anybody's child with eczema have a bad time with washing powder?

[vanessasmum]

I never normally use it, i have eco balls, but the grey was getting me down! I thought if I washed the whites in non- bio, and then a second time with no powder, any residue would be washed out.... oh no how wrong i was! she came up in red welts all over her body except her face... think it's optical brighteners... any body got any ideas of powder that doesn't have O.B.s? or experience of this kind of reaction?

Ecover non-bio washing powder doesn't have Optical Brighteners....I think you can get it at most big supermarkets...Also, I take it you don't use fabric softeners as they can be even worse than biological washing powders for provoking eczema...
HTH

uncle fester, thanks for your reply.. (love your name!)yes, that is helpful... i have been looking at coop own brand ecological powder, and surcare, they both have OB's.
No, I don't use fabric conditioners at all. Apparently the optical brighteners stiffen fabrics, making fabric conditioners necessary!!

does anybody know if you can get washing products on prescription?

I don't know what Filetti washing powder has in, but we find it good for sensitive skin.

Dd seemed to cope with persil non bio liquid tabs.
Fairy non bio were ok too.
Powder of every brand was shit. Liquid was better

Never use fabric conditioner. Bloody awful for eczema and a waste of money.

Avoiding any artificial fabrics helped. Cotton sheets not poly cotton. And nothing in her bath. And not too many baths.

I have real problems with washing powders. I now use Eco non-bio or surcare. They're they're the only ones that don't make me itch. I use half doses too.
At work they use normal bog standard washing powder, I only have to fold one load of washing and my hands blister and itch for a week.

Have you tried soap nuts? They're natural nuts which produce a soapy substance you put 5-10 in a cotton bag with the washing. I used them for a long time, but DH is a very messy cook and the soap nuts didn't manage to get all the grease stains out.

I find all the powders (including eco ones and surcare) make my and dd's eczema flare up. Persil non bio liquid seems to be the only one that doesn't cause a reaction, I've tried other liquids and they all seem bad as well. God knows why it is ok, because I'm sure it is as full of crap as all the rest! Maybe our skin has got used to it.

Thanks for your replies everybody.

That is so interesting that liquid is less irritant than powder... I had no idea. i just think its useful to be able to wash everything really clean once in a while without contaminating the machine, and needing to wash again several times to get rid of residue. I will not, however, be trying anything new for a while as I have only just got her skin back to "normal" level of eczema! anybody know where to buy cheap eco balls? (NOT aldi as they are full of OB's)

Persil non bio small and mighty seemed to work for us. Costs an arm and a leg but seems to keep irritation in DS2 and DH to a minimum. Everything else give a proper flare up.

through trial and error, we have found that fairy non-bio does not generally cause a flare up. Ecover is also good (but a bit expensive) and there is another one called surecare (or similar) that is great, but not easy to find. Also, do not use the time saver cycles, which skimp on rinsing and do not overfill the washing machine (again makes rinsing less effective). If you need to soften clothes, a little (white!) vinegar does the trick.

another vote for persil liquid Non-bio.

my DS get really bad eczema, and it gets worse with Ariel etc., but the persil liquid non-bio seems to be fine (I use half the recommended dose though, as they always tell you you need more than you actually do)

My ds doesn't get eczema but most washing powder seems to bring him up in huge red welts (found this out when he was still in nappies), but he is OK with Fairy non bio.

We always use Surcare, DS has skin condition, but my DMum has eczema/sensitive skin and flares up if she doesn't use fabric softener, because of the resulting fabric roughness

We use Boots own sensitive skin washing powder. Tried persil and fairy non bio and we all were itchy! Unfortunately think it seems to be a very individual thing - what is ok for 1 person with eczema isn't necessarily ok for another person.

Prefer to use powder cos only ever using liquids clogs something in the washing machine (I think the repair man said ?)

We found that Costco own brand washing powder in a huge tub was very good and didn't cause any problems.

I knew someone that had asthma as an adult due to a change in washing powder. When she changed the powder the asthma disappeared.

Surcare, Marks and spencers sensitive or Boots sensitive all work for us.

Surcare has had really good reports but make sure that the powder whatever you use is non-bio with eczema. You don't need to use fabric softner all the time.

ditto liquid rather than powder, minimal quantities, low temperature and double rinse, although have just switched to simply sensitive powder balls (just one in each wash) and these seems ok (although they won't get out stains which should be treated in isolation. I never use fabric conditioner on his clothes.

Those who use Boots sensitive, do you have to order it online? Our local Boots says they don't stock it in-store anymore? And what about M&S? Is it available in store?

waitrose sensitive is the same as surcare

Don't know if Boots still stock it in store. Marks and spencer sensitive is BOGOF atm. I am convinced Boots, M & S and Surcare are all the same stuff!

Have a look at www.skinsalveation.com/prod_laundrypowder.asp we have been using it for about 6 years.I alternate between normal Bold and the Skin salveation powder.This way it washes out the irritants that the Bold leaves.Clothes look fine,and if they were grey!!!,god forbid my two teenage sons would let me know!!
When we first started using Skin Salveation,mostly my husband who had chronic eczema,we used the whole program-but now he has it under control,in fact cured he just uses soap and cream and my occaisional use of laundry powder is just an additional precaution..Worth a try and also have a look on their site there's a free download report which is very helpful on all eczema and psoriasis matters,
good luck

I found powders were all bad for my dds eczma. I use Persil/Fairy non-bio liquid tabs.

Bumping this

My daughters dermatologist recommended any non-bio and an extra rinse.

I aways go with liquid. Ecover gave us all bad reactions unfortunately.