Why is my child so "itchy"

[Whatwouldscullydo]

I'm trying to work out why the heel she's started complaining over the last couple of weeks of being "itchy"

We already use products that are anti allergy there's literally nothing to react to

She is mainly moaning about the tights...her sisters old pure cotton non reactive, washed in ecover tights that she's worn under her trousers ( classrooms cold so she needs to layer up) for ages now.

No new products, nothing.

Negative covid test recently too and it pre dates the test.

Scabies?

Would that start with clothing?

No one else is itchy any more than usual ( sensitive skin /eczema present between the three of us) dd2 always the "surprise " given she was the one with seemingly no issues while her sister had many an eczema flare up

What would scabies look like amd how would she have caught it ? She's been at school but obviously been distancing and between base layers, tights, hoodies etc there's very little exposed skin

You can still be allergic to anti allergy products.

You might not have changed any products, but there is always the dreaded new, improved formula issue.

You can become allergic to things over time, so not necessarily anything new.

Could it be bites?
Something she is eating?

Or it could be a symptom of something else.

Have you tried antihistamines?

Yeah she's been taking them.

The only thing I have noticed is the softener is slightly more smelly than usual ( its ecover which I have used fir years due to skin sensitivity ) but I don't use much and so a bottle lasts ages and I'm pretty sure this bottle pre dates the onset )

God my children are annoying with this stuff

Not to dismiss her discomfort, but I'm still to meet a child who loves tights.

We have this here, 3 girls and all itchy in the morning and lots of stopping on way to school to itch and fiddle with tights and shoes. Tedious!

I also thought softener, but tights are new!-‘s as yet unwashed

Sensory thing?

Could it be dry skin? Or stress related? A bit of moisturiser might help if so. I have found the weather a bit dry recently (if you are in/around London)

Yes no one likes tights do they...

But as they were her sisters and specifically bought from an.eczema clothing place and her sister was OK with them ( as far as tights go. Dd1 didn't rip her legs to shreds wearing them ) they should be OK..

I'm used to skin issues so literally everything I by is skin friendly..

Trust dd2 🤣

Bizarre question but could it be leg hair pulling? I get itchy legs when I haven't shaved and wear tights as the hairs get stuck in the thinner fabric. Just wondering if she is preteen maybe her leg hair is growing/becoming less downy due to the very early stages of puberty so she is noticing a difference? Maybe she could try leggings under her school trousers instead, see if that makes a difference? I find those more comfortable with unshaven legs as the fabric is thicker so fewer holes for hairs to catch on. If she's really itchy all over then this probably isn't it but I just wondered when you mentioned it's mainly the tights.

I can't use ANY fabric softener, as I react to it. I used to use one sensitive skin one, but after a couple of years I started to react to that too. So maybe ditch the fabric softener and just use vinegar instead.

I had an itchy phase as an adolescent and then again in meno. Urticaria. I think dairy is one of my triggers. Does she have any stuffiness or congestion? Or any rashes?

Is she itchy when she first puts them on, or only after a day at school? Wondering if she actually heats up during the day, and is sweating a bit with the tights/trousers combination and this is causing an itch?

I scratch my legs to shreds sometimes, and it's a combination of needing to shave my legs so the hairs don't get pulled, and also from them getting too hot in the winter when I sit under blankets or too close to the fire. Shaving them, putting in some moisturiser or body oil and being aware of how many layers I'm wearing in the evening helps.

I'd agree with "some product" as my first guess.

With all those layers, my second guess would be that her skin may be drying out and/or something is rubbing. Does she routinely use moisturiser (everywhere)?

jenny

You could well have it. I will try leggings tomorrow and try that. There's no rush or anything. I just remembered that I pulled her tights off the airer this morning. The dark load that is on it wasn't washed with softener but vinegar as it had my modibodis in the load.

No stuffiness or anything. She's the same as usual

She does when we remember user

I'll put some more on tonight. The shower gel is part of a 5 bottle we have used for months now..

Maybe the tights are feeling annoying because she’s grown and they’re a bit tighter.
Can you try leggings under the trousers instead? They’re much more comfortable anyway?

5 litre

Oh I see you’re going to!

Should be interesting. She has "skinny" school trousers so will have to hope they still go over the leggings.

God this child is a pain in the arse lol

You’ve mentioned the ecover seems to smell stronger lately, have you tried using less?
It may also be worth running your machine empty with a cleaning sachet in case there’s any product build up. We’re an eczema family and it’s surprising how often we need to do this!
And have you dried outside recently? Pollen is starting to creep up, we can’t dry outside from next month as too much will land on clothes.

I did a maintenance wash at the weekend to see if that would help.

I will switch to the eco leaf refil I bought which she was OK with last time. I barely use any anyway as I hate really strong smelling washing. Yes we have been drying outside..but she's not the chikd with hay fever 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

I'd say it's the softener. I've yet to find one I don't react to (that includes Ecover and I'm nearly 50, so have tried plenty). Softener really isn't necessary.