DH gets bumps that look like big mosquito bites if he uses products with lanolin or lanolin derivatives. Once you ID source for allergy, read up on the other hard to pronounce ingredients in the product. Some companies try to work around using an allergenic by using something that is a byproduct and possibly equally irritating

I purchase all my bath soaps from a non commercial source. I have reactions to many regular bar soaps and shower gels. These soaps are wonderful, and she will custom make a soap to your liking as well.

LINK

All commercial liquid soaps have preservatives -- even formaldehyde! It could be a reaction to those, or the soap itself, or some interaction between ingredients in the two products you combined. Your dispenser could also have grown some mold over time.

My DH developed allergies to products he had used all his life -- probably because he had aged, weakening his immune system, alnd because manufacturers are always changing their suppliers, product formulation, manufacturing process, and containers. He now uses a glycerin bar soap and T-Sal shampoo.

Don't out rule an eye infection. Pink eye likes kids.Its often enviornmental and a antibotic for the eye clears it up. If he wakes up tomorrow with any redness I'd get it checked.

Allergies can occur at any time from grooming supplies even those you've been using with no problem can suddenly cause problems. If an eye infection is out ruled my next step would be to try sulfate free products.

The formula and fragrances in detergents and fabric softeners often change, with no mention of it on the packaging. So....it could still be something to consider.

I had a reaction to Ivory shampoo--covered in hives. Happened again another time from Gain detergent.

We had lots of problems with soaps and shampoos when we were kids. Some cosmetics too when we were teens. These days I am less sensitive. I remember that mom in desperation bought olive oil based castile soap for baths and shredded some of the soap, cooked it with more water to mix it up and used that for shampoos (with warm water/vinegar rinses sometimes).

I had an allergic reaction to something along with a flare of seborrheic dermatitis - dr. took me off all shampoos, lotions, etc. At one point I was only able to use vaseline and a shampoo called free and clear which has all the "nasty's removed. I'm fine now but still have to be very careful of what I put on my skin and what shampoo I use. I currently am using an organic from Trader Joe's. A word of warning about that shampoos - if you buy it from Trader Joe's - it's about $5 a bottle, if you buy it from Amazon - it's at least twice that much plus shipping.

Yes I am extremely allergic to tea tree oil which is in many shampoos and other products. Some soaps lotions, and a lot of people are allergic to it.

I am allergic to tea tree oil too. I have psoriasis and someone told me to try that on there. What a mistake that was. That's when I found out I was allergic.

Yes. To ivory soap. The bar kind. My eye swelled shut. Had to take steroids. Yuk!

Another ivory soap allergy here -- hives when I was 16. I have very few allergies, no food allergies, possibly penicillin (reaction as a teen, but never confirmed -- my reaction could have been caused by a high fever instead, but because it was an anaphylactic reaction Dr. said to err on the side of caution) and a few pollen sniffles and sneezes type reaction nothing too bad.

Absolutely!! Hence the allergen "free" products on the market. Daughter used to have horrid sore red patches between her fingers. We tracked it back to hand soap in bathrooms--poor rinsing...My doc told me to switch to "All Free" for laundry. Liquid is better than granular. My dad's Doc told him soap every day was unnecessary when showering, he cut back and skin itching etc. evaporated. We were an ivory family. As an adult I just naturally kept the only soap I knew. At the age of 21 my face started reacting with tiny red bumps...that was the end of THAT soap. Even now glycerin soaps or french milled are about all I don't react to.

I was shocked it was Ivory soap--who knew? I thought it was supposed to be pure.

I'm allergic to Gain detergent, I had huge welts around my waist and my lips swelled. Then I had an allergic reaction to White Rain Shampoo a few years back, I used it one time and my entire back side of my body was covered in the itchiest rash imaginable! It would not go away either. It took weeks before it finally went away. After that, I was super sensitive to everything for probably a year. Another time, I added water to some shampoo which was almost to the bottom of the bottle, I did that so I could get all of the product from the bottle. I had it sitting in the shower for a while and then all of a sudden my scalp started to burn right after I washed my hair. I realized that the shampoo must have become contaminated with bacteria from adding tap water. Be sure and always use only distilled water to dilute any product or bacteria can develop.

It could also be dry eye caused from heating systems or the car heater fan, I get it every winter.

Yes, I believe shampoos with floral additives make me very itchy.

Cheesy, which organic shampoo do you get at TJ's? I don't think our store has any but I'd sure be interested.

For years I had a small rash under my arms. It turns out my underarms are allergic to ivory bar soap. Now I only use rubbing alcohol on my arm pits. No rash. I still use Mennen speed stick - regular (not anti-perspirant. not the one containing titanium dioxide) but I only put it slightly above and below my pits not directly in them.

Not any allergies, but I don’t use any products with sodium laurel sulfates because they really irritate and cause dryness in my skin.

Also a few years back, I noticed the inside of my mouth, especially my cheeks, seemed to be sluffing off skin inside. It seemed to happen especially right after I brushed my teeth, which is often. Sounds weird I know, but I don’t know how else to describe it. So I changed up toothpaste to one that doesn’t have all the whitening and other additives and junk in it. The issue cleared up immediately. So I don’t use anything except plain fluoride toothpaste or baking soda and bonus is it’s cheaper.

Here's another Ivory soap reaction....but its DH. He will sneeze for 15 minutes non stop if he showers with Ivory. Or used to, it's been many many years since I've bought any. We've each had a nephew (not related to each other) react to soaps and shampoos when young - but a sensitivity they've outgrown. Don't rule out your laundry detergent, you could have had a load that had some left in it, not rinsed out as well as your laundry usually is....or am I the only one who can overdose clothes or sheets occasionally. When in doubt at all, I set an extra rinse.

Oh wow...this thread is almost 2 years old. Son was finally diagnosed with eczema...that is what the redness on his eyes was. He was diagnosed when we had gone to the dermatologist for his acne...He happen to have a little bit of the eye flare up when we went so we had that checked too. What a battle, acne and eczema at the same time. We use All free and clear now and I find him sulfate free/sodium laurel sulfate shampoo etc.

LOL I didn't even notice how old. I hope his eczema and skin are behaving for him these days.

Many of the products mentioned as causing reactions have fragrance in them. Approximately 20% of the population is allergic to that. It's even scarcer if you read the toxic chemicals that compose today's fragrances.

If more of us buy completely fragrance free products, companies will see the need for more of those options. Clean doesn't need perfumes to cover it up.

wow! I'm not alone. My mom always used tide and Ivory, and I can't use either one.

I have since this thread was new, had an extreme allergic reaction to Cheer Free and Gentle...just the same as I had when I had the reaction to Gain many years ago. I wish I knew what the ingredient actually was. I have been unable to use even my old detergents after this reaction because I have been so sensitive after the attack I had! I have finally been able to use Tide Free and Gentle without trouble. For a while, I was having to wash my clothing in plain warm water...UGH!

Something many don't realize is that chemicals are used to eliminate scents. So scent free isn't the answer for everyone.

There is a difference between the terms "unscented" and "fragrance free". Unscented usually has a masking fragrance added to the product so yes, they are using chemicals in an attempt to eliminate scents. Fragrance free should be total void of fragrance but always check that ingredients list.

I've had good luck using Woolite Dark for colors and Arm & Hammer 2-in-1 Power Paks for whites. I often select 'Extra Rinse' on my washer. I use about half the recommended Woolite for clothes that have no dirt just body odor.

My brother was allergic to Cheer detergent. My DD also developed a bit of contact dermatitis from a new detergent -- right now I can't remember which, because I've just stuck with All for the most part since.

I had an eczema like rash for a few years, with the episodes separated by years, around my eyes, nostrils, and corners of my mouth. The upper layer of skin would peel off in sheets leaving moist red skin exposed. We finally figured out that it was a reaction to second hand cigarette smoke! The first episode happened when an older brother who had started smoking moved home temporarily; the second started when I started dating a smoker (and continued all the time we were together). The dermatologist never suspected this.

Wow. I would've never guessed smoke would cause a skin rash.

Talk2gene, It is an allergic response. I do wonder how many people have eczema that is really tobacco allergy. It caused migraines for me also. I eventually couldn't go anywhere that people were smoking -- even had to stop going to baseball games! I am so grateful that we have laws restricting smoking in public places now.

arkansas girl, Cheer, Gain, and Tide are all made by Proctor & Gamble and I think, but am not sure, that they all have some of the same ingredients in varying degrees.

raee_gw, I would suspect the toothpaste you were using before I would suspect smoke. But then, I'm not an expert.

Years ago I noticed some hair gels /hair spray make my scalp itch. Later I noticed many bar soaps also make me itch. I also reacted to the navy blue in denim and broad cloth. Eventually it seemed to be a general thing and the clothes detergent was accused. (TIDE) ALL FREE was the detergent recommended and that did the trick until this past winter when I purchased dryer sheets. I always buy the cheapest thing at the store I am in. It took me awhile but it finally hit me that THAT was the latest change to my routine. Now I rinse in vinegar and catching that last rinse is a PITB but it's better than the rash I get!!! So just chiming in to ask if all those with issues have also looked into the "softener" they are using.

I'm so highly allergic to soap and shampoo I have to wash my hair leaning over a sink so it doesn't touch my face.

My washer uses a sufficient amount of water to remove all the detergent, double rinse, small amount of detergent. I read in the WSJ that most people use way too much detergent. So I don't need any softeners, my clothes come out of the dry nice and soft.

Pat, it definitely was cigarette smoke. I've used all brands of toothpaste since without problem (plus I don't get toothpaste in my eyes.) I avoid cig smoke now as much as I can (because of the migraine trigger) -- but if I am exposed for a day or two, for example when I had to make visits 3 times a day to a smoker's home for work, the peeling skin will return.

Yes, My DD had allergic reaction with shampoo that has botanical ingredients in it. Swollen eyelids ,red and flaky patches around the eyes(both) plus itchiness. Same situation around her lips. She kept scratching her eyes and lips because the were itchy. Took me a while to find out what was really happening to her. Tried her shampoo and found out that it was the culprit because I also had itchiness in my eyes and in my lips. Stopped using the shampoo and her skin is totally cleared up from redness, flakes and itch. Wont be using the shampoo anymore.

I have just developed a reaction to sunscreen. No rash but itching. Now I will have to narrow down the ingredient that may be causing this reaction. I can't do without some sunscreen, I live where the sun shines most of the time.

For years my hands would get raw and cracked and eventually I started getting little blisters all over my finger and in the webs between them. No amount of salves, lotions and potions, prescription and otherwise, did much at all to help. Through trial and error I found that switching back to bar soap for hand washing ended the torture. If I use liquids for any length of time the irritation comes back.

When I travel, I bring my own bar of soap for showers and hand washing in the room. All the provided soaps are quite harsh and would make my skin sore and dry.

My mother was highly allergic to many different soaps which would cause her hands to red, scaly and inflamed. And to many toothpastes, where she determined that it was the fluoride that was a problem for her. She had to keep changing toothpastes every time the one she had been buying announced "New! Improved! Now with Flouride!!" When the city announced that they were going to add fluoride to the tap water she fought it and spoke at one of the public comment meetings, but it was clear they were only holding the public comment meeting because they were required to do so, and they had already made their decision. At that meeting she told the city council that if they added fluoride to the water and she got cancer and died, she would sue them for every penny they had.

They did, she did, and, of course, she didn't.