Rash After New Undies?

I looked online and apparently, there was some concern with the 'tagless' Carters items... apparently, the chemical in the 'tagging' (an iron-on of some sort or print-on, maybe ) cause a recall a few years ago. Note that I only found this on the Carters site so there might be some other implications, but I'd Google it.

The other thing-- are you using flushable wipes instead of toilet paper? The soap on some of those could cause irritation.

Formaldehyde is something that causes rashes, so do some research to make sure the underwear wasn't treated with that (to stay wrinkle free) or washed with sheets which have been treated with formaldehyde. Some people have very strong rash reactions to formaldehyde.

If you do a couple laundry loads of the undies with just hot water and nothing else, see if it disappears or still continues. That will let you know what to do about them.

Just regarding formaldehyde, which Nervy Girl mentions below -- one washing, or even several, won't necessarily get it out of clothing adequately, if the person wearing the clothing is sensitive to it. We had a family friend (adult) some years back with an extreme sensitivity to formaldehyde, and she had to buy a lot of second-hand clothing and THEN wash it repeatedly before wearing it the first time. New clothes required many months of washes before she could wear them. Her case was extreme but it shows that formaldehyde can stay in fabric for a long time. Check whether it was used on this brand. It used to be (she said) in much if not most clothing, and I think that's no longer the case, but he could be sensitive.

Also is the rash ever worse where there is elastic touching his skin? If so, he may be allergic/sensitive to the elastic, not the fabric. If there is latex in the elastic this could be a latex allergy.

Is it where the "non-label" writing is ironed-on? Taht seems to cause a reaction with some people. Try putting it on him insideout and see how that works. If the iron-on seems to be the problem then wash them ALOT and try again. The advantage of the old fashioned tag is that you could rip it out...

I would definitely buy some new underwear today of a diff brand.

Also, try using a different brand of wipes after switching the underwear.

Any changes in diet? New sheets on the bed or new pajamas?

More on formalehyde in fabrics: I'm one of the lucky ones who has become sensitive to all kinds of modern-day chemicals, so I've had to do lots of research on how to avoid them.

New fabrics and clothing are finished/smoothed with a compound that may be extremely irritating, and some do contain formaldehyde – most likely in polyester blends (unfortunately, extremely common in children's bedding, and probably dangerous over time). As some posters suggest, printed labels can be irritating, too. Turning the clothing inside-out or sewing a patch over the label helps. And of course, detergents and dryer sheets are known for causing reactions of all sorts. (New sensitivities can also develop at any time.)

I buy most of my clothes at the thrift shop, and have to remove the build-up of detergent and fabric softeners built up in the fabric by prewashing with a cup of baking soda, then adding a generous cup of vinegar to the rinse. Sometimes a second or third washing is needed. But this does not work for formaldehyde, which slowly leaches and gasses-out for the life of the fabric. Since it is a known carcinogen, not to mention irritating for lung, skin, and other organs, I will not use poly-blend fabrics.

Hope you find a solution that works for your family.

I agree that it could be the chemicals in the clothes. My DH will wear underwear right out of the package, but I absolutely must wash mine first. I would try washing them a few times. If you still have some in the package, I'd return the ones you haven't used. If you can't return them, I'd see about freecycling or donating them. Perhaps a daycare or women's shelter can use them.