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clothing/itches/rashes/eczema: dye/latex/synthetics/PPD
What the heckedy-heck!? Isoretinoin solved this woman's dye allergy!!!!!????? What does this say about this allergy? Does this mean that dye allergy and vitamin A are somehow linked, perhaps on the same pathway or whatever? I suppose there are parallels to acne usage of this drug. The VA is causing the acne, and the isoretinoin causes the VA to move somewhere else? (is that the current theory about why these drugs "work"?)
https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/health-fitness/im-allergic-to-black-1.1146454
"Still, despite the gloves, creams and avoiding touching anything black, my hands remained a painful mess, so you can imagine how pleased I was when nearly two years ago I read about a treatment that was starting to become available through dermatologists. Made from alitretinoin, which is chemically related to vitamin A, these capsules were called Toctino. It took months of research for me to find a dermatologist willing to prescribe it to me, as many seemed not to know anything about it."
Duration paradox I think. In the short term it shuts down Vitamin A detox. Her daughter also has eczema, one sign of Vit A toxicity. Long term building up more problems just like some isotretinoin sufferers a few years later.
Hi @andrew-b!
If we knew exactly how these drugs "work" (or at least give temporary relief) we'd have our answer... She does talk about all the caveats and side effects of the drug such as birth defects, organ damage and how she felt like crap when she began to administer it. The fact that we have a whole subject here on this site for these types of drugs (shaking my head) makes me wonder at people's desire to believe the best about magic pills. The docs too, not just the patients.
It IS a pain to contemplate throwing out your entire wardrobe.
I don't know why she thinks she only has to get rid of black, and that is another sad bit. More bad advice from her docs. I suppose that is why she kept on having skin problems. This problem is much more than black... unfortunately. PPD is present in loads of other colors, especially dark ones it appears, but I'm having a hard time finding out what is safe. And elastic has PPD too.
How did I end up in this mess? Some thoughts. They say that it's people who are exposed on a regular basis who develop the allergy, such as hair dressers, rubber workers and medical personnel.
I think I know how I managed to become allergic. As a backyard homesteader (since childhood) I constantly have wet feet and hands. I'm too darn frugal for my own good and wear leaky cheap rubber boots and gloves from a bin of cast offs and neither meant for hard rugged use. And I have seen my hands and feet dyed almost daily by this wet, soggy gear over the years. Of course, it would be nice if manufacturers used dye that wasn't harmful or that didn't bleed. But they are going to do the cheapest thing to make cheap gear.
Another thing is that VA toxicity ruins the surface of things. I've seen how vegetables dye my hands and lips (unlike other people who have a good surface on their skin). I have to scrub my hands after touching beets or pumpkin or tomato sauce, scrub my lips after red wine. The pigments too easily permeate. I've stopped using detergents in my household to try to help foster a better surface to my skin.
This may be part of the connection to the vitamin A drugs. If you stop VA toxicity/detox in an area (via the VA drug) perhaps the surface stops being so leaky. Of course it's a push-down-here, pop-up-there sort of drug.
I tweaked the title again to try to make it easier for people to see where this thread has headed.
I see this subject as one that might help people who continue to suffer with skin problems even after years of VA restriction. It could be more than just symptom relief because...perhaps if you are leaky it will lessen your toxic burden.
I now have a small suite of clothing/bedding that is gloriously dye and elastic free.
Layering on colored clothing on top hasn't been totally successful. Especially in tight areas like the waist band. "too close for comfort" perhaps? I'm not sure if it is friction or dampness or some amount of both does create some itch right through the base layer. *Loose* colored clothing layered on top might be ok.
Does anyone else remember that underthings and bedding were almost always white in the olden days? They don't call them "tighty whities" for nothing! For athletics sneakers, socks and much of the outfit were white. Towels too. Men's (and women's) business attire almost always included a white cotton shirt.
I dug way down into our oldest linens and got out some white ones from the bottom of the stack that hadn't been used for many years. Unfortunately I learned the hard way that you can't put linens in a closet for ten years and expect them to still be fresh.
Word to the wise as you go back and take out older things: wash them first! (UGH!)
OK this is a weird thought.
What if something about being VA toxic or VA detoxifying makes you "melt dye"?
I was talking to one of my children and he said that when he wears jeans they turn his legs blue.
The other day it snowed and even though I'd chosen my lightest leather gloves for shoveling... When the tan gloves got wet they dyed my hands orange. What gives? So frustrating. Is it me? Don't manufacturers realize that gloves are going to get wet? How come most people don't complain?
What if when we are currently detoxing (in the skin) the chemicals formed also break down dyes? Especially when held tightly against the skin and sweat happens. Perhaps it is a simple as PH.
Why is it called DYE, anyways, LOL? Is this a clue from above, LOL?
The most beneficial thing that this thread has done for me is the whole BED thing. Try it, people. Try taking a nice, hot, cleansing shower and get into bed unencumbered by any dyed clothing, between white sheets and pillow cases and a white duvet. TRY IT. Perhaps I should add insomnia to the list on the title of this thread.
The second most interesting thing has been the undyed underthings and lounging clothes. There is really no good-looking option for bras, but the hours without a modern bra reveal the truth. I'm ready to settle for looking lumpy in a cotton, elastic-free bra.
Next, it's nice to throw a sheet over your TV watching area, and swap the kitchen and bathroom towels for white.
It can be a bit crazy-making to think of un-dying/un-latexing your whole life. But if the above does anything for you, you might make changes over the long term to your wardrobe etc.
Regardless of whether someone has an allergy, this looks like good advice to me. The less chemicals we touch whole day every day, the better. Next time I am buying socks, underwear, linen, towels.. they shall be white! Already only wear white t-shirts like the basic bitch I am.
And don't break my heart and tell me all the white clothes are full of chemicals too...