need suggestions for soap/cleanser. Allergic to everything!

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Am pregnant, so hormones aren't helping but am suddenly allergic to everything. Went to GP last week and got a prescription for Diprobase which is helpful, but cannot now use soap to wash as come out in rash.

Any suggestions please?

Use aqueous cream instead of soap

My dd suffers eczema and uses Dermol 500 lotion from the dr. Can be used as a soap subsitute or a very light moisturiser. Real nice. It was the only thing she really got on with, alongside diprobase as a heavier moisteriser. Hope this helps

Thanks chloemum . Have asked for a prescription for Dermol 500. Oh, and was reading a gossip magazine at the doctor's surgery yesterday waiting for DD's flu booster, and they asked dermatologists what they themselves used and the answer was either Dermol 500 or the shower version.

Pixie So sad, but cannot even tolerate E45. Nor the lovely Liz Earle cleanser I got for Christmas.

I 'borrowed' DD's Burts Bees baby shampoo & body cleanser. It was the only soap that didn't make me itch when pregnant. It's sold in most Boots and Waitrose branches. Also has the added bonus of smelling lovely.

When I was particularly itchy in my first pregnancy I could only bathe in oilatum. I also used it as a skin cleanser, following the directions on the bottle. My GP prescribed it for me and put it on repeat prescription as it isn't cheap. I was getting through about a bottle a week but it was the only thing that soothed my skin. I then used extra virgin olive oil to moisturise after the bath.

Hope this offers a light at the end of the tunnel - My sensitivity completely resolved after DS was born and I am pregnant again now with practically no itching and only 7 weeks to go. It was one of my concerns as it made me so miserable last time.

Hope you find some relief soon...

simple soap - its soap free!! DS used it when he had chronic hives (usually just reactive).

OIlatum and E45 excellent too.

Congratulations btw

Urtekram neutral range - can get it online from goodness direct.

It's what i use for dd1 who reacts to everything, chemicals, scents, soap, you name it.

I remember how my body changed and reacted differently during pregnancy and some of it didn't change back!

I've always had flare ups but become far more sensitive during pregnancy, especially perfume related sensitivites.

I've stripped out all fragrances and mainly buy natural toiletries now.

If it's just soap you're after then silverfrog mentions Urtekram - they make a no perfume soap, it is excellent - cheap (£1.60ish I think), frothy, long lasting and allergy approved.

I've been using A'kin gentle unscented shampoo for a number of years as I discoverd Sodium Laureth Sulphate (in most shampoos) was giving an itchy scalp - but I only discovered it was that after stumbling upon sls-free shampoo!

Urtekram shampoo is ok but I never felt clean using it. The A'kin unscented shampoo is just gorgeous to use if you have a few more pennies - fab lather which is lacking in many sls-free products. Also won an award for eczema/allergy product last year.

If you do want to go down the fragrance-free route then you could try

www.eco-essentials.co.uk/index.php?cPath=32

for a very large selection of everything unperfumed, natural and sles free products which are great on sensitive allergy prone skins.

I hope you find something that doesn't cause your reactions...

Was just about to suggest sodium Maureen sulphate free shampoo but Schatje beat me to it. I got a bad rash on my face and itchy all over with anything that had sls in it - got worse during pregnancy,

You can get Naked shampoo and shower gel in bigger boots etc. Smells lovely but all natural.

Maureen? I really must read over my posts. Laureth.

steer clear from Aqueous Creams/cleansers as they're full of mineral oil which simply covers your skin and stops it breathing! (as well as being environmentally unfriendly)
just add sweet almond oil to bath, use a very gentle, unscented cleanser on your skin (eg Green People) and natural baby body wash in shower (Earth Friendly Baby or Pitta Patta). Avoid ALL sulfates in shower gels, hand washes and shampoos, and mineral oils/silicones in skincare.
Good luck!
:)

Olive oil. Massage in and scrape off with a wooden spatula.

e45 is quite allergenic actually. so is aqueous cream.
if all fails, you could bath in oats (wrapped in a muslin). you can then use the muslin to wash yourself

you could just rinse your hair, few people actually need shampoo (controversial but true!)

check out these, they are all natural cleansers and shower gels yumetc.blogspot.com

your dermatologist isn't up on the latest research then which shows it can thin the skin (aqueous cream)
try oats, they really are miraculous (and I am not a hippy )

I agree with freshmint, all these so called gentle products for eczema that you buy in the chemist are full of mineral oil (which clogs pores) and parabens (toxic preservatives), you're better off just rubbing sweet almond oil on!

Handful of oats i a muslin. Tie ends with a hair elastic or elastic band. Get it all wet in the shower and keep squeezing it under water until you get the oaty milk coming out. Use it like a sponge all over your body especially squeezing out the oaty milk on your really eczema bits (elbows, behind knees, wherever. Rub all that oaty stuff in. Lovely. Rinse off, chuck oats into loo, rinse out muslin, repeat next time.

Honestly it is brilliant for sore skin and really softens water. It would be better to do it in the bath so you catch all the oatmilk and bathe in it but perfectly possible in the shower as I described.

love it freshmint, am going to try it myself in my next bath, even though I don't have eczema!
:-D

freshmint, thanks for the oat instructions - I'd been struggling with transporting my oats downstairs to put in the compost bin as it hadn't occurred to me to put them in the loo!

I have to agree with the "Avoid Aqueous" people, your dermatologist hasn't read up on recent research. I personally would avid E45 cream and Diprobase as well. I agree with miss foodie's posts.

thanks kaumana :)
don't want to harp on, but i'm very passionate about chemical free cosmetics, so much so, that I started my blog and now review products, including children's - am also preparing a feature on household...
I try products from £7 to £80, so suitable for all budgets and tastes!
anyway, won't bore you, but if you're interested it's yumetc.blogspot.com