Poor Me, Frag Free

[Ribeye]

So after a couple of months of rashes (mostly on my back neck and face) I see the dermatologist and they order a panel test. Yes, I Get hits.

My allergies are to what they call composite mix and fragrance mix which is in pretty much everything. Composite mix is chamomile and a few other things they tend to add to skin creams. Who cares ?

Fragrance mix is this stuff :

Geraniol, Cinnamaldehyde, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamyl alcohol, a-Amylcinnamaldehyde, Isoeugenol, Eugenol, and Oak moss.

That's the back of every shave cream and aftershave I own. LOL

She noted in the office that I had a really bad reaction to lavender absolute, tea tree and propylene glycol (which is something controversial as many people test positive for it but some dermatologists question the test...still I'm off it and it's in everything).

Anyway, I was for real depressed for a couple of days. Now I'm shaving with my Stirling Naked and Smooth and Dickinson's witch hazel and getting my best shaves ever. Some of what I thought was poor technique may have been allergic reactions.

Time will tell if I can use certain products but common sense seems to dictate that rubbing a substance I'm even slightly sensitive to into my skin with a shave brush might not ever end well.

But I'm still on the journey.

And I'm thinking of lathering up a scented shave cream and letting the brush sit on the sink just to get some aroma during my shave. Am I sick ? lol

 

[KeenDogg]

Never went to the derma, but I can only handle very mild scents or unscented. Mike Natural Soap unscented is great. Works well if you bloom it before hand. I cant even use shampoo anymore. Bar soap is my new shampoo.

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[Macfrommichigan]

A soft synthetic brush is advised.

 

[Scaramouche]

Tea tree oil actually produces contact dermatitis in about 5% of people who use it initially. Could be higher after prolonged use.

 

[BigJ]

Luckily you still have some products that work!

You might consider trying Lucky Tiger AS, although there are no guarantees given your history.

 

[ajkel64]

Sorry for your allergies, I hope that there is some products around that you can still use without causing you too much pain.

 

[Ribeye]

Never went to the derma, but I can only handle very mild scents or unscented. Mike Natural Soap unscented is great. Works well if you bloom it before hand. I cant even use shampoo anymore. Bar soap is my new shampoo.

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Same here with the bar soap. lol
There are shampoos they recommend but I can't find them. Bar soap is fine since I have a flat top.

I hear good things about Mikes. I may give that a try.

I'm hoping to be able to handle something like Proraso Green or Arko but if not I really can't complain.
The shaves have been really good, just boring. And I'm sure I'll get used to it.

 

[Ribeye]

Sorry for your allergies, I hope that there is some products around that you can still use without causing you too much pain.

Thanks bro.
Seems like there are. I'm sure I'll be around reporting. This is still a cool hobby.

 

[Ribeye]

A soft synthetic brush is advised.

Nah, fragrance free has been advised.

LOL

 

[KeenDogg]

Same here with the bar soap. lol
There are shampoos they recommend but I can't find them. Bar soap is fine since I have a flat top.

I hear good things about Mikes. I may give that a try.

I'm hoping to be able to handle something like Proraso Green or Arko but if not I really can't complain.
The shaves have been really good, just boring. And I'm sure I'll get used to it.

I hear ya on the boring part. Like you, I thought it was my technique till I started using all things Tabac. It made me so red after about a week, my ears would throb. I then knew I was having allergies. Shaves are much better now. I quit using alum on my face too. Dried me right out.

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[KeenDogg]

Wonder if we have a frag free club yet?

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[DoctorStrobe]

You could get one of those essential oil diffusers and some good oils for the shave den.
I've had one set up for a few weeks and it's much better than the standard glade, etc deodorizers which just smell synthetic and make me sneeze.

The diffusers are basically an ultrasonic humidifier and it atomizes the oils with the water vapor.

I just wish they made an oil that smells like some of the shave soaps/creams.
Hey, new product idea...

 

[Claudel Xerxes]

That's a bummer to hear about your allergies. You can still use your aftershaves in different ways though. If it's a clear AS, a drop or two on an undershirt can act like a mild cologne. Depending on how much hair you have, you could rub some on your palms and run your hands through your hair for the same mild cologne effect. Also, I've used a couple of aftershaves as air fresheners. I've been know to put a couple drops of AS on the fan of my dehumidifier in my basement. Depending on the AS, the smell will fill my basement up and linger for about an hour up to a half a day.

 

[Ribeye]

Wonder if we have a frag free club yet?

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How do we do that ?

I'm in and I'd be happy to have any support or provide any. I'm a little amused at myself because it gave me such an emotional jolt. Lots of time and money invested though. Rich man's problem or not....

 

[Ribeye]

That's a bummer to hear about your allergies. You can still use your aftershaves indifferent ways though. If it's a clear AS, a drop or two on an undershirt can act like a mild cologne. Depending on how much hair you have, you could rub some on your palms and run your hands through your hair for the same mild cologne effect. Also, I've used a couple of aftershaves as air fresheners. I've been know to put a couple drops of AS on the fan of my dehumidifier in my basement. Depending on the AS, the smell will fill my basement up and linger for about an hour up to a half a day.

Thanks. I'm going to be experimenting eventually. I had heard about trying things out on the hair and clothing. Haven't done it yet. The fan is a good idea too, I was drying out a pick of Stirling Glastonbury in front of my little desk fan for months and it really did make the room smell good.

 

[cryhavoc]

Mitchell's Wool Fat may work for you. Can you use simple EO's like lime?

 

[Petter]

Sorry to hear about the reactions but if the shaves are better and the irritation is gone it’s worth it!

You can get in to fragrances and spray on your body and use after shave splashes as body splash if you want the scent. Hopefully that won’t give you bad reactions.

 

[Ribeye]

Mitchell's Wool Fat may work for you. Can you use simple EO's like lime?

They didn't flag citrus or menthol. I do have hope. We'll see because it may take a month or more for the reaction to go away. Then it's trial and error.

 

[DEATHMgck]

Oof, tough break buddy. Hopefully youll find some products you love that keep your skin from doing that.

All the best mate!

 

[KeenDogg]

How do we do that ?

I'm in and I'd be happy to have any support or provide any. I'm a little amused at myself because it gave me such an emotional jolt. Lots of time and money invested though. Rich man's problem or not....

Basically, we search the Clubs and Brotherhoods section, and if one doesn't exist, we make one. We could also see if theres any interest among the membership first.

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