Son is allergic to underwear!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - what makes you assume that your son is allergic to underwear (especially since Dad is an allergist)?

Could the hive/rash be from like a yeast infection, eczema, just really dry skin, bathtub cleaner residue, etc.?

As for the waistband - is it too tight? I think we all know how uncomfortable a tight waistband/spandex can be on our belly and hips so maybe that is simply the issue.

I think it's this: [i] Come to find a giant hive in the shape of Lightning McQueen on his ass the night I took off the first pair of underwear! /[i]

So I assume it's the paint/dye they use to make the designs. But have you tried that underwear again, or just that once? Slim possibility I know, since your DH is an allergist, but is there any chance the hive wasn't a hive at all, but red residue from the Lightning McQueen figure? That car is red....right?

[Anonymous]

OP -- something about the hive, exactly in the shape of Lightning McQueen, made me think of this:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09023.html

Apparently in some cases, the tagless label on underwear is put on by some kind of heat-transfer process that some children have an allergic hive reaction to.

If the color decal of McQueen gace your son a severe reaction, possibly some of whatever it was also "rubbed off" or was spread to the rest of the underwear when you washed it. It probably concentrated in the waistband because that is a thicker piece of fabric and harder to rinse out.

I agree with other PPs to buy the most all natural stuff you can, do an extra rinse cycle, and always wash underwear first before having your child wear it, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- something about the hive, exactly in the shape of Lightning McQueen, made me think of this:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09023.html

Apparently in some cases, the tagless label on underwear is put on by some kind of heat-transfer process that some children have an allergic hive reaction to.

If the color decal of McQueen gace your son a severe reaction, possibly some of whatever it was also "rubbed off" or was spread to the rest of the underwear when you washed it. It probably concentrated in the waistband because that is a thicker piece of fabric and harder to rinse out.

I agree with other PPs to buy the most all natural stuff you can, do an extra rinse cycle, and always wash underwear first before having your child wear it, of course.

Excellent info. I'm not the OP, but thanks for this post.

[Anonymous]

Hi

I'm researching buying a 100% natural latex mattress and ran across this post. Natural latex comes from a rubber tree, and is as it implies, natural. Synthetic latex on the other hand is petroleum-based. Many products, including underwear waistbands and clothing design appliques are made from synthetic latex. It's no surprise that your son would have a reaction to this. I do and so do several other people I know. It doesn't feel very good. I'm always looking for drawstring undies. Let me know if you run across any. Good luck with your son!

Tom

[Anonymous]

My son was senstive, we tried a bunch and ended up liking the 100% organic cotton ones from Hannah Andersson (sp?)

[Anonymous]

I have a 2 yr old and I can't wear underwear on him. I don't know what to do. We were clueless to what was going on. Went back to normal diaper no pull ups or underwear. Now today his butt is rashed and he scratches raw! Had underwear on all day. What underwear is reccomended and where can I buy them? So fed up. Can this be a latex allergy? He has so many allergies but I can't figure this out!

[Anonymous]

I had tons of skin allergies as a kid. We just had to stick to 100% cotton. Wash in the fragrance-free/dye-free detergent and no dryer sheets.

[Anonymous]

hanna anderson has organic cotton undies

[Anonymous]

Did you wash the underwear prior to him wearing them the first time?