| Safe Clothing Options for Sensitive Skin |
 |
 |
|
Lourdes Salvador is the founder of MCS America, a science writer, and a social advocate for the greater awareness of environmental contamination, human toxicology, and propagation of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) as a disorder of organic biological origin induced by toxic environmental insults.
Monday, October 11th, 2010:
Comments (10)
  written by Lourdes Salvador, January 10, 2011
Hi Angus,
Out gassing in your garage is better than nothing, but it won't be quite as effective as the sun. If you have a place to put clothes outside to out gas, I would suggest doing so even though the sun is not out. The fresh air can help things along much faster than an enclosed garage would. As I was reading your comment, I also wonder if you might be reacting to a shampoo, conditioner, or soap that you use when bathing. I once knew a woman with horrible rashes that covered her back. Doctors couldn't help and no medication seems to work. It turned out she was reacting to an ingredient in her shampoo that was flowing down her back when she rinsed it out of her hair in the shower. When she changed shampoo products, the rash went away. A soap could be compounding the problem, as could water quality. If you don't have one, I'd recommend a good water filter be installed on your shower and sink. Sometimes reactions to clothing can be due to the water or soap that they are washed in. If all clothes are bothersome, I would also look at the soap and water. Filtering the wash water may help. Finding another detergent may change things. I personally like baking soda and vinegar to wash, but also like unscented castile soap. You may need to experiment to find what works best for you.
written by Angus, January 10, 2011
Dear Lourdes
Many thanks for your reply. Currently I'm hanging a shirt inside the house by the window in the sunlight. Should I stick with this or hang it outside it the fresh air ( the temperature is currently 0 degrees centigrade in Scotland ) ? Is the air or the sun more effective at out gassing ? Thanks for your suggestion about the shampoo / soap but I've tried a lot of varieties that unfortunately haven't worked. I have clothes that are 10 years old that I wash in the same washing powder as new clothes and they feel very comfortable. I think I have some sort of nerve sensitivity to however they finish or treat clothes nowadays. Do you think manufacturers have applied more finishers and other treatments to clothes in the past 10 years ? Kind Regards Angus
 written by Maff, January 12, 2011
Hi Angus,
I agree with everything Lourdes said - direct sunlight and a light breeze would likely be most helpful for out-gassing clothing. Living in the UK myself I know all too well how weak the sun is this time of year though and the low temperatures don't help either! I would be inclined to try using your garage and if you have a portable radiator or heater I would warm things up with that. Remember, you essentially want to change the state of the chemicals on and in the clothes to a gas so heat is an essential factor. I suffered acutely from MCS for a number of years secondary to ME/CFS and my rule of thumb was to always buy second hand everything. Almost every new product these days gives off fumes that will cause any MCSer problems. It's still possible to buy used clothing and still be fashionable if that's a worry. eBay is always a good place to visit  Good luck, Maff
written by Angus, January 12, 2011
Dear Maff
Did you visit any doctors about your condition ? If so, what did they recommend ? I tried a drug called Gabapentin which was meant to numb my nerve endings but it didn't work. I like the idea of buying second hand clothes. Fashion doesn't bother me but I have to wear dress shirts for work. Do you know of anywhere else except ebay to buy used clothing ? All the best Angus
written by Maff, January 12, 2011
Hi Angus,
I have worked with a number of doctors over the years and it was following an adrenal stress index (ASI) test through Dr. Sarah Myhill and subsequent supplementation with the hormone DHEA that my problems with chemical sensitivity resolved...and quickly. Studies have shown MCS results from hypersensitivity of specific areas of the brain (notably the limbic system) to the chemical compounds to which we become sensitised. One of the actions of DHEA is to reduce neural activity by influencing the activity of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter. I can only assume that the DHEA somehow 'reset' my hypersensitive brain to its pre-MCS level of sensitivity. Based on my own experiences and reasoning gabapentin should be worth a shot as it is an analogue of GABA i.e. it has similar calming effects on the brain and nervous system. Sorry it didn't work out for you. I do feel strongly that in combination with adopting a chemical-free lifestyle (as much as is possible), promoting detoxification pathways and addressing adrenal fatigue/neural hypersensitivity (as above) is the way to go to overcome MCS. I hadn't thought about dress shirts sorry, I have never had a regular job due to my ill health. I went from dropping out of uni at 19 due to illness, to bed for 4 years, to starting this website...which eventually began paying my bills (just). I don't think ebay will be a lot of use in the case of dress shirts will it! I'll have to think about that one. I'll post here again if I come up with anything. Take care, Maff
written by Angus, January 13, 2011
Dear Maff
Thanks for your comments on the experience you had with DHEA. I'm currently trying to see my neurologist and have forwarded your comments to her ( she hasn't mentioned DHEA as a possiblility to try yet ). I did a little bit of research on DHEA before I replied. Am I right in thinking it's available over the counter ? Do you mind me asking what dose you took and if there were any side effects ? I would be very keen to try it as soon as possible but I should probably wait for my doctor to get back in contact. Well done in setting up this website considering what you've been through and consider yourself lucky that you don't have to wear dress shirts and a suit to work ! Regards Angus
written by Maff, January 13, 2011
Hi Angus,
No problem, just wanted to share my experiences with you as although avoiding triggering chemicals is the cornerstone of coping with and hopefully recovering from MCS...there are other things you can do. Other members here have recovered using therapies such as phospholipid exchange, Professor Martin Pall's protocol, and just yesterday a member reported having cured herself of long-term and severe MCS using Ashok Gupta's Amygdala Retraining Program. Have a search here and on the web as a whole for these as I'm sure they will be of interest. Your neurologist will probably scoff at the merest mention of DHEA but nothing to lose in asking! It's something that is often recommended by more alternative doctors. Those practicing functional, nutritional, or environmental medicine. It is available over the counter in the US and you can buy online from the UK. It is definitely something that should be used only under the supervision of a doctor however, since it is a steroid hormone and thus does has potential for side-effects. I had problems with liver toxicity while taking 25mg per day but I did have significant problems in that area already. The benefits were huge though as it also helped with energy, mood, sleep etc. Sometimes I wonder why I pile the stress on myself trying to maintain this site but then someone will tell me how much it has helped them...so I'll keep it up until that stops happening Good luck at your next visit to the neurologist (amazing you got referred to one!) and also with the hunt for safe suits and shirts!
written by Angus, January 14, 2011
Dear Maff
Again thanks for the advice. I'm probably going to try Ashok Gupta's method but it's £100 for the system ( do you know anywhere I can find it cheaper ? ) Out of interest do you know of anyone who's been prescribed other drugs apart from DHEA and gabapentin that have cured their MCS symptoms ? I've ordered some second hand clothes from Oxfam online and an online shop called Rokit - I'll tell you if they feel comfortable. Keep up the good work. I certainly appreciate the advice and talking to someone who's experienced similar MCS symtoms. Regards Angus
written by Maff, January 14, 2011
Yes, these things are always expensive aren't they! I would imagine there are people who have paid the money and would now be happy to sell on (or even pass on freely) the material for the Gupta program but I am not sure where you'd find them. Posting in all the major MCS forums would probably be a good start.
On the subject of other drugs, there was someone posted in the forums here a while ago describing their recovery using a prescription medication but I can't for the life of me find it at the moment! I'll keep searching and let you know if I find anything. It may well have been gabapentin but I'm not certain. Other members have reported good results with phosphatidylcholine (PC) supplements and what's known as 'phospholipid exchange' therapy. In fact this seems to be helpful for more people than anything else, judging by members on this site at least. I just had a look at the Rokit website - they certainly have an eclectic range of fashions! Have you asked them about suitability for chemically sensitive individuals? I notice a lot of the clothes are handmade...but that's not usually enough to ensure they will be safe. Anyway, I hope they are ok! Let us know. Always happy to share my experiences if they will help other 'MCSers' in any way. We have to stick together as nobody else seems to want to help us do they! All the best and stay in touch.
Write comment
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
I read your article with great interest. I've had a skin sensitivity to clothes all my life but it's gradually worsened over the years. I'm now 39 and haven't bought any new clothes that have felt comfortable for the last 7 years ( I'm running out of clothes I can wear ). I've tried many things to alleviate the symptons including medical hypnosis, buying organic sea island cotton shirts and acupuncture but, unfortunately, none of them has worked. I'm going to try your outgassing technique but I have a slight problem with finding sun at the moment. I'm in Scotland, it's snowing and we only have about 6 hours of daylight. Could I try outgassing in my garage or do I need the sun as well ?
Any other tips or techniques for making clothes feel softer would be apprecaited, especially for the suits I have to wear to work.
Kind Regards
Angus