WHAT is DS reacting to?

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Both of my children take after me and have sensitive skin but it doesn't cause too much trouble as we stick to the same stuff. We know not to change a thing as they immediately react.

Since Sunday, DS has been itchy all over. From his neck down to his feet. If I give him an anti-histamine and cover him in E45, he's fine for a few hours but as the anti-histamine wears off, he starts squirming and scratching again.

I cannot think of a thing which has changed. I've been googling to see if the washing powder has changed ingredients as we have a new box but it's the same brand I've used for 20yrs.

Only thing I can think is that it might be viral. He does get viral rashes and as a small child, had hives whenever he had a cold. He's had a cough/cold recently so maybe that's it.

I'm currently washing all of his bedding and soft toys though I don't really know why.

Is there something I might have missed?

I expect it's viral, OP. I get that too. If it's really bad, he might need steroids from the GP. I have on several occasions.

I can't even imagine it's environmental because nothing has changed apart from a new box of soap powder but it's the same brand. And he was king of the viral rash as a toddler.

The anti-histamine works really quickly and it's actually much better than it was earlier in the week so I'll give it until tomorrow and perhaps make an appointment for a phone call with the GP.

Between the eczema, me getting urticaria when it's cold, his sister being allergic to every shampoo/perfumed product known to man and his weird viral rashes, at times it feels like a Victorian itch ward in our house.

Have you considered it may be good? Constant low level dairy can often be a problem

Sorry, food!

Does he have hay fever? DS had hay fever and many allergies and at this time of year when pollen is high it 'spills over' into his skin.

If there anti histamine is helping I'd just continue with it for now, whilst trying other tricks to reduce it (no hanging washing outside, wearing sunglasses, avoiding trees/grass etc)

I've developed hives and itchy rashes recently which I'm putting down to either hay-fever or a long covid histamine issue.

It could be the cream.

I couldn't use e45 or any of the usually suggested lotions or potions fir eczema on my dd1.

It could be related to covid or something viral. My daughter has had a itchy rash on and off which I think it’s post covid.

He had Covid in 2020 and not since so not that.

Never had hayfever or any food allergies. He's only ever experienced allergies to products and clear viral rashes. He's definitely not allergic to e45 (though I am).

I've been to the pharmacy this morning who have given us a different cream to try. They said it's clearly a reaction/eczema type rash, probably viral if we can't pinpoint the cause and to give it another couple of days, keep up the Piriton and see the GP next week if it doesn't resolve.

It might be the same ingredients listed but differing quantities.

Tbh I would stop washing immediately and get a different batch of the wash powder. That batch could be slightly contaminated with a different wash powder formulation.