Readers of this site will know that I’ve slowly been working on reducing the synthetic fibre content of my clothing and the fabrics in my environment. I’m allergic to polyester (including things labelled olefin), lycra/spandex/elastane, which is made from polyester, and nylon, whose fibres are lubricated with oil containing isothiazolinones. Given that, I’d rather not […]
Himalayan Salt Lamps: Hype or Help? We received a “Himalayan salt lamp” for Christmas this year from well-meaning relatives. The manufacturers of these lamps claim that the heated salt crystal releases negative ions into the environment, countering positive ions and electromagnetic waves. These manufacturers (and sellers of the lamps) have posted all sorts of “science” […]
This question appears on no-poo message boards a lot: “Since I’m not using shampoo, how do I get rid of my scalp itchiness without medicated shampoos?” I don’t have all the answers. I’ve shared a few before, but the process really takes into account a number of factors, and not every factor will be applicable […]
One of my saving graces lately has been my cotton flannel PJ pants. Whenever I’m home I can put those on, even if they do have polyester seams, and avoid contact with the lycra/spandex/elastane in yoga pants and jeans. Someday I hope to cover or change all of their polyester seams, but for now they’re […]
Five years ago, gluten-free foods were just beginning to make an appearance in mainstream grocery stores. Gluten-free was becoming more known, and people with no specific gluten issue or celiac disease were experimenting with gluten-free as a diet choice rather than a medical one. Around that same time, lactose-free dairy was just beginning to enter […]
My husband and I both grew up celebrating Christmas. Over the course of our life together we’ve had big, fully-decorated Christmases, smaller, effortless Christmases, and everything in between. About 8 years ago, we bought a fake Christmas tree with natural-looking, moulded tips, and that has been a staple of our Christmas decorating most years since. […]
Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and is enjoying boxing day. Come back Friday for my next post.
I mentioned before having a lot a shirts and socks that were *almost* wearable with my chemical allergies, except for the presence of polyester or nylon in the threads. Polyester is made with polyethylene glycol, which is a cross-reactor with my allergen propylene glycol, and nylon fibres are lubricated with an oil containing isothiazolinone(s). While […]
It’s a question popping up on message boards and Facebook walls all over the place: “I’m allergic to x chemical, what products can I use that don’t contain that chemical?” While everyone jumps in and tries to answer and help as best they can, it’s less often that the key issue is acknowledged – the […]
I’m starting to get my clothing and house more under control for my chemical allergies. We have gotten rid of all body care and cleaning products that directly contain my allergens. Fabrics have been tougher, but I have the materials I need to cover up or change out the polyester seams in my cotton shirts […]
Once you’ve chosen your ingredients and recipe, it’s time to make soap. There are two main ways to make soap: Hot process and cold process. In hot process soap making, the saponification reaction is completed before the soap is moulded. In cold process, the saponification reaction is initiated and then left to complete while the […]
While it’s easy to buy at least one version of a plain olive oil soap in most places, soap is expensive. A single bar can set you back $3 to $6, or more. Not only that, but what if olive oil soap isn’t the best option for your skin? Finding other fragrance-free bars can be […]
If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that different people with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) react to different things and have different “safe products.” The general advice from doctors for contact dermatitis sufferers is to avoid their allergens. Newly-diagnosed ACD patients may find themselves directed toward any number of products which do not contain their […]
I spoke on Monday about natural fibre coat options I had found. Today I’d like to share a few more ideas for more natural fibre jackets: Canvas jackets – Canvas is a heavier cotton fabric that functions similarly to Ventile, absorbing water and swelling to block water penetration. Its fibres are not water resistant without some […]
Anyone who has looked for a synthetic-fabric-free jacket quickly learns that synthetic fabrics are everywhere. Nylon and polyester shells dominate the market. Gore-tex sells well for people looking to stay dry in wet weather, stretch weaves rule for fitted coats, and nylon and polyester linings help us slide into our jacket sleeves. Artificial furs and […]
I see a lot of questions about boar bristle brushes in forums discussing no-poo lifestyles. For those who don’t know, no-poo means that a person washes their hair using homemade or herbal products, rather than commercial soaps or shampoos. Some people use only water, with mechanical methods of moving the oils on their hair. The […]
Over the summer, I had a bladder infection and had to take antibiotics. Not only did that severely mess with my monthly cycle, but it also left my stomach upset for over a month. Being unable to consume dairy products (and thus take advantage of all those fabulous probiotic cultures, I started looking to other […]
See last week’s post here This time last week, I was coming from the most horrible night itching and holding my sheets off my skin with my hands and teeth, for the short time that I actually stayed in bed. I was debating whether to go to the doctor and fighting my unfounded concerns about […]
I am taking Monday off for Remembrance Day. Join me next Friday when I hope I can provide a more positive update to last Friday’s situation.
My body seems to have gotten stuck in a cycle of inflammation after that house-wide contamination a few weeks ago. I tried to use topical steroids a little less because my skin was getting inflamed, but my switch to tacrolimus (Protopic) on my body was doing nothing for my rash. The inflammation feeds the development […]
I spent Thursday *and* Friday brewing up some herbal infusions for hair. I haven’t used shampoo for about two and a half years, and my husband has been shampoo-free for at least a year and a half. I have been having a lot of difficulty with my scalp recently, partly because of changing seasons and […]
I want to use less topical steroid for my eczema, saving it for emergency cases rather than maintenance, especially since I use a strong product (the only one I’m not allergic to). I have experienced some negative effects from over-use of topical steroid ointment and immune inhibitors. I would love to use them one or […]
I was planning to write today about red skin syndrome (RSS). I had written most of the post, but then started to find information from the other side of the debate about topical steroids, and didn’t feel comfortable making statements about it as fact. Instead, I’ll leave some links at the bottom of this page […]
My daughter and I travelled with my husband for his work this week. I wasn’t sure it would be possible after the house contamination last week, but it worked out. We spent three days in a hotel that is willing to cater to my chemical contact allergy needs. It turned out we were in a […]