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Allergies and intolerances

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Do you think you can be allergic to school trousers??

26 replies

geraldinetheluckygoat · 23/04/2010 14:57

My DS1 has excema (sp, sorry), mainly these days on his legs bottom and willy, which is usually pretty itchy but under control with double base and hydrocortizone when needed. Sometimes it flares up but its not TOO bad, compared to other kids. It seems to have flared up a little in the last couple of weeks on his legs, in that Ive noticed more patches appearing and he seems to be scratching a bit more...I put it down to pollen and the hayfever season starting. He went back to school in new trousers, its his first term in uniform, and I got non iron ones with teflon coating I think. His legs have been really rashy and itchy all week, and last night, he was so itchy between his legs and round his willy that he made himself bleed and was really beside himself ...so Im thinking its the new trousers.
I didnt wash htem before he wore them. If I put them through the wash a few times, do you think this will make any difference?

Im going to have to go out and buy a whole new set of hidesouly expensive organic hand woven ones arent I? DH suggested I "just sew a lining in them"

If anyone has any advice for me on how I can avoid replacing all his new trousers, that'd be great!

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CMOTdibbler · 23/04/2010 15:00

Try washing them a few times first - it's quite probably the stuff they coat the fabric in to make it easy to sew that has done it

geraldinetheluckygoat · 23/04/2010 21:10

I will wash them, we went to the doctors this afternoon who has prescribed an antihistamine, hes been terrible this evening, beside himself and so, so, itchy, hes beside himself. Ive given him the medicine and calpol, and hes sitting in bed playing on his leapster now (trying to keep his hands off the itchy bits). Hes usually asleep by seven, hope he drops off soon...

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BlueBumedFly · 25/04/2010 20:04

IS there a possibility there is latex in them?

LynetteScavo · 25/04/2010 20:08

Wash wash wash them in non bio.....DS1 used to get like this. It was worst in the autumn term, and seemed to clear up as the year went on...took me a few years to figure it was the trousers, and not just stress of the new school year/the weather.

But to be honest, I think trousers that aren'' coated in teflon are the best answer.

Sibble · 25/04/2010 20:21

Ditto the wash thing. I'm allergic to something in starch and react to some new clothes and not others.

Feel for him it sounds sore

thederkinsdame · 25/04/2010 21:02

Somef dark clothes can have chemicals in them that people are allergic to. My DS had a really nasty rash which turned out to be down to a new duvet we had got him. If it doesn't clear up after a few washes, I'd buy new ones or see if there are any second hand sales coming up.

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 25/04/2010 21:09

How old is your DS? I have half a dozen pairs of 100% cotton light grey school trousers if you can use them, ages 4-5. I got them from Asda, but I don't think they stock them any more.

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 25/04/2010 21:14

I've just checked, they're actually ages 5 and 6, and are from Sainsburys as well as Asda. If you, or anyone else want them, let me know. They're a bugger to iron though!

thisisyesterday · 25/04/2010 21:17

ravenous... if the OP doesn;t want them i would LOVE them!!!! have been searching for cotton trews for ds for ages.

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 27/04/2010 09:24

OP - if you'd like the trousers, let me know by the end of today, otherwise they're all yours thisisyesterday - I'll pop an email address on here tomorrow morning to sort out postal addresses.

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 28/04/2010 09:21

Hi thisisyesterday - email me at pcvcmembers at yahoo dot co uk with your address and I'll pop the trousers in the post to you..

FairyLightsForever · 28/04/2010 09:31

Yes, I bought my son some in one of the supermarkets and he came up with patches all over his legs. These particular trousers had Teflon in them.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 28/04/2010 12:23

Ah Im so sorry I didnt see all these replies!!! Thanks everyone, for all your advice, its good to know that I am not the only one thats come across this. I am amazed there arent more trousers around without all the synthetics and coatings for those with skin issues, or actually for those that run around and get hot alot - they must be so sweaty!!
Anyway, I washed once with detergent then four or five more washes without, and they do seem a a bit better, but he is still getting red around his bits as the week goes on, so I will be getting some cotton ones I think. Horrified to hear they are a bugger to iron .
Thanks for the offer of the trousers, ravenous, Im sorry I missed the boat on them, but glad theyve found a good home .
Fairy lights forever, did tyou manage to find trousers anywhere else without teflon? Im struggling to find them anywhere except online from tesco...

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piratecat · 28/04/2010 12:25

yep, dd 8, has had an overnight reaction to new pair of leggings that she got for her b/day yest, that i let her wear, without washing/

sore and burning bits.

gp confirned today.

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 28/04/2010 12:43

Sorry geraldine! They are a nightmare to iron, my DS has thankfully got less sensitive so I can rely on "normal" trousers which can be worn off the radiator if they're hung properly..

Have you tried getting DS to wear pants which are more like trunks, or boxer shorts? They might protect the more sensitive bits, and then move into long shorts when the weather gets warmer to stop the area behind his knees getting too warm.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 28/04/2010 12:58

Oh no worries, its my fault I forgot to check the thread! Good news that your ds has got less sensitive, my ds seems to have less excema as he gets older, so fingers crossed...

He has got trunks which hes started wearing, and they definitely help. I tried to persuade him into shorts, but he loves his trousers as they are like everyone elses (he's only started school last week, so hes still really proud of his uniform!).

Im goingto order the teco trousers and hope that they do the trick! wish me luck with the ironing!

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ravenousbugblatterbeast · 29/04/2010 13:20

thisisyesterday - have you emailed me yet?

thisisyesterday · 30/04/2010 09:39

oh blimey i forgot to check the thread too!

if geraldine wants the trousers please send them to her, as it was her thread in the first place!!! we've moved onto shorts for the time being anyway and found some cotton ones in mothercare that are ok

thisisyesterday · 30/04/2010 09:43

tesco ones look good, and cheap too! was going to buy some in the next size up for ds1 but they only have them in black and he has to wera grey. still, will keep checking

ravenousbugblatterbeast · 30/04/2010 15:45

Blimey, I can't even give these away!
Geraldine..?!

geraldinetheluckygoat · 30/04/2010 23:52

Ravenous I would love them please, and will email you - thisisyesterday, thanks, Im glad youve found some and hope the shorts work well, I was thinking to get some of those too for the summer. I thought I saw grey ones on tesco website too, are they out of stock?

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ravenousbugblatterbeast · 01/05/2010 15:34

Right, I've ironed them (again!)so drop me an email Geraldine and I'll get them in the post on Tues.

I have to admit I was tempted by your mention of Tesco ones, but I could only see black trousers on there, and DS wears grey. The ones I have are all (pale) grey - is that ok?

geraldinetheluckygoat · 01/05/2010 16:08

yeah thats fine, he can wear black or grey...thanks so much, I have emailed....no need to iron them before posting, ravenous, but THANK YOU!

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ravenousbugblatterbeast · 02/05/2010 14:29

I haven't got an email yet, and nothing in junk - it's pcvcmembers at yahoo.co.uk? (as in Pine Cliffs Vacation Club, not some alternative club for PVC products, honestly!)

geraldinetheluckygoat · 02/05/2010 15:29

ok, I will try again.....lol I did think it was pvc windows...

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