Doctorweblog. About Health & Medicine

Pure synthetics and synthetic blends commonly cause allergy and chemical sensitivity. Moreover, using synthetics can cause irritation, even if you are not actually allergic or sensitive to the fibres themselves; many people with sensitive skin, for instance, find that wearing or sleeping on synthetics makes their skin worse. This is because the materials do not allow sweat to escape and dry as well as natural materials do. Sweat on the skin increases its permeability to allergens, as well as causing friction and irritation. If you avoid synthetics (even if you are not specifically allergic or sensitive to them), it can be of general benefit and help you relieve other reactions.

Synthetic materials and blends are found everywhere and in every application, from carpets to clothes to insulating materials. Many different chemicals are used, and it may be that you are sensitive to one type of chemical and not to another. Although it is generally better, if you are chemically sensitive, to reduce your load of potential troublemakers as far as you can, you may find that you can use or wear some fabrics or fibres and not others.

To help you work out if there are synthetics that suit you, the three main types of synthetic fibre in general use are:

Fibre Brand Name

Polyamide Nylon

Polyester Terylene, Crimplene, Dacron

Acrylics Acrilan, Courtelle, Orion, Dralon

Lycra is a brand name for polyurethane elastomer.

Some people who react to pure cotton find they can tolerate it in a blend with a synthetic fibre (polycotton or polyester cotton). Similarly, some people who react to pure synthetics can also tolerate polycotton blends. Fabric resins are applied to polycotton blends, although, again, they wash out readily.

Synthetic materials are often used in fastenings, trimmings, elastic and in thread, even on garments or items of cotton or other natural fibres. If you are very sensitive, these may be enough to cause reactions.

Wearing synthetic fibres or using synthetic bedding may give you problems, while using it in furnishings may not. This is because the fibres warm up as you wear or sleep on them and give off fumes. You may not need to avoid synthetics except in clothing and bedding.

Dyes on synthetic fibres can sometimes cause allergy and sensitivity and you may mistake this for sensitivity to the fibre. Dyes do not generally cause reactions but Disperse azo dyes are known to be troublesome. These are rarely used on cotton, rayon or wool, but usually on synthetics. Dyes in nylon stockings and tights (even flesh-coloured) are a known area of sensitivity.

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Meat Fish Shellfish

Milk

Cheese

Eggs

Wheat

Rye

Oats

Barley

Rice
Gin Cabbage

Vodka Brussels sprouts

Bananas Bean sprouts

Pears (without peel) Leeks .

Mangoes Celery

Papaya Lettuce

Pomegranates Potatoes (without skin)

Peas
(From The Complete Guide to Food Allergy and Intolerance by Dr Jonathan Brostoff and Linda Gamlin.)
Foods High in Salicylates
HERBS
Mint, thyme, tarragon, rosemary, dill, sage, oregano, marjoram and basil. Also celery seed and sesame seed.
SPICES
Aniseed, cayenne, cinnamon, cumin, curry powder, fenugreek, mace, mustard, paprika and turmeric.
FRUITS AND FRUIT JUICES
VEGETABLES
Cucumbers, gherkins, olives and endive.
NUTS
Almonds, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, coconuts and water chestnuts.
BEVERAGES
Coffee, tea, cola drinks and peppermint tea.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

MISCELLANEOUS
Honey, liquorice, peppermint; yeast extract, stock cubes and yeast products; tomato sauce; many processed foods and instant meals.
(From The Complete Guide to Food Allergy and Intolerance by Dr Jonathan Brostoff and Linda Gamlin.)

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If your child is allergic to house dust mites.

If your child is chemically sensitive, it is a good idea to air plastic and painted toys as much as possible when new, in order to air off any fumes as fast as you can. Wash if possible in a solution of domestic Borax or sodium bicarbonate (one dessertspoonful to a bowl of warm water) to hasten the loss of fumes. Hard plastic toys do not cause reactions at all once aired. Air books and paper as well before use if you can.

Avoid solvent-based products such as glues and pens. PVA adhesive is well tolerated by chemically sensitive people. Use water-based felt-tip pens (as a bonus, stains from these can usually be washed out!). Watch out for any soft doughs, face paints or similar toys your child uses – these very very rarely cause sensitivity, but it might just happen if your child uses them a great deal.

Ask friends and family to air toys and books out of boxes before giving as presents. Then a child can play and use them straightaway on opening.

If your child goes to a children’s party and is on a special diet, find out from the hosts what food is to be served in advance. Ask if you can make a special dish – for everyone to eat, not just your child – or send special food for your child in advance – in party format, of course!

The Custom Bake Company makes special occasion cakes and dishes to your own specification of ingredients by mail order.

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It is perfectly possible for a mother on even a very restricted diet to produce and breastfeed a sturdy, healthy baby. Babies are very efficient and ruthless survival machines, and they take the nutrients that they need from the mother. The mother needs to make sure that she looks after herself, and eats as much and as well as she is able, in order to maintain her own nutritional status. Take a doctor’s advice about the need for any supplements.

Make sure that you eat enough, even if you have a restricted choice of foods. Eating a little and often, especially in the early days when the baby feeds almost constantly, helps keep up your energy and blood sugar levels. If you are on a rotation diet, that should be no obstacle to breastfeeding, but you may find you have to juggle or shorten your rotation a bit, especially in the early days, to meet your hunger and feeding needs.

Make sure that you eat well in the early part of the day and at lunch

- the milk supply in the late afternoon and evening is often much more plentiful if you take plenty of protein, and large meals at breakfast and lunch. This may help you avoid the need for supplementary bottlefeeds. Drink a lot of water or other fluids; it can make a real difference to the milk supply.

If your baby develops sensitivity to your breastmilk and you have to start leaving out even more foods from an already restricted diet, make sure you take care of yourself properly. It is important to get your baby well, but it is also crucial to keep yourself well. Keep a balance between his or her needs and your own.

Contact your local branch of the National Childbirth Trust for any support or counselling you need with breastfeeding.

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Choose furniture that does not collect dust. Avoid flocky fabrics on upholstered furniture. Use furniture without upholstery as far as possible, particularly beds. Avoid padded headboards and solid divan or bed-bases. A simple, slatted bed-frame in wood or metal allows ventilation and drying of a mattress and does not itself harbour mites. Put away as many dust-collecting objects as possible. Keep clothes in drawers or wardrobes if you can, or hang a light curtain over open shelves to stop dust accumulating. Avoid fussy lightshades or ornaments which collect dust.

In the long term, if you live in a very damp location, and it is not possible to keep your home as dry as you like, you may have to move. If looking for a new home, check out the dampness of the location – is it near a river, canal or even over an underground waterway?

Some people find using a dehumidifier very helpful in keeping down damp and controlling mite levels.

Air filters can also be very helpful, although they will not solve mite problems if you take no other measures.

Remember to clean out cars – house dust mites thrive in cars as well. Vacuum seats with filtered vacuum cleaner as often as possible.

If going on holiday or on a visit, take your bedding with you if you want to be extra careful about mites. Avoid damp locations if you can.

Always air things you use seldom – like sleeping bags or camping blankets – before putting them away, to control mites. Air them before use as well.

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