Allergic Reaction - Houston,TX

Shaklee makes "green" cleaners (they have for 50 years) and since I've been using them, my husband and kids haven't had any rashes. they're good for the enviroment and are people friendly. I use their "free" laundry detergent because my husband and I are both sensitive to fragrences. They're great.

We can develop allergies to things after having been around them for years. I have food allergies. Over the years I have become allergic to different foods. I get hives, a sore throat, and itchy ears when I eat a food I've never had a reaction to. Whoops! Another food allergy.

I've had a rash and an itchy skin when I'm still using the same detergent that I've used for years. I change the detergent and the rash and itchiness goes away.

I suggest changing one thing at a time until the hives go away. Keep the change for at least a week.

My daughter would get hives on and off for about 3 years when she was about 3 or 4. It drove me nuts because we never could get a result to find out what was causing it. She still eats the same foods and I use the same soaps that I did then and she doesn;t break out anymore. She usually broke out when itwas cold now that I think about it.

hi there
I would suggest NOT keeping her in a tub of warm water for too long because the warmth and the CHLORINE in the water can further irritate, let alone ignite hives as well as other rashes.... Additionally, perhaps try adding more water into her diet so that she can properly flush out her system.... Your child may not just have hives perse, but also a bout of yeast..... and the best thing to help clear up yeast is to cleanse the system by drinking lots of water...
Keep in mind too that sugar/corn syrups or other sweetners in things such as yogurt will cause yeast to grow... many times people think they are doing themselves good by eating lots of yogurt but for some, the sweet whether natural or added can make yeast worst..... having had both hives and yeast...... I can tell you that when either is happening , once I begin drinking lots of water, it does help ... .but you also need to maintain this.. many people tend NOT to give their child enough pure water.. try this for a day or two and see if she begins to feel better.. also, I wouldn't use soap on her privates, this too can irritate a rash..
best of luck

My sister gets hives when the wind blows. She gets them from just about anything touching or rubbing her skin and she has been trying to figure it out for years. You may not get an easy answer (though I hope you do!). The good news is that they are not serious but rather just itchy and annoying.

Make sure you are using a detergent for sensitive skin on her laundry. And use very little!
My sons' arms and bellies "break out" if I use too much detergent.
The dermatologist told me to use LESS than listed on the container.
(Remember the detergent mfr's want you to keep buying MORE!)

Also, don't use fabric softener for a while. Using about a 1/3 c. white vinegar in the rinse cycle is more natural and works!

If she has any toys that she sleeps with it could be in or on them if possible wash if not keep away from her for awhile and see if that is the problem. Of course pets are also on that list. any make-up etc. that you use could be a possibility.

Updated

not only fools and laundry, but pets, things that you use or wear, toys that she plays with or sleeps with. Plants in the house even the carpet on the floor.

T., the good news is that the hives are not serious. When our son had an allergic reaction to something, we think asparagus, his hives started within 30 minutes. They moved around, then disappeared after about 24 hours. But they kept coming back. I spoke to my allergist and we talked to a dermatologist friend of ours and they both assured us that hives can take 30 days to go away completely. Even from the first reaction, with no other contact. He is very fair skinned and he had them for at least 3 weeks, off and on. But he never seemed to itch with them, so we just gave him a little Benedryl and let it go. Good luck!

Children can become allergic suddenly to something that they have not been before, or may suddenly start showing symptoms of an allergic reaction when before not. My son is allergic to eggs, and am just now at age 10 finding out that he is lactose intolerant. What our allergist recommended was to literally write down everything they are eating and document when exactly they are breaking out for at least a week or two. Plants or dust could also be a trigger, as well as mold in the air (mold is usually high when humid or wet weather is present) and pet dander. Wheat can also be something that is known to be a cause (I guess many things, but these are the ones I know of being more common). Best of Luck

We have to use laundry detergent and fabric softner that is free of perfumes and dyes or my daughter will break out. I know you said you rewashed her clothes but you need to think about everything she comes in contact with i.e. your clothes, sheets, towels, blankets, etc.

I hope she gets better.

My son had hives as a baby for probably a year and a half. After many tests and doctor visits, it was determined that it was just plain ole idiopathic urticaria, or hives with no apparent cause. The dr. prescribed Allegra and Zyrtec. He was to take one in the morning and the other at night. Eventually, the hives never came back. I understand how you feel, really. We tried everything from totally changing his diet, clothing, detergent, soaps, shampoos, flooring...everything. It isn't the prettiest thing in the world, but luckily, my son's hives never itched, so he never knew they were there. I did switch from traditional baby soap and shampoo to Cetaphil cleanser and he still uses that to this day (except on his hair, now that he actually has some, we are using baby shampoo again).

Tifffany,
Two weeks after my son turned 1 (now he is 8) he started breaking out in hives that would come and go some as large as six inches in diameter. I took him to his pediatrician and three months later when we decided to have him allergy tested the hives suddenly disappeared. So we waited to have him tested when he was a little older at 5 and he was allergic to his favorite foods chicken, tomato(ketchup, bbq sauce), strawberries, plus regular seasonal stuff. For two years we just watched what we feed him and had him re-tested at 7 and started allergy shots and are still keeping him away from the same foods he is doing MUCH better. Hope you find out something soon!

Hi T.,
I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is dealing with that. I'm a mom of two little girls and my first daughter suffered from severe hives and allergies when she was very little. We went to the doctors several times and had allergy testing and they could never really give us answers and would just tell us to medicate her. We were told to keep her on Zyrtek daily and they said it could be for years to come. Well, I was not o.k. with that. We then learned that many doctors and researchers are linking the chemicals found in our everyday products to the increase in allergies, asthma, eczema, cancer and more. We found out about the chemicals in many products and we switch to shopping at an amazing wellness company that has been in business for 24 yrs. They offer products that are much safer for our families and the environment and I love that we get them at wholesale cost, so we save money! We also save time because they are shipped directly to our door. After switching out our everyday products my daughter no longer gets hives or suffers from allergies. It has helped so many find great relief! I would love to share the full details with you and help your family like mine has been help. Feel free to visit this site and request more details and I will give you a call so we can discuss finding some relief for your daughter and protect her so this does not happen again. http://www.livetotalwellness.com/freedom

M.

my daughter had hives for 2 or 3 months once, i think due to too much illness, too many necessary antibiotics...children's bendryl every day...anyways, hives are a cause of stress...and the stress could be anything...i would get rid of the fabric softener...but that may not even be it...i tried everything too...took her off cow's milk, and all dairy for 4 or 5 days...no relief...all kinds of stuff, then once her body regained its strength from all the daycare illnesses, the hives went away....it was a beautiful day....i send you strength and peace...it will pass....it is probably just he body's way of dealing with something stressful...xoxoxo

Hi T.,
make a log of the things she is eating on a daily basis and what you are changing or not in her diet. Also, when you change the fabric softner and detergent. You might need to buy the one without scent. Do you have any plants in the house? maybe she is touching them. Taking her to the allergist is the best thing to do to make sure they do all the tests needed. But in the meantime I would log everything.

please email me, i'd like to talk to you about this..my daughter was put in a breathing tent for six days as at ten days old and stayed sick for 3 years until i figured it all out...i want to share that with you and you can do with it what you want. i want to help.
J. Baird
____@____.com

I know we can't use any type of fabric softener (even the unscented dryer sheets) without breaking out. Also for some reason my daughter will get a rash from yogurt periodically. It doesn't seem to be all yogurt, just certain brands. I gave her one with a probiotic in it that really gave her hives. Maybe try talking out the yogurt or replacing with a different one-maybe even a soy one and see if it makes a difference or stop using the fabric softener. Best of luck....its process of elimination until you find the culprit!

T., I have had chronic urticaria (chronic hives) for years now. It really doesn't effect me much anymore...just every now and then (but it used to be daily from mild to severe). My immune system has somehow gotten a handle on whatever it was causing this. After loads of blood work and allergy testing, nothing ever came up. I don't want to discourage you from seeing the Allergist. I would definitely do that, but if nothing comes back, don't quit your search to find out what is going on. You don't say how long this has been going on. Definitely pay attention to any medication/supplements she takes (whether as needed or daily). It could be supplements in foods as well. Antibiotics, etc.? It could very well be a reaction to that (and it can last for a long time!) until the body is completely flushed from it. As for food, she can develop an allergy at anytime (any adult can as well). Try eliminating one thing at a time for at least 2 weeks. Start with the oatmeal and then try all milk products. This is tough, I know (been through it before with my son). Turns out he has a wheat/gluten sensitivity. That's worth trying to eliminate as well. Try to go natural with all of your products (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, laundry, etc). www.vitacost.com has a great selection and half the price of Whole Foods. Everything we use these days is filled with unnatural chemicals. I was NEVER the "tree hugger" type but I have gone in that direction over the last few years. My entire family is also on probiotics and we eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible (very few processed foods). You want to keep her immune system as strong as possible. If it turns out she is diagnosed with "chronic urticaria," don't accept medication as the solution. It's no solution, it just treats the symptoms. Chronic urticaria means chronic hives and they don't know what's causing them. ...but something is indeed causing them. When a child has hives, their immune system is over-reacting to something and you want to get to the bottom of it or their immune system is always compromised. Just know, you are not alone. This is not all that uncommon but it is often really hard to figure out. I have spent years and many hours researching all of this. Hives have been a thorn in our side (at least for myself and my son). For him, I think it has been from medication and gluten. For me, I still don't know after 7 years of this. Oh, one more thing....my gut tells me it's not something topical causing this (like detergents, etc.). It is more likely that it's something she's ingesting. Anything is possible, however.

T., I have not read everyone elses posts so someone may have said this already, but hives can dissapear and reappear for up to 2 weeks after exposure to an allergy. This especially happens after getting warm in the sun or under the covers, or clothing. It is possible you have already eliminated the allergen but the hives are just not gone.

Nylon? Could it be gluten?

Not sure when this started, but it could be seasonal allergies? In order to fully find out you have to elliminate everything and then slowing bring it all back in. Also how long has she had this? You might have elliminated the culprit, but her system needs to get the rest of it out. My son is allergic to Cantaloupe, and when he first had it he got the rash/hives and then they went away and came back for about 1 week. The Dr told us that would happen. We give him Zyrtek if he gets them and that seems to help. Right now his face keeps rashing/hiving up and we are not sure if he is just chapped or eating something that is irritating it. We too have not changed any foods.

Good luck.

could be soap, laundry soap use all free and clear, cleaners that you are using, try vinegar for cleaning, it could even be the material shes wearing. If its in the crotch area it could be your diapers or wipes or diaper rash ointments. I can not use fabric softners at all. food allergies usually show up in the hiney area. or hives tddy bears are likely culprits they have a huge amount of dust mites in them wash them in hot water. wash all of her clothes in paticular in hot water. keep a diary of when it comes when it goes the allergiest will want this anyway. what she eats all day long. If she is on juice what type is it. What soap you use everything I mentioined above including where she goes. ex she went to grandmas and the next day had hives and if you notice it repeatedly let say grandma has a cat it could be the cat etc. keep track of her intake on anything and where she goes all your soaps laundry bath etc. give the list to the allergist. but this may give you a start what to look for until the appt.

I was also thinking could it be any linens, soft toys, rugs, curtains or any other fabric causing the reaction? Do you use any carpet freshener, Fabreeze or air freshener?

Unfortunately allergies could be caused by so many things or a combination of things. I hope you find what it is!

This can be so random. My 12 year old is allergic to the COMBINATION of pink lemonade, Mac n Chs and/or Spagettios. She has been this way since she was 3 or 4- she did have milk allergies as an infant but grew out of those by the time she was 4. But occasionally she will eat the combination of pink lemonade and one of the other two and almost imnmediately break out in hives. Benadryl knocks it out and now we just laugh about it. But who woudl have thought? She can drink pink lemonade all day long as long as she isn't having much in the way of cheese or those Spagettios. She can have mac n chs every day ( in fact, she usually does) and no hives unless she adds the pink lemonade. So think about combinations as well as just the regular stuff. How we figured out that was what it was- I don't know. Cause and effect, I think.
Also- before I went through 4 years of allergy shots I would get horrible rashes on my arms every spring. I would walk outside on a pretty spring day and could practically feel the air causing hives. People would ask me if I had shingles- they looked like poison ivy on steroids. After the 4 yrs of allergy shots, I still have allergies - but no rashes anymore. Good luck. I think from reading the other posts the randomness of these kinds of allergies is pretty prevalent. Move away from the Houston area- that would probably help the most!!

Do the hives come after playing outside or after being outside after it has rained? Try giving her a bath after playing outside. (At least sponge her off real good.) It's possible that she's coming into contact with something that's being brought into the yard by runoff. Been there & dealt with it. An allergist was of no help because the breakouts were too inconsistent. Took me 6 months to realize that the hives always came after a rain. Never did find out exactly what caused them but persistent bathing after playing outside (we live at the bottom of a hill so it could've been anything or a combination of things) kept the hives at bay. I also kept lots of Aveeno on hand to help the itching. Good Luck.