Shampoo for the very allergic?

[CantSee4Looking]

I have recently developed a pretty nasty reaction to my normal shampoo (yep they improved it and changed the recipe )
Can anyone suggest a shampoo that will be suitable for some who is even allergic to E45? Main culprit is normally lanolin, but the shampoo was something else.

Also any advice to help my poor scalp that is currently incredibly red and feels like it is burning?

sleep, yes it's the prescription one. Low dose hydrocortisone (steroid) creams are less of a risk (the 1 or 2% ones) but should still be used in the short term to control flare ups and avoided on areas where skin is thinner (face and on young or elderly pts).

Sorry who re the 'nasty'emollient comment. It obviously works for lots of people, it sells in huge volumes!

Ah, just seen the link from who re skin thinning. I hadn't seen that. Interesting.

Yeah, they tried him on very mild ones (. something of a percent) at first, but it made no difference so they got stronger. I hate using them, really, as he is so small still, but they are very effective with him. Should be grateful for that as I know not everyone responds.

It is interesting, I've used steroid creams on and off for 30+ years and been told the skin thinning thing consistently.

I think E45 has lanolin in, which is a common allergen too, I use it pure in the form of Lansinoh to dab on eczema skin cracks and it's a little miracle worker for me with those.

We've started using using Herbal Essences Naked shampoo for ds.

He's allergic to most shampoos and body washes, but this one has been great he doesn't come out in red itchy hives after he's been in the shower and for the first time in years he's eczema free.

It doesn't contain silicone, parabens or colourants. I don't think it contains lanolin but it maybe under a name that I don't recognise.

E45 made his eczema worse, so maybe there's something in that that there isn't in the Naked shampoos.

Have you tried Calendula Shampoo & Body wash from Weleda. ? Or any other plant-orientated products formulated for babies as they tend to have fewer ingredients.

Ingredients for the Calendula shampoo: Water (Aqua), Coco-Glucoside, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Alcohol, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Limonene, Linalool. from natural essential oils

I use their calendula baby soap too as my skin is very sensitive.

the weleda products often have problematic ingredients.
they work for many people and are organic etc, but calendula (and other plant extracts), lanolin, limonene can trigger reactions.
worth a try though imo.

haven't read the whole thread but have seen one other poster recommending MooGoo - I'd like to second that its fantastic and the only thing that help constant sores on my scalp to heal. I think it would be good for anyone who finds excema in other areas set off by shampoo...

I've only skim read but I'd suggest avoiding anything with Argan oil, which seems to be everywhere these days - it's the main ingredient in Moroccan Oil. I had a bad reaction to it recently (face out in red itchy blisters, burning scalp) although, interestingly, it took about 5 washes before the symptoms appeared.

I think it is because I am sensitive to tree nuts, and Argan Oil comes from Argan Nuts, I've learned. Almonds and hazelnuts (as well as peaches, apples, plums and cherries) give me an itchy mouth due to Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is connected to hayfever. I am also prone to eyelid eczema and am allergic to lanolin - any wool jumper brings me out in hives if I get within 3 feet of it!

That said, I'm not over-senstive to shampoos and find that most Dove branded stuff is fine for me. Off to research MITs now.

I'm also allergic to E45.

I use Faith in Nature. I find most shampoos are far too harsh and give me itchy flaky skin. Biggreensmile stock a large range of products online, eco friendly products tend to be a bit kinder to the skin.

Lanolin is an animal based product.

Linalool is a naturally occurring terpene alcohol chemical found in many flowers and spice plants with many commercial applications. source:Wiki

Tarzan, I agree. Even organic plant extracts can cause reactions.

I have mild reactions to the leaves on radishes and aubergines.

Another thought is that some prescription drugs can have serious side effects. I had a nasty skin reaction (urticaria) to a cocktail of drugs prescribed to lower my blood pressure. When my skin first erupted I thought is was caused by using exfoliation mitts in the shower with a new shower gel. Then my legs and feet swelled up to wellie boot size and I was really poorly for a fortnight. BP dropped to 90/60. It was definitely the drugs and once I stopped taking them, the rash went and I was OK.

Yep, JamNan , agreed - all my allergies are to natural stuff! Chemicals are no problem at all .

so, I usually buy everything from Asda

I rarely go to the high street. So where do I get some of these??

This is a really useful thread. My scalp has become increasingly sensitive over the years (I've always had sensitive skin and eczema on the rest of my body) and it's now driving me nuts! I'm really struggling to find shampoos that don't make my head itch, even the urtekram one set it off. I'm using Avalon organics at the mo, which is ok but I'm still getting itchy dry patches. The itch isn't driving me to the edge of reason though, so it's better than most. I used to use Jason organic before I had scalp trouble, I might try that again as I remember it being fairly gentle. Simple, herbal essences, lush all make my head sore and itchy. I'm starting to run out of options!

The worst thing is that I've passed my sensitive scalp/skin onto my poor dds. So no bubble baths, we don't use any soap or shower gel apart from washing hands, and hair gets washed once a week with whatever I'm using.
Poor girls, I know a lifetime of constant moisturing awaits them

Bolshy -this might be trying to teach your granny to suck eggs but have you tried washing less? I know there is mixed advice for eczema but DD1 had terrible skin, no soap, oilatum baths and smothered in aveeno/diprobase every day ...(and I tried no creams, no oilatum etc, etc ) then I read something and stopped daily baths - cut them down to 2 per week and it was like a miracle cure.
(I know there is also some advice is for daily lukewarm baths... I think it is a case of what works for you)

Hi folks! This seems to have been a really useful thread for lots of you so we're going to move it over to Style and Beauty so it won't vanish at some point.

Thanks HQ.

Thanks to a few tests of various products lurking about the house it turns out that unlucky83 was bang on with her suggestion of Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) being the possible culprit.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions

Sorry if anyone has suggested this and I've missed it, but perhaps Lavera Basis shampoo? You can get it from Holland & Barrett but also online from Feel Unique/Naturisimo etc. see the whole range here

If lanolin is a problem then a vegan certification is something to look for.

I sympathise with those frustrated by natural extracts/essential oils - I'm allergic to sls so tried the argan shampoo from the Dr Organic range, but it's so loaded with essential oils that it really irritated me.

Glad to have helped ...but sorry it is that .
You will now to go shopping with a magnifying glass to read the labels and it is in cleaning stuff as well .

Eucerin shampoo is really soothing for itchy dry scalps.I react to many things and I use this to calm my scalp .Nizoral is also brilliant but I don't think it's meant to be used regularly ( though my Mum swears by it).

Herbal essences 0% range is good, I have found.

I checked the Herbal essences 0% range and it has Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in it.