allergy to hotel sheets and towels

grannyjo

over time I have become more and more allergic to hotel towels and sheets, so my skin becomes an itchy mess of scratches etc. This time I wore pyjamas and socks , still itched worse each day , then realised it was towels. I then showered then dried myself with a hairdryer and it improved. Do others suffer like this - due to biological washing powder, and has anyone any hints as I almost feel it is not worth going on holiday. I've thought of taking my own sheets, or cotton sleeping bag, but can hotels sort out different sheets or towels.- or are there any creams that really work. I tries a dry skin cream, but it seemed to make me worse. Any hints appreciated.-thanks joanna

mandragora_2

My mum has this, and she has been told that it's because hotels need to make sure their sheets/towels etc don't carry cross infections and so use stronger detergents than she may be used to. When she goes away (which she does very often) she takes her own sheets and a pillowcase, which has solved the problem for her (towels aren't in contact with the skin so long, so haven't been a specific problem for her). She did try various creams, including some prescription ones, and also took anti-histamine tablets, but nothing has been as effective as not exposing herself to the source of the problem in the first place.

fannyadams

If you know you have a problem with bio washing powder you can ask A LONG TIME IN ADVANCE or at the time of booking if it is possible to have hypoallergenic sheets (good luck with that, I've never been able to get this but I'm betting if you go to a higher end hotel they could help you) but FWIW I am usually told I am going somewhere for work at 2 days notice and so I bring a cotton sleeping bag (like a sleeping bag liner) that I've washed at home and sleep in that.
I also take anti-histamine (like you would for hay fever) as this reduces my skins reaction to the washing powder and relieves some of the itching, and I have used Eurax cream to reduce the itching too.
good luck!

welshbookworm

Have you tried taking a sleeping bag liner? Then you can sleep in bed but not on their sheets. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sleeping+bag+liner&sprefix=sleeping+bag+liner%2Caps%2C242&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asleeping+bag+liner
A towelling dressing gown could double up as a towel and perhaps one of those micro towels for your hair

jonesMUFCforever

A onsie perhaps?

itsanne

I'd just bite the bullet and take my own sheets (have done before) and a couple of the very thin travel towels - they don't have to be tiny. I used to find the change of water made my skin itch terribly - that may be playing a part for her too. Unfortunately, nothing solved that one. Antihistamines helped, but only slightly.

McKneff

I was like this at one time, a simple change of shower gel from one with soap in it to one without soap solved my problem overnight. Ask at your pharmacy.

grannyjo

thanks everyone. I'll just have to take my own sheet sleeping bag and the towelling dressing gown is a good idea I hadn't thought about. Its a pain though when doing air travel with extra weight and towels don't smell too good after long use in warm places. We're going to California on a tour in May- 15 days of itching if I can't solve it. . I wonder if hotels can do hypo-allergenic sheets etc . I'll ask my doctor too about creams /tablets etc. thanks joanna

McKneff

hI Diana, I posted above but you haven't mentionedit.


Try Femfresh, its not just for ladies bits, just use it instead of shower gel all over.
For £1 or so to try it will be a lot less expensive than prescription charges.
Annie

skint_chick

My husband has excema when he goes on holidays from sheets and towels so my mum made him a sheet sleeping bag from a king size sheet folded over and sewn about half way up - not very romantic but better than red peeling skin! It was cheaper and more roomy than a custom made one and only weighed the same as his pyjamas and sleeping socks. He uses one of the travel towels that's like a chamois leather they dry v quickly and are very light for bringing on holiday. I often take mine in my hand luggage when I'm staying in hostels and it has it's own little bag. Good luck

comeandgo

You mention the extra weight by taking your own towels etc. I use a silk sleeping liner and they are very light.