Shampoo and flare-ups

[vsearch]

Hi everyone,

I have interstitial cystitis and also sensitive skin with various intolerances/allergies. I have been able to keep my IC under control via avoiding foods/substances that cause IC flare-ups. Recently I've noticed a link between shampooing and flare-ups. I tried shampooing in the sink vs. while taking a shower but it seems the ingredients get into my skin (scalp) and then into my body. This isn't completely a surprise as when I've been sensitive to chemicals in lotions, these also cause a flare-up. Even with Vics vaporub for example, I have to watch how long/often I use it before I get some bothersome flare-ups.

The absolute worse has been the HeadNShoulders and I had been a long time user of Clairol Herbal Essences but can't use it any more. I'm trying various more natural/organic shampoos now and thinking of making my own if that's possible. For washing my body I've been perfectly fine with Aveeno Fragrance Free body wash and can even use it on my scalp with no problems (although it's probably not helping my dandruff much).

So does anyone have any recommendations for IC-friendly shampoos? Has anyone tried the Desert Harvest Shampoo? I'm also considering making my own shampoo if that's possible so any recipes would also be appreciated.

Thanks ahead,
-Vivian

[Silverfern]

Hi Vivian

Boy! can I relate to you. I'm in much the same boat as you.

I have a lot of problems with the fragrances in products, shampoos included, but I did find Giovanni organic shampoos from my local Health Shop to be quite good. Not sure how it'd be for dandruff though. Come to think of it, some of those dandruff shampoos have some ingredients in them that probably aren't IC or allergy friendly, and that's not including the smell of them. :(

Good idea trying to make your own. I'm sure if you do a google search you'll find heaps of good 'recipes'. Good luck.

Hugs

[ICNDonna]

You might give Neutrogena a try.

Donna

[grace 2]

I use suave "sleek" shampoo & conditioner. Doesn't bother me. I noticed it doesn't have any dyes in it.

[vsearch]

Thanks to all for info and the suggestions. I'll let you know how it goes.

-Vivian

[noseyjen]

Hey Vivian

I have used Avalon Organics Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner in the past and it's awesome.
I buy it from a health food store - but I would suggest anything with tean tree oil in it for dandruff.
take care,
Jen

[vsearch]

I got this reply from Desert Harvest about their Aloe Vera shampoo (they also sell the aloe vera capsules that were featured somewhere on this site). I'm a little wary of some of the ingredients. I know the watercress (eaten) caused me a big flare-up, also colouring and the fragrance are mentioned. And I'm not sure about some others effect on my skin sensitivity..

----- Original Message -----
From: "Customer Service" <service@desertharvest.com>
To: "'Vivian"
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 10:42 AM
Subject: RE: AMI Aloe-Herbal Shampoo (8 oz)


> Thank you for your interest in the AMI Aloe-Herbal Shampoo. Its ingredients
> include (in order of volume):
>
> Aloe Vera
> Deionized Water
> Sodium Laureth Sulfate
> TEA-Lauryl Sulfate
> Cocamidopropyl-Glycinate
> Jojoba Oil
> Aloe Oil
> Citric Acid
> Methylparaben
> Propylparaben
> White Nettle
> Pine Tea
> Burdock
> Roman Camomile
> Rosemary
> Ivy
> Arnica
> Watercress
> FD&C Emerald Green
> Natural Fragrance
>
> Regards,
> Melanie Carlston
> Customer Service
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Desert Harvest, Inc.
> 20070 Roaming Drive
> Colorado Springs, CO 80908
> Toll Free: 800-222-3901
> Phone: 719-592-0223
> Fax: 719-598-8918
> E-mail: <mailto:support@desertharvest.com> support@desertharvest.com
> Web site: <http://www.desertharvest.com/> http://www.desertharvest.com/
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Expect the Best! Desert Harvest Quality Aloe Vera and Natural Products.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Desert Harvest does not make any health claims regarding any of its
> products. Even though we are committed to scientific research, we are not
> health care professionals. The suggestions and products in this document are
> not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. As with all
> good health measures, it is important for an individual to be under the
> routine care of a physician and to follow the directions of qualified health
> care professionals. The statements in this document have not been evaluated
> by the Food and Drug Administration.
>
>

[vsearch]

Jen, wow, what a coincidence! I just tried the Avalon Scalp Treatment conditioner about an hour ago. So I'll see how it goes, not too bad so far. It certainly has a minty smell to it. I was told some people are sensitive to the tea tree oil. I know grapefruit seed extract (featured in some organic shampoos) causes me trouble, also taken in it's pure form a while ago, possibly as an ointment. I've gone through a few shampoos so far the past week or so :)

Lynne, I've also seen the Giovanni at some local health foods stores but didn't pick it up. Maybe I'll take another look.

I developed the sensitivity to my regular Clairol shampoo after I increased the frequency of hair washing (daily) to combat my dandruff. Which became a problem after I moved into a dusty apartment. Now I've moved it's better but still there..

Thanks again. I'm keeping track of everyone's suggestions.

-Vivian

[Julie B]

You sound very similar to my daughter. After searching for nearly 20 years, we finally found a dermatologist who figured out her problem. She is allergic to the waxes found in many creams, make-up, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and even cream based medications. (That is why we thought she was allergic to hydrocortizone all that time! It was the cream!)

She has to avoid anything like the methylparaben, or any word that has "para" in it. There is very little she can use....she would love to use the more expensive shampoos but she sticks with Dove.

Sounds like you got a lot of other great suggestions here!

[ICLeigh]

Hi,

I was recently diagnosed with IC and though mom thinks I'm crazy, I do think there's a link between skin sensitivity and hair products. I've been using Super Sensitive shampoo and conditioner by California Baby. Whole Foods carries them. I just moved to Florida and my local Wild Oats carries shampoo and not conditioner so I ordered some more online and they're good about sending samples so you don't feel so guilty buying overpriced products. :) I also have rosacea so I ordered aloe vera cream for my face too, we'll see how that goes...

The caveat is that sometimes "all-natural" products can still be irritating, and the products do have citric acid in them so of course don't use them if they're irritating to you. It may be psychological but I do think they're less irritating than heavily fragranced stuff.

Hope this helps!

[ICLeigh]

I should also say, I am very sensitive so I wasn't able to use the California Baby "shampoo and bodywash" as a bodywash -- I have to stick with boring old dove sensitive soap.

[jen48446]

I'm not sure about shampoo however I learned many, many years ago from my Medical Terminology teacher that Avon's shower gels & bubble baths don't cause UTI's, she said the bubble bath was the ONLY thing she could use on her boys that didn't flare them. She had to start telling them no @ the grocery store when they wanted whatever cartoon character had a new bubble bath out & they wanted it. I've told others about this for over 10 years now & no one has come back to me saying they've discovered otherwise. Hope this helps!

[Sarilou99]

I am ultra sensitive to soaps and I use Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. It is an all purpose soap from body to shampoo. Although it comes in 'flavors' like tea tree, peppermint etc... I only use baby mild.
I buy mine at health food stores but it can be easily found on the internet as well.

[1967donna]

This may be off your subject but, I don't know how to do a new post. Does anybody suffer from chronic constipation? If so, what are some things I can take to help with this.

[jen48446]

Donna, don't be sorry! If you e-mail me I can tell you what works for me!!! Also if you tell me what you've tried that will help me as well.