Little Protechtor garments are made exclusively from 100% Cleancool™ material

100% Cleancool ™ material is a wonderful fabric because it has all the qualities that are necessary in order to make the Little Protechtor garments as effective and easy to use as possible.  Garments are machine washable and quick to dry. The material is similar to cotton for its wearability and soft next to the skin, like silk. For increased comfort the garments have been designed so that the seams do not cause friction next to the skin.

Are there any other silver anti-bacterial textiles on the market?

There are silver anti-bacterial textiles used in applications such as medicine, clothing and household products, mostly they are used for medical purposes. More and more companies are now becoming aware of Nano Silver Technology and are using this material and variations of it to create exciting, innovative, functional garments and products.
For eczema clothing, Little Protechtor has found Cleancool™ material to be superb.  Not only is the material anti-bacterial and easy to wash and care for, but it also has thermodynamic properties which allow the skin to regulate its own body temperature. It moves moisture away from the skin to the top layer of the fabric to keep it dry. The material is lightweight and with its unique textile finish allows great air permeability which aids the healing process.
The material is a mix of cotton and polyester which has nano sized silver particles impregnated into the fabric weave, so the silver is durable against scratching damage. It is machine washable and tested to over 150 washes without any loss to its anti-bacterial properties.  With its anti-bacterial properties being described as almost permanent it is excellent value for money and gives you longer lasting garments that are easy to care for.

“nanoparticles of silver are more reactive than large particles. Attached to cotton fabric, nanoparticles stop bacteria and fungi growing, hence their use in wound dressings and non-smell socks.

(British Medical Journal BMJ 2005; 330:544 (5 March))

Which bacteria does Cleancool™ material kill?

The Cleancool™ material can effectively kill over 600 types of bacteria within a short contact time including Staphylococcus Aureus and MRSA.

www.tex.cn  Sinotextiles - makers of Cleancool™

For people with itchy skin conditions STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREAUS is found in higher concentrations on the skins surface and is responsible for spreading infection and making the skin condition worse. The diagram above shows just how effective this material is for killing bacteria on the skin surface, which makes it the ideal material for Little Protechtor garments.

“Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have an increased tendency to develop bacterial skin infections. Colonization with Staphylococcus aureus is known to be a major trigger and might also play a pathophysiological role. Because of their anti-septic action, silver coated textiles suppress S. Aureus colonization and toxin formation, thus damping the inflammatory reaction”.

For many years silver has been renowned for its anti-bacterial properties. Although the Cleancool™ material itself, has not been directly tested in relation to atopic dermatitis (AD) clinical trials provide overwhelming evidence that Cleancool™ material kills bacteria which looking at previous studies is the key to treating AD. Major findings from studies done by the University of Newcastle found that “many forms of eczema would disappear by itself if the bacteria was destroyed thus the itch relieved and in turn further bacteria would not be applied by scratching of the skin, causing further damage”. (referring to a study referred to in the essentially yours website 2007).

Therefore, by using the Cleancool™ material designed to cover the hands and prevent scratching damage, Scratchtite garments stop the transference of germs to other parts of the body and being next to the skin kill bacteria on its surface.  Its design also allows air to the skin - a major contributory factor to healing in itself. The Scratchtite’s minimal design gives the wearer freedom from unnecessary clothing that causes heat build up and makes the garments more practical in almost all circumstances. 

The Scratchtite is an everyday and easy to wear garment which makes daily life a lot easier. I myself have tested the Scratchtites on my daughter for the best part of 8 months and found that there is nothing better for her skin. They give me peace of mind knowing that I am not exposing her to any negative side effects from treatments. It has saved us from fruitless trips to the doctor; visits to the hospital and it makes it easier when my daughter is left with the child minder as I know there is no confusion about what type of ointment or cream to put on, or dosages used.

It also avoids the problem of greasiness from ointments which can smear on furniture and create problems within a home environment. Undoubtedly it is the endless application of these creams and ointments which can take considerable time and effort to put on, which can lead to an upset and irritated child who dislikes all the fuss.

The point is that no ointment, cream or lotion will stop an itch. An itch will only stop when the skin is stimulated enough by the response of scratching. When scratching starts, histamines are released onto the skin surface which makes it even itchier (Dermatology Specialist Nurse, The Allergy show, 2007). As you and I know this often means scratching until the skin surface is broken and the heat is released. Medication alone simply can’t stop eczema from coming because both irritants and factors which can lead to flare ups and eczema becoming worse are so numerous and personal to each individual that these can be almost impossible to treat directly.

With lack of NHS resources in dermatology and allergy related conditions parents in the middle of coping with a young child with eczema, who have other children, jobs and busy lives, it can almost be an impossible task to isolate and pinpoint the very factors which affect their child. So treating eczema with drugs and creams in reality is trial and error and not guaranteed to work.
Among the many professionals talking at the Allergy show 2007 a Dermatology Specialist Nurse discussed steroids in depth and reported that many parents using steroids did not use them for long enough during intermittent periods. For example steroids are recognised to work more effectively when used immediately and then also for a period after the eczema has calmed down. They should be used when the eczema flares up and then afterwards in decreasing dosages to maintain the effects of the steroids. It is not enough to give a short sharp shock to the system with steroids; they have to be used correctly and usually in decreasing dosages for longer periods of time.

The negative side effects of steroids are common knowledge and having the choice not to use them by using the Scratchtite provides me as a parent, peace of mind. Through the experience of growing up with my own sister and her regularly using group three steroids, seeing the long term damage that it has caused to her skin and the psychological dependence it has put her under with risks to her health, are enough to warrant never using them on my own daughter. They might be safe and effective for the short term but long term consequences are simply not worth the risks. When a child is diagnosed with eczema you never quite know how long they will suffer from it and the earlier you start with steroids, obviously the longer they will be using them. “Long term” has been defined as a minimum of 15 years. My sister still has eczema and is 36 years old, living proof that they don’t get rid of eczema and she has used them since she was a little baby.

The specially designed Little Protechtor Scratchtite works best when used in a preventative manner. Being ahead of the eczema and being ready for the itchiness helps to control flare ups that will happen. The Scratchtite will not stop eczema coming or clear it up overnight, but using it effectively will prevent the skin from worsening and little fingers causing a lot of damage.

There is no cure for eczema, many of the treatments contradict one another and all people with eczema suffer in many different ways. The Scratchtite is not designed to be a cure but an aid to eczema itself, helping it to take its natural course but allowing the effects of eczema to become lessened and more manageable. The Scratchtite works because of its simplicity. It is easy to use by everyone caring for your child and more importantly easy to use by your child throughout their formative years.