't see.

He was a nice doctor and said he believed me and was sympathetic, but I really wanted to be able to find out so as to be more informed and read ingredients lists if I know what to avoid. I also would've liked some kind of written documentation or letter from a doctor in case an overly-perfumed person causes an argument at work, which has happened in the past.

I can't use anything except Surcare at the moment.

I tried Surcare a few days ago and it had a sickly-sweet smell that I couldn't stand. It actually make me feel sick.

Can't you compare the ingredients of the ecover and see what's in the new one compared to the old? Might narrow down the option of what is causing your reaction.

Have you tried soap nuts?

www.ecozonedirect.com/products/natural-laundry-detergent-soap-nuts-330-washes-1kg/zonesoapnuts330.aspx?productid=zonesoapnuts330

According to the Ecover website:

We have added the following ingredients: Potassium Oleate - a plant based soap derived from sunflower oil, Polypropylene terephthalate - a synthetic but biodegradable polymer that puts a layer of protective coating on your clothes that means stains can be removed more easily, and Glycerin - derived from vegetable oil, it makes the soil release polymer soluble so it can work.

But it's also twice as concentrated so there's something else about it. We halved the amount we used but it didn't help, also it smells horrible.

The other problem I've been having recently (a new thing) is that often when I eat, my lips and tongue feel itchy and sometimes I feel like the back of my throat is swelling up. That's the main reason I went to see him. But he did the test on my arm where he tested for allergies to various pollens and foods and it came up with nothing. He had mentioned something called pollen oral allergy but it turns out I don't have that as I'm not allergic to any pollens.

So I don't know what to do. What is causing these symptoms?

He said I can take antihistamine, which does help, so surely this means there's some kind of reaction going on seeing as antihistamines helps? But I would rather find out exactly what the problem is so that I can avoid things that cause the problem
How can I find out what's causing this?

The unconcentrated Ecover is still the same non itchy formula. They also do an unscented one but I’ve not tried it.

It's Ecover Zero that I'm talking about. It claims to be scent-free but it isn't, it smells awful now.

Process of elimination sometimes. Food diary. Private allergy testing. I use sensitive washing powder.

It was a private clinic that I went to. And I've tried so many products that claim to be "sensitive" but they still make me itch.

Try the regular non-concentrated ecover then, it has a light lavender scent, not sickly at all.

Are you using any fabric softener? Even the ecover ones are horrible imo.

Also, I feel your pain. Had terrible eczema, went for a patch test, no shower for a week while the patches were on, was so itchy I thought I’d die. Turns out I was sensitive to the tape they’d used. Everything else fine.

No I hate all scents, especially lavender! I need a scent-free product as it's scent particles that bother me the most.

Lavender is one of the sickliest smells going.

But tbh my post is more about how to find out what is medically wrong. For example a different kind of doctor I could see, or some kind of test I might not have heard of? My GP isn't being very helpful.

I really didn't want this thread to become a washing powder recommendation thread as this has happened before and it ends up with people suggesting the products I've already tried. That's why I'm trying to find out if there's a way I can find out exactly what ingredients are causing the problem, and why food is causing me reactions even though the test showed I'm not allergic to any foods. There must be a different way to solve the problem.

There must be a different way to solve the problem

There isn’t. As a lifelong allergy sufferer, the only sure way is elimination.

Re: products. In the ingredient list, the higher up any ingredient is, the more there is of it. Ingredients that give me issues are:

-anything that starts with benzo (preservative)
-limonene (fragrance)
-cinnamon or any derivative
-any combination of laur- and sulph- (foaming agent)

Also consider it may be the combination of shampoo, conditioner, body wash PLUS the detergent that is doing you in. Cut one product at a time to see if it makes a difference.

As a last resort, if you live in a hard water area, get a water softener installed. Am currently staying at a friends with lovely neutral water and my skin has magically cleared up.

Re: itchy mouth. Sometimes a perfect storm of allergens will cause your body to start reacting to anything and everything. It may actually be your washing powder in the first instance and fruit irritating it. It may be tree pollen. It may be grass pollen. It may be your toothpaste. It may be a combination of all of the above. In the meantime, the worst offenders tend to be stone fruits (peaches, plums, cherries, all the good summer ones), kiwi, and bananas.

Hope that helps.

I have hay fever plus numerous food allergies - mainly to uncooked fruit and some nuts. My GP referred me to Guys Hospital for comprehensive allergy testing and I was diagnosed with Oral Allergy Syndrome. Would your GP do similar? Allergy UK is a great website

There is an NHS allergy website. Perhaps there might be some info there which you can discuss with your g.p. and see if theres an allergy clinic near you. Some health food shops offer allergy testing.

As I said earlier, I have already been to the allergy clinic and had food and pollen tests which came out negative.

Just trying to help

I've read through the NHS allergy website. It says allergy testing will tell you which foods or pollen you're allergic to. It doesn't say what to do if your tests come out negative but you still feel that something is wrong

Have you any other symptoms? Have you considered histamine intolerance or Mast cell activation syndrome?

Allergy testing is notoriously unreliable especially when it comes to food.