moisturiser preservative sensitivity/ nighttime allergy - any ideas?

[crunchynuts]

Hi, I have two possibly related problems i hope someone has the answers to.

Ds (2.5) has had a slight wheeze (which we have controlled with ventolin) and quite itchy eyes/pinkn face at bedtime for the last few monthsh. I have been treating it with cetirizine, until the last week where I have moved onto piriton (because of part two of this). We have no pets, he tested neg for dust mite allergy, I have tried hoovering daily and washing his sheets at 60degrees in wash that i know doesn't irritate his skin. There are no soft toys, windows are closed so not pollen (though he's been hospitalized previously because of birch pollen closing up his airways), it isn't his (prescribed) bath emollients (more on that in a moment). It isn't a food we give him just before bed. It isn't myself or Dh, we are careful about avoiding foods he is allergic to, and neither of us uses perfumes or scents etc.

It is affecting Ds's sleep so it is affecting mine. I don't like to Medicate him without knowing the trigger, especially as it helps but doesn't completely deal with his symptoms (and he is not especially pleasant when medicated).

Right, next problem. Ds has been getting quite pink when i apply his diprobase. I thought maybe it was something on my hands so have washed them thoroughly with his wash. His wash doesn't induce it, it is moments after I apply the moisturiser. Eventually I realized it is the diprobase so moved onto his epaderm pump. He was fine for a few weeks, then I used diprobase pump again by accident and he was covered in hives that took lots of piriton to deal with. Next night epaderm had same effect as diprobase, had to sit him by cold open window and distract until he was too tired to scratch.

I've washed off the creams as soon as he's reacted. Used cetomacrogol the night of epaderm. Then last night used cetomacrogol instead of and he was all hivey again. From what ive googled he could be sensitive to preservative in the creams, Google says use thick greasy preservative free stuff instead.

So, 1) any ideas on what he's reacting to at night, and, 2) any suggestions of a good moisturiser he is less likely to react to? I am not interested in miracle creams or natural remedies (without meaning to sound snappy). Seeing gp for moisturiser this afternoon, and he's got allergy consultant appt at end of month. Sorry this is so long, hope someone can help (esp with 1).

Oh, and I've used allergy Hoover on his and our mattresses, and have tried him/ his mattress in our room/ taking him to visit his grandparents and he still reacts. Before he gets into bed. Before he goes up the stairs. About an hr before bed. Every night. Without fail.

hello.
sounds like you're both having a tough time at the moment.
your Ds could have developed a sensitivity to one of the ingredients in the creams. Is there anything that is common to both? Dd developed a sensitivity to Aveeno and would come up in a nettle rash after we used it.

Or, it could be something like virally induced urticaria. My dd gets that and it starts up after she's had a virus. She seems to be red on her face on the side that she sleeps on and also gets hives. It's the pressure on the skin that causes the mast cells under the skin to release histamine which causes the redness and hives. so it could be the action of rubbing the skin which is applying enough pressure to cause this. if it is this then we have to keep Dd topped up with a non drowsy antihistamine (neoclarityn) for a few weeks until it settles. When DD has this, just rubbing her skin causes it to go red.

Hopefully the gp will have some answers.