If I am allergic to wool, should I avoid MWF?

[JonnyO]

I have recently tried tallow-based soap and like it. After reading on the topic, I hear many good things about MWF and want to get some. The thing is, I am slightly allergic to wool. Not anything like anaphylactic shock , just occasional mild skin irritation and maybe sneezing or watery eyes. Does this mean that I should stay away from MWF, or is it still worth the try?

Is there anyone who has a wool sensitivity and has tried MWF?

 

[kadett]

If it is the lanolin on the surface of wool then yes you may have a problem with MWF. It depends why you have the allergy, is it because the wool rubs your skin or is it the lanolin. Usually most or all of the lanolin is removed from wool when it is processed into textiles, but it is possible for trace amounts. It really is hard to say unless you know specifically what you're allergic to.

 

[JonnyO]

If it is the lanolin on the surface of wool then yes you may have a problem with MWF. It depends why you have the allergy, is it because the wool rubs your skin or is it the lanolin. Usually most or all of the lanolin is removed from wool when it is processed into textiles, but it is possible for trace amounts. It really is hard to say unless you know specifically what you're allergic to.

Hmm, I guess that is part of the problem. I don't really know what aspect of wool irritates me - I suppose it could be either lanolin or simply the wool fibers...

 

[BentonClay]

I'm terribly sensitive to wool fibres but I find lanolin okay on my skin.

 

[Shavely Manden]

I'd say to get a puck and see -- they're not horribly expensive, and somebody will surely snap it up on the B/S/T if you don't care for it.

 

[chris456]

I'm terribly sensitive to wool fibres but I find lanolin okay on my skin.

Same here.

 

[BlackAngus]

As far as I'm aware, I'm not allergic to wool. But MWF makes me break out on my face something terrible. I don't know that it's an allergy or if it's just the lanolin clogging my pores. It's unfortunate, because I adore the stuff. My wife uses my puck now, though.

 

[Mako72]

If your unsure about Lanolin, don't spend the money on a puck. Go to your local pharmacy and look in the baby section, they have a um... "Teat Balm"(not sure how to phrase it) for nursing mothers that is 100% lanolin. Its only a couple bucks, I would give that a rub on the face and see the reaction. Probably be cheaper than puck + shipping.

Jay

 

[SliceOfLife]

If your unsure about Lanolin, don't spend the money on a puck. Go to your local pharmacy and look in the baby section, they have a um... "Teat Balm"(not sure how to phrase it) for nursing mothers that is 100% lanolin. Its only a couple bucks, I would give that a rub on the face and see the reaction. Probably be cheaper than puck + shipping.

Jay

Or wait until SWMBO has a kid and uses it herself, then you can rub...

I'll stop now, sorry.

 

[djh]

If I were you and wanted to try the MWF soap, I would either order a puck and live with the consequences should I have an adverse reaction (the puck can be PIFd or sold in that case) or contact the manufacturer with your query and request a small sample. I'm sure that plenty of others have taken Route # 2.

 

[RandalltheRed]

I seem to remember that lanolin is what most people find that they are allergic to. You can try MWF but if I was allergic to wool I'd probably give it a pass.