If you're allergic to shower gel / bath stuff / soaps / shampoos / washing up liquid...

[FusionChefGeoff]

Have you ever narrowed it down to specific ingredients???!

Looks like DD(8) has an instant but relatively mild reaction to most bubble bath / shampoo / soaps etc

She's ok with Faith in Nature and Sanex Zero so we're good with that but it would be great to know exactly what it is that causes the issue.

She was at GPS at the weekend and they wanted to see if anything they had would be Ok for her bath and we couldn't help.

I've started a spreadsheet with ingredient lists in to compare but wondered if there were well known culprits to look out for???

DP has trouble with sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate, often called SLS. I've heard some people have trouble with things ending in -thiazolinone? And of course some people react to lanolin but that's mostly in creams.

Fragrance is a big one. What's she like with washing powder? If she's fine with that you can cross that off your list.

SLS/SDS - sodium laurel sulphate/ sodium dodecyl sulphate- is the main one and other ingredients are similar. Perfumes are also an issue.
Shower gels, hand wash and shampoo are detergents not soaps - chemically very different from soap. Have you tried pure olive oil or goat’s milk soap? You’d need to read the ingredients to check that it’s pure soap. Hard to buy in the shops but can be found online.
You can also wash using plain unscented aqueous cream in place of soap or shower gel. Not so good for armpits though, you need soap for that!

Is she allergic to any nuts? My DS has a tree nut allergy and it’s the oils in some shampoos/soaps etc that cause a reaction.

we only use Sanex Zero now.

Lanolin, hydantoin, allatoin. All wool fat derivatives & in a lot. Even baby stuff that is supposedly hypoallergenic.

SLS and fragrance for me. SLS is in SO MANY things though so I hope it isn't that - it's even in some toothpastes.

This is really helpful thank you!!

She seems fine with our washing powder and that's just Aldi bog standard stuff so wonder what that means?!

Will keep an eye for the SLS definitely

No other food allergies so think she's ok with those

@FusionChefGeoff

pm me as I work in that industry but won't share publically

Sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate is a big problem as PPs have said. Some cheap veg oil based soaps don't have it in; sea salt shampoos are often good too.

Another problem is biological washing powder.

pears soap is the only thing my child can tolerate

@Justellingthetruth thanks so much have sent you a PM

I’ve had skin patch testing done by the dermatologist and I’m allergic to Balsam of Peru and Fragrances Mix 1. If you Google these you will find a list if the ingredients and alternative names and what type of products they’re found in.

Balsam of Peru is actually found in beauty products, toiletries, cleaning products, medicinal products and foodstuffs, so it can be quite extensive.

(there is also Fragrance mix 2, which I’m not allergic to - you could look that up too)

I am also allergic to balsam of peru
But much much more allergic to MI
Methylisoliazinone (sp?) a preservative in liquid. A very very common allergen.

SLS and fragrances for me too. And it took ages to work out. I am better with cheaper shower gels. Anything that gets really foamy always brings me out in hives. Sanex Zero seems to be my go too at the moment.
I'm sad that my go to shampoo says new and improved on the bottle. It isn't improved for me. It is making me itch.
I also cannot even walk past the perfumes in the likes of Boots. One person sprayed near me and the boils I got on my neck/face were horrendous!

Glycerin

Fragrance and balsam of Peru are common allergens. There are many names for each in labeling so avoidance requires being careful.

it’s important to note that unscented does not mean fragrance free. Masking fragrances are just as allergenic as the ones you can smell.

patch testing is the gold standard, but if you can figure it out without putting a child through that week long test it would be best.

Peru Balsam should be easy to spot. Look out for Myroxylon Pereirae Balsam or Extract.

Ask GP to refer her for allergy testing. Might have to be referred to dermatology first.

I was referred to dermatology for a horrible skin condition on my face and the consultant sent me for allergy testing. They put patches of over 100 different substances on my back and checked my back after 2 and 5 days. I could not wash my back at all that week. I was gobsmacked to find out that my skin reacted badly to certain specific substances.

The condition in my face was not purely caused by the allergies, and I needed other treatments for it. But cutting out my allergens made such a huge difference to all my skin, not just my face.

We use Faith in Nature and Child’s Farm specifically because they don’t have SLS in for DC and DP skin. It’s a common irritant and relatively easy to avoid once you’re looking for it.

I find a lot of products have the same rank smell which makes me feel nauseous. I have no idea what the ingredient is but I assumed it is a common artificial fragrance. I'd love to know so I could check without buying.