What to wash with - allergic to soaps? (Photo - TMI)

[allergictowhat]

Every time I shower/wash I’m coming out in a rash . Similar if I use perfumes or perfumed products .

So far it’s been triggered by

Nivea shower gel
Bath and body works
Body shop
Lush
L’Oréal shampoo
All brands of conditioner
Intensive hair mask things
Face masks
Perfume (ie perfume perfume)
Always pads
Foundation
Face wash
Moisturiser
Soap and Glory
Handwash

I get a red/purple rash on contact and surrounding area that burns/swells . Left with dry/scaly and itchy skin after (see photo) . I’ve tried switching to sensitive products to no avail.

Used a Nivea wash this morning, within seconds hands, arms, boobs, neck were bright red/purple and swollen - took about an hour to go down and still a bit stingy now . Could see finger marks where I’d washed .

GP surgery said to minimise all contact with toiletries, use very basic soap and shampoo and to keep piriton in the house - but this has even happened with sanex/simple products . I can’t find any common ingredients other than SLS and nut derivatives - but I can eat nuts …

I can’t not shower .

I’m allergic to quite a few medicines as well (similar reactions) and hair dye so don’t know if it’s maybe something about me that’s causing it .

Bit worried the next time will be anaphylaxis .

Have you had any official allergy testing? Might be worth investigating.

Sorry also wanted to add my sympathies as it must be very debilitating.

Have you tried Aveeno?

I use the emollient wash from the baby range on my most sensitive skin days. Most products aggravate my skin and this is the one brand I trust to actually soothe it.

I find anything with SLS’s in brings me out in a rash. Bar soap doesn’t usually have it in and I check every bottle of shampoo to ensure it is SLs free.

Lots of handwashes have it in as it is a preservative.

Can you not get something on prescription? My daughter has allergys and has prescription body scrub, soap and deodorant and creams.

Very ‘basic soap’ is usually bar soap. It doesn’t look like you’ve mentioned that in your list of products used. Have you tried it?

I’d also explore allergy testing, as PP suggest.

I suffer from contact dermatitis which makes me hyper sensitive to most body washes and all cleaning sprays in restaurant environments. I’ve got a few repeat prescriptions from my GP that keep it at bay. One is a soap substitute called Hydromol. It’s very thick and greasy but it’s good to use before and after shower to moisturise with. I also have a weak steroid cream to use on patches that are particularly bad. I am very careful with it though because it does thin out your skin terribly.
For me Palmolive shower gel is acceptable for my skin for some reason (as long as I moisturise after) and my skin will only tolerate Fairy pods for washing. Can’t go anywhere near powder or heavily fragranced alternatives.
Cleaning sprays are the worst though, those strong chemicals completely ruin my skin.
Be careful also with sunscreen- most irritate my skin so I need to wash it off after being in the sun. GL!

I would try dr bronner liquid soap - they do a baby version too.

Push your doctor to refer you to dermatology for allergy testing. I had this for years, tried to work it out through process of elimination and only found out what I'm allergic to when I finally get a dermatology referral.

The pic doesn't really look like an urticaria rash (which would signify an IgE allergy) but it's not that clear. Based on what you've written, rather than it being product/ingredient-based, have you considered the different types of urticaria? Eg those related to temperature and pressure?

The fragrance ingredient linalool causes me to break out in contact dermatitis in various random places on my hands/legs.

Its often a lemony or a lavender scent (it occurs naturally as well as synthetically) so I tend to look for fragrance free stuff or sole thing that isn't lemon/lavender and then check the ingredients before using. There's more choice out there than I first feared - the clear method liquid hand soap, the white dettol and most of the simple range.

Try Aveeno body wash. It's very calming.

I'm very allergic, but can recommend Healpsorin wash. The Cerave range is good as well.

Try dermol, QV wash or zeroderm ointment or equivalent soap substitutes. I have to wash hands in zeroderm as I get same issue

Dermol

Epaderm ointment can be used as a soap substitute, it's available in chemists and you may be able to get it on prescription.
Check out the eczema society website, it has a lot of helpful information. SLS is mentioned as an ingredient that can cause an allergic reaction.

@Anomalocaris

The pic doesn't really look like an urticaria rash (which would signify an IgE allergy) but it's not that clear. Based on what you've written, rather than it being product/ingredient-based, have you considered the different types of urticaria? Eg those related to temperature and pressure?

I did wonder how hot the OP has her shower.

Do you get the same reactions in different temperature waters?

Your GP should be prescribing you a medical "wash" that isn't soap. I've been getting it free for years. I can't think now what it's called, as I decant it in to a nicer looking bottle. It comes in a white pump action bottle, with blue writing on.

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda

Very ‘basic soap’ is usually bar soap. It doesn’t look like you’ve mentioned that in your list of products used. Have you tried it?

I’d also explore allergy testing, as PP suggest.

This is what I was wondering.

OP just use an unscented bar soap. Not simple, just basic as they come Asda or Aldi or something.

I’d try an unperfumed bar soap. Having the shower warm rather than hot and being very gentle when you towel off might help too. Something like e45 cream as body moisturiser. You can oil cleanse your face - olive oil and a clean flannel (Google it.) For hair, try something from Holland & Barrett that’s SLS free - like Faith in Nature unscented.

Everyone has covered soaps, but in place of Always pads, try Natracare pads. They are perfume, plastic and bleach free.

I have very sensitive skin and my old GP recommended this.

I can’t use most shower gels. Or shampoos. Etc etc.
MI. Methylisothiazolinone. (Sp?) I’m rampantly allergic!

I’ll ask re allergy testing definitely!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions, will have a look online and see which ones I can get 😊

It wasn’t so much itchy as just burning - it’s a bit itchy now (dry) but not as red thankfully . It feels much the same as when I was allergic to trimethoprim, I get that same sort of burning feeling every time I wash my hair so wonder if it is the SLS .

That’s another photo - trying to block out anything too too TMI and identifying !

Thanks so much . Will definitely go back to GP and ask for more advice/help - they were a bit dismissive definitely so it helps to know there is things they can do .

MI gives me that burning feeling. It’s a very common allergen.