Your Stories - Clothing

Staying Nude - Peter, UK

I normally go around the house and garden completely in the nude. However during the Winter 2004/05 for the first time in ten years, I wore clothes at home virtually continuously and it was not long before I developed quite severe seborrheoic eczema with the worst areas being my lower legs and elbows, although I did have small areas on my upper thighs, chest and waist. In the past I had noticed that if I wore clothes for more than a couple of days I developed spots on my legs, which would disappear once I went around nude again. On this occasion I developed spots around my ankles, which my doctor and I both initially thought were cat flee bites, but leaving them untreated they progressed to full blown eczema: I have since discovered that acne type spots can be a symptom of eczema. I had been prescribed various steroid creams, but all they did was exacerbate the condition. I believe that clothes encourage yeast spores, which it is thought may be factor, to multiply and when the skin become sensitive the clothing acts like an abrasive. There has been a marked improvement once I have dispensed with clothes and just applied moisturisers such as Dermol lotion. In my case sun and air seems to be the best solution. I have not experienced any serious itching for some time and since I have been able to spend time in the sun, my eczema has been limited to just a "dirty" appearance to by shins and some red spots on my chests, which are decreasing almost daily. I have resolved not to wear clothes at home unless absolutely necessary: fortunately most of my friends, relations and neighbours accept my lifestyle and in future any visitor will have to express a strong objection in order to make me dress. If I am away from home, I find that just an hour nude in my room will help, but I am aware that there is a fine balance and it could flare up. (July 2006) Contact Peter

DIY Mits - Sarah, Holmfirth, UK

DIY mits on clothing (this has made managing my 15mth old sons eczema so much easier) Basically you need a cotton top/babygrow with sleeves that are about 3-4cm too long for the baby/infant. (I just buy loads in the next size up in sales). You then fold back this excess to form a doubled over cuff - like on a man's pullover. Stitch at two points on opposite sides so the cuff is held back in place but can still be turned inside out to create an envelope over the baby's hand. Hands can then be allowed out to play when on a good day and put away when itching starts.

Up to about 6 months I could stop my son itching his wrists by making 'fingerless mittens' out of socks (cotton) or tubigrip - just cut the ends of socks and cut a small hole for thumb to help keep in place - worked for a while.

I found I had to stitch up the legs on my son's babygrows as his legs would slip through when he tried to rub his ankles together. He would also end up with both legs in one babygrow leg which I cured by putting shorts on over his babygrow.

At nappy changing I always have a number of pairs of my old sports socks to hand - washed in soapsuds like all sons clothes - they can be pulled right up his arms so take a little longer to remove but combine with fold over mits quite effective. When he was younger I sewed socks onto a pillowcase that went over the changing mat and popped hands in there - again worked for a while.

If you are in the UK and your child has very severe eczema do keep pushing Dr. for tubigrip garments - they are available on NHS. (April 2006) Contact Sarah

Cotton Sleepsuits with Mits - Sarah, Holmfirth, UK

Matalan do cotton sleepsuits with fold over mits up to 24 months - £4 for a pack of three - whilst I love Cotton Comfort clothes these are a great find - don't know how they wash yet but fold over mits are fantastic! (August 2005) Contact Sarah

Cotton Comfort - Louise, Warwick, UK

I cannot praise highly enough the garments from 'Cotton Comfort'. We use their mitten pyjamas on our 18 month old, who was born with eczema. She clawed at her face and her feet making them infected. When she was admitted to hospital with cellulitis, we decided something had to change, so we got her the mitten pyjamas and our lives have been transformed - she sleeps and so do we! (November 2003)

Polyester Tags and Thread - Theda, USA

For years I have fought the "polyester tag" battle, ripping them, trying to gently remove them, and often just throwing the garment into the trash. Often it is not possible to tell when purchasing a garment just what the fiber content is, particularly the thread and the tags.

Why does the public remain so uninformed about the skin abrasiveness of polyester, in tags, and in garments, particularly those seams overcast in polyester thread OR poly-cotton thread?

Infant pajamas of 100% polyester should be outlawed. Daily cortisone creams on infant skin eczema that I suspect is caused by those hideous pjs should not be necessary, and I see it all the time. Fire-retardent garments were promoted for older toddlers; infants do not play with matches!

Sports teams started wearing cotton tees under uniforms YEARS ago; the coaches continue to order cheap, hideous polyester garments instead of nylon, the LEAST abrasive of fibers.

College students started wearing tees wrongside out, YEARS ago, to avoid skin contact with the seams of shirts-- not to make a fashion statement. Shirt sleeves were cut from tees, as were neck ribbings--- to relieve the irritation.

Even 100 % cotton garments are often sewn with Poly or Poly-cotton thread! WHY? Because manufacturers obviously want that extra penny of profit that comes with using cheap polyester!

Why do we remain so ignorant of these causes of irritation? I know that I am not the only person sensitive to polyester in tags, seams, and particularly in women's undergarments. Hanes "got rid of the (polyester) tags"; why don't others follow suit?

Thank you for offering the opportunity to communicate. I have been so frustrated in attempts to find simple TRULY 100% cotton or nylon garments. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to find 100% thread for personal sewing, now that cotton fabric is again available.

I am interested in hearing if others have had similar experiences. I do know that others in my huge extended family agree with me. (February 2003)

100% cotton clothing is best - Darlene, USA

In my experience with my two children who have eczema, I have found 100% cotton clothing to be the best choice. Also when buying new clothes, the colors red and navy blue have irritated their skin. This was especially true when they were infants and toddlers. We sometimes bought their clothes at "consignment shops" where used clothing in good condition is sold. The "newness", chemicals, and dyes in the clothes had been washed out several times and did not seem to irritate their sensitive skin. We also had to avoid elastic in sleeves and legs of clothing that would irritate the skin. For socks, buying socks that had the highest cotton content possible helped. As infants and toddlers it was also best if someone held them to put a cotton blanket between my child and the one holding them. This would put a barrier between their skin and that person's perfumes, detergent, fabric softener, and non cotton clothing. This seemed to be of tremendous help. (Darlene-mother of Sarah 5 and Gary who will soon be 3) (May 2002)

Cotton school blouses - Sally, Harrow UK

My 12 year old daughter, Deborah who has eczema, enjoys looking at your site so I thought I would have a look as well. I just thought I would pass on some information about cotton school blouses before the new school year begins. When I decided that Deborah was more comfortable in pure cotton clothing I tried all the usual school outfitters and popular chain stores such as M&S and BHS to try to purchase cotton school blouses but without success. As a last resort I tried more "trendy" shops New Look & Tammy and at last I found 100% cotton blouses. Not only was Deborah happy because they were cotton but also the blouses were a little more modern. Things may have changed now as this was when she started Middle school about 4 years ago but I thought I would pass this on as some people might assume (like me) that if trusty M&S or BHS or school shops don't sell them no one does. We enjoy the site - keep up the good work. Regards Sally. (April 2002)

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