ALLERGY AND PERSONAL HYGIENE
Depilatories
Shave with an electric razor without soap if possible, rather than use a depilatory or wax agent.
Hand Cleansers
Some sensitive people find that they can use a cooking oil (one which they tolerate or to which they are not allergic) to clean off substances like paint, thick grease, oil and stubborn dirt. Massage the oil into the hands until the substance dissolves, then rinse the oil away.
Shaving
For shaving, use an electric razor which will not require soap or lather. For a wet shave, Simple, Gillette and Wilkinson make shaving foams or gels for sensitive skins. If you want to use soap, choose one of the soaps given below. For aftershave, use Witch Hazel, available from pharmacies, which is an astringent.
Soaps
Use soap sparingly. You only really need it to remove grease or severe dirt.
Two soaps that are tolerated well by people with sensitive skins and other allergies are Kays’ Vegetable Oil Soap (available in Superdrug and most supermarkets), and Simple Soap by Simple (available in most chemists). Most supermarkets also sell their own brand of ‘pure’ soap or ‘simple’ soap. These are worth trying. Beware of fragrance-free soaps and look for unperfumed. Health food stores sell pure olive oil soap. Wash E45 is tolerated well by some sensitive people; ask your pharmacist.
Tissues
To avoid formaldehyde and bleaches, use handkerchieves rather than tissues.
Toilet Paper
Toilet paper will contain formaldehyde for wet strength. Some brands will be chlorine-bleached. Some toilet papers are perfumed; avoid these.
Try different brands to see if one suits you better than others. Sniff before buying. If the smell is unpleasant or you get symptoms, try another. Air the rolls before using if you can. Keep supplies out of the toilet, in a cupboard or outhouse, until you need them, to keep down the fumes.
Try using non-chlorine-bleached or unbleached toilet paper. Some people tolerate these better; others find they make little difference. If you find you cannot use toilet paper, use pure cotton handkerchieves instead. To disinfect and kill smells.
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