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| Yup, that's my nose. I would NOT have shared this if it was a profile angle! |
She said, sarcastically, that my baby will end up extra sensitive with various allergies because I'm going to shelter him too much and he won't get the exposure he needs - I say "him/he" not because I know but because it makes it easier to type and "it" sounds harsh typed out. :) It makes me mad that manufacturers put so many fragrances, parabens, dyes and other harmful chemicals in products for babies - or ANYONE for that matter - in the first place. But aside from that general vent, I'm wondering if my sister is right. It seems that since I've switched over to scent-free shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, etc. I seem to be even more sensitive to smells when I'm exposed to them. A friend gave me a ton of maternity clothes (new wardrobe, sweet!) but I had to rewash them all because I could smell her laundry detergent, and even after washing them I still smell it a little.
I haven't done any research on this and I'm not sure if any research findings are even out there, but have any of you gone through this? Do you think limiting exposure to fragrances and other chemicals can make you even more sensitive? And if so, what can be done? The only thing I can think of is keep avoiding them like they're the devil and hope my child doesn't inherit my sensitivity!
Oh and I don't want this post to make my sister sound bad, she's awesome and was more joking about it than anything. Needless to say, she doesn't get headaches or migraines so it's hard for her to understand. Plus I've been on plenty of long and torturous shopping trips with her, so this was payback! :)
4 comments:
I find it hard to believe that avoiding scents and dangerous chemicals can cause you to become OVER sensitive or develop allergies to them. But I totally believe that we can become more aware of them when we cut them out of our lives. These scents and chemicals are in just about everything so I think most people have become desensitized to them. Chemical and smells are NOT natural and NOT necessary. You are doing the right thing.
Good point, Migrainista. And you're right - so many people seem desensitized to scents and chemicals, it's really scary. In a way, we might be lucky to be so sensitive in the long run if avoiding the chemicals will prevent future health problems for us...you never know!
Scents are the worst triggers for me! So I feel your pain. I have a 15-month year old and almost everything I buy for him (and for me) is fragrance free. The only thing is that most diapers have some type of fragrance.
My allergy nurse explained to me very firmly that it was extremely important to avoid scented products. Basically your body can only handle so much exposure to allergens before you experience systems. Why waste it on things you can easily avoid such as scents, unlike many allergens out there such as mold, dust, pollen.
I have found that I notice chemical smells and other scents much more now that I have been avoiding them for years, but at least it allows me to know right away when I should get away from something before getting more severe symptoms, including asthma.
I don't think exposure to scents triggers migraines for me, but it's not pleasant at all when I have a migraine.
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