Reaction to Fabric Softener or gluten?

[ferdieone]

My wife recently came up in inflamed spots on her arms, back and buttock which are both itchy and painful. I had one on my foot. We initially thought it might be bed bugs, but ruled this out when we could not see any giveaway signs of their presence. My wife consulted a pharmacist, who asked if any recent changes, which she confirmed, having bought M & S fabric softener (rather than usual brand) and also moved to white rather than brown bread for a change. Pharmacist suggested either might be the cause, but was confident it was not bed bugs.
Anyone else any similar experience??

I'd agree it could be either of those things. Personally my skin reacts more on thighs and upper arm to clothes not washed right.
I'd lean more towards this if she's never had any issue with bread before, but that doesn't necessarily rule it out.

My advice is cut both and if it clears up, try the fabric softener on one garment in a small area as a test, as at least this is just external.
If she does have issue with gluten or wheat then it could hang around in her body for a few days.

For me it's always the babies softener. I'd rewatch the clothes, without the fabric softener and see how you go on.

It wouldn't make any sense for it to be gluten - there is gluten in brown bread as well as white bread (and in pasta, biscuits, cake and all sorts of other things). Pretty likely to be the fabric conditioner.

Cut out the fabric softener first. Try a non-perfumed one such as Surcare.

It takes quite a long time to get fabric softener scent out of clothes so it may take a few weeks.

Skin allergic reactions usually take 3-5 days after exposure to surface and a while to go down after a flare so bear those timescales in mind when testing.

Thanks Scramble.

Thank you PritiPatelsMaker

I am yet to find a softener I don't react to. I'd eliminate that first

Thanks WishingMyLifeAway, good advice. We have gone back to Tesco own brand softener which has not caused problems before. (Fingers crossed)

Thanks ItsRainingPens. That sounds pretty drastic. You could try white vinegar?