severe reaction to Vanicream

[twinturbo]

Ever since my big apple->ER reaction I've been hiving after each and every shampoo and face wash. It happens with Baby Aquaphor, Dove Sensitive Skin, Suave Kids, Johnson & Johnson, California Baby Sensitive, all products I used previous. Thinking it might be temperature I've tried washing and rinsing with water only multiple times--nada. The only way to reduce the hives is to very quickly wash my hair with a 2-in-1. Like 5 seconds.

Found Vanicream shampoo and conditioner locally so I tried it. OMG was that a mistake. Where the product had run down my face it looked chemical burnt and rashed. Soon after within the swathes of red rash hives started to come up so I went straight for the Benadryl but it was bad enough that I got an all over body tingle and slight nausea. So I chilled on the couch to see if it would progress or not.

What's strange is DS2 also starting to have the hive after shampoo issue crop up about the same time as me. Same, only when the California Baby or Baby Aquaphor is applied to face and scalp.

I put this to the local allergist and Sicherer as well. Local allergist was at a loss, Sicherer thought cholinergic urticaria due to temp change or grease gland stimulation. The man should surely know but this seems much more than that because where the shampoo and conditioner ran down my face you could see the burn marks.

I'm not sure what to do anymore. The last time I showered and used Aquaphor quickly to wash up I started getting red marks (not hives) all over my body after... and that's new. I'm getting desperate to find an answer so I'm going to try a dermatologist maybe wash my face with Dove Sensitive right in front of them so they can see rather than try to figure out.

But, crazy as this is has anyone ever heard of it? It doesn't seem prudent to keep provoking my system but I have to get clean somehow. Again, temperature has no effect. I've tried lukewarm showers shampooing and still hives, super hot showers no shampoo no hives.

[CMdeux]

Well, you could try a couple of DROPS of mild dish detergent in about a quart of water, I suppose, if you have particularly oily hair.  Basically just pour, sit (1-2 min) and rinse.

I've done that in a pinch when I was backpacking/camping and didn't have shampoo.

What happens if you dry patch-test a tiny amount of it on your forearm with a cotton swab?

[twinturbo]

The rest of my body seems safe. I even used some Method hand wash (which I use regularly on hands/arms no problems) on my mouth today scrubbing off cheese residue. For a moment I thought oh crap but nothing happened. My toothpaste is regular industrial Colgate which has some of the same ingredients as a shampoo and that's fine as well. Funny that you mention the dish soap because that's next on my DIY allergen challenge list.

Is it weird to be embarrassed about reacting to shampoo? For some reason it's embarrassing.

[CMdeux]

Ummm... there are probably more embarrassing things to be allergic to.


Trust me--



<-- latex allergic, here.   

[MandCmama]

Um yeah, found out the hard way certain bathroom wipes cause severe eczema flares.
Really hope you find answers, quickly! That sounds awful! Reminds me of the time I was accidentally pepper sprayed at a night club(fight broke out next to me)  I had painful chemical burns all over my face...
Maybe try dry shampoo to give your scalp a rest for a day or 2? I love Oscar Blandi "pronto invisible".
Good luck!

[Linden]

How awful!  You poor thing.   I wonder if something that is chemically a soap rather than a detergent would work.  Ivory is a  soap, and so are glycerin soaps (but they usually have fruit ingredients added.)  I use Ivory a lot on DS(2)'s hair and find it cleans well.  On my hair I find it builds up after a while but I have heard you can eliminate that build up by using something acidic - vinegar if you can tolerate it, or something similar.

I love the dry shampoo idea, too.

[maeve]

Um yeah, found out the hard way certain bathroom wipes cause severe eczema flares.

OMG, I had the same problem.  It took me months to figure out (product I'd been using for a long time was clearly reformulated).

Might Castille soap work?  What about baby shampoo (not California Baby but Paul Mitchell--my DD has used the Paul Mitchell safely)?

I've had that chemical burn look from soaps and shampoos but it's never developed into hives.

[Linden]

Um yeah, found out the hard way certain bathroom wipes cause severe eczema flares.

I had a similar experience with DS(1) and DS(2).  Neither could tolerate baby wipes when they were newborns. Not even the "sensitive" and "hypoallergenic" wipes.  It gave them terrible eczema.  I had to use wet cotton and wet paper towels for the first few months. 

[krasota]

I can't use Vanicream shampoo.  Disodium EDTA will get me every time.  Joy.  That one's really fun to avoid.

I order AFM SafeChoice.  Can't get it locally any longer, so I order from NEEDS.  It does contain SLeS, but that doesn't bother me. 

You could also try no poo, but I find that the baking soda regime irritates my skin and causes my henna to be stripped.

I make my conditioner out of flakes from SoapCrafters.  I add coconut oil, synthetic vitamin E, and a bit of honey, though I've also made it by just dissolving the flakes in hot water and adding nothing at all.  And I do small batches since I have no actual preservatives in it. 

I've also used safe bar soap to clean my scalp.  Grandpa's Pine Tar.  Local plain old olive oil castile soap.  Either one works for me.  Have to rinse with vinegar afterward to prevent build-up, but that's fine.

[GoingNuts]

Ummm... there are probably more embarrassing things to be allergic to.


Trust me--



<-- latex allergic, here.   

Me too.    Don't ask.

[rebekahc]

Ummm... there are probably more embarrassing things to be allergic to.


Trust me--



<-- latex allergic, here.   

Me too.    Don't ask.

Yep, me three! 

[YouKnowWho]

Ummm... there are probably more embarrassing things to be allergic to.


Trust me--



<-- latex allergic, here.   

Me too.    Don't ask.

Yep, me three! 

Latex sensitive here too.  But it's worse when you have to ask your DH if he has taken aspirin, ibuprofen and or sulfa drugs because you know that is just guaranteed hives.

I react to Pantene in a similar way, it's horrible.  Tresemme causes automatic scalp peeling (not flakes, chunks), Suave is similar.  My DH adds an added stressor with his sensitive to scents nose.

Using a few products now - Aussie, L'Oreal Sulfate Free and a product from the health food store (though Walmart carries it too).  I cannot use them more than two days in a row.  Makes for a very crowded bathroom.

I cannot use soap on most of my body - washcloth only and I don't stink, I promise.  Hand soap is special ordered and probably not a good option for you - I find foaming soap cut with more water is better for me.  I am using a glycerin bar (out of Kennesaw, GA) that has minimal ingredients as well.  I cannot use soaps with extra germ killers (brain fart this morning). 

[Janelle205]

Ummm... there are probably more embarrassing things to be allergic to.


Trust me--



<-- latex allergic, here.   

Me too.    Don't ask.

Yep, me three! 

But it's worse when you have to ask your DH if he has taken aspirin, ibuprofen and or sulfa drugs because you know that is just guaranteed hives.

Not latex sensitive (yet - have had some clues that it may be coming though), but same with checking on what the significant other has had after some very uncomfortable hives and itching.  Fiancee is now apple-free, though he has had a few mis-steps since making that decision.  Luckily we found out before any reactions occurred.

[eragon]

same problem with my DD who is not food allergic, hives running in drip patterns down skin where shampoo suds ran.

we brought a non perfume and colour free shampoo and conditioner,  we washed her hair first over bath, before she stepped in to shower to wash.   

used mild steriod cream for resulting ezcema and miosturised with prescribed stuff.
took 6 months consitantly to desen her skin.  (so this is going to take some time, sorry). worth in the end as her skin copes much better now.


wouldnt have used any johnson and johnson, as whole family react like its bloody battery acid.
dove aint so friendly to our family  either.......
read the labels and the less ingredients and more simple the better. double check all latin for food /nut ingreidients in the total range of that companies hair skin products. cross contamination happens there as well.

[estee]

Because of my eczema, I use plain Dr. Bronner's castile soap as shampoo; my hair's pretty oily so I never need conditioner.  Might be worth checking out.  They have an almond variety, though, among others, so checking about shared lines would be a good idea...