excema - washing powder

[MrsCLH]

Hi ladies

DH is 6 months, started with excema around Christmas. Doc has given us various different cream to try, the last of which we got last week has made the most improvement. Yesterday DH wore a completely new outfit, including his vest and the new pj's to bed. The excema seems to have improved ten fold overnight. It had also been accompanied by a little spotty rash which doc said was normal with excema and this morning this has all but gone. I've also realised that the skin covered by his nappy has always been completely clear. All this is making me think it could be the washing powder or I'm using. Do other excema mum's have any suggestions of what to try washing his clothes in?

TIA

MrsCLH

Liquid washing detergent seems less of an irritant than powder or tablets for my son. Must be something in the make up of them which he's allergic to I think. No brand particularly, just the formulation.

Persil Original NonBio is often recommended for people with eczema to try. But it has to be the original formulation, which I think only comes in powder.

TBH, I thnk a lot varies from individual to individual and you will get lots of replies from people who swear Fairy liquid or Persil Non Bio or Tesco own brand is fine for them but not something else. It depends on which ingredient within the washing detergent is the issue for you/your child. It's trial and error.

My daughter has eczema and washing powder doesn't seem to be a irritant at all for her.

Firstly, it's very common for the nappy area not to be affected by eczema. Some research suggests that this is because of the urea in urine (there are eczmea creams that contain urea as an active ingredient). Washing powders can often have an effect on eczema and it's best to use a non-bio with no fragrance or colour like Surcare or Ecover and make sure you set your washing machine for an extra long rinse cycle if possible (mine has a sensitive setting which does this and I know some have an 'extra rise' or 'aqua plus' setting). It can often be a case of trial and error though with eczema as what works for one child doesn't work for another (same goes for suncream).

Thanks guys, interesting about the urea, maybe I should bathe him in pee? lol ;-)

And very interesting you should suggest an extra long rinse cycle. Our washing machine is ancient, you have to put it on to spin again even after the wash is finished cos its all still wet. So not impossible that the rinse is rubbish too. I'l take a look and see if I can do an extra rinse and spin at the end.

Other than that it sounds like trial and error.

Another quick question - is fabric softener a no no?

The advice is generally to avoid fabric softener all together but I have to admit that I use Surcare perfume free softener because I just hate the way my washing feels without it. I do really miss the smell of 'normal' fabric softener too...