Itchy Rash? Stop Blaming Your Laundry Detergent

One of the first things that patients do when they develop an itchy rash is to change their laundry detergents to hypoallergenic or fragrance free. For some reason, it is widely believed that laundry detergent is a common cause of skin allergy. It’s not true.

An excellent study done several years ago published the the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that although 10-15% of people with dermatitis (an itchy skin rash) blame laundry detergent, less than 1% of patients who were tested actually had an allergy to detergent.

Most people who have an itchy rash don’t really have an allergy at all; there are many causes of itching, including dry skin, medications, bug infestations, etc. Therefore, the percentage of people with an itchy rash who are actually allergic to their laundry detergent is probably much less than 1%.

Of course, there are some people who do have an allergy to some component in their detergent such as the fragrance or bleaching agent, but this is rare.

So, before you chuck all your laundry detergents and change to a fragrance free or an “all natural” product to stop your itching, remember that this is unlikely the cause of your rash.

Instead, invest in a good moisturizer and apply copiously and often. If the problem persists, see your physician.

March 12, 2008 | Filed Under Allergies, Mini Med School: Derm 101, Rashes

Comments

4 Responses to “Itchy Rash? Stop Blaming Your Laundry Detergent”

Dr. Val on March 12th, 2008 1:44 pm

Great tip! I can’t tell you how many people have said that they’re allergic to detergents, hospital sheets, etc. I bet most of them have dry wintery skin.
Ginny on May 13th, 2008 9:59 am

Dr. B,
My husband actually is allergic to the laundry detergent I used to use. I was using just the usual powder detergent and he broke out. It started out small on his chest and arms b/c of the shirts I was washing. I told him it was just dry skin cuz he hardly ever puts any lotion so we started putting it on him. A week went by and it wasn’t getting any better. Then when we got married he of course started sleeping in the bed with me and he broke out all over his body. The doctor didn’t say it was from the detergent, just to think of anything we had done differently. So he came up with the laundry detergent. I didn’t believe him at first. And of course I had a box full of detergent and I didn’t want to buy anymore. Come to find out, his mom has always used a free and clear liquid detergent with no color and additives (His dad apparently had sensitivity to it too).I switched to a liquid and with that and the help of the salve the doc came him, he cleared right up.
We went on our honeymoon a couple weeks ago and he started breaking out again. The hotel uses powder detergent. That night we went to the grocery, picked up some liquid, washed the sheets and towels and he was fine. Luckily we brought the medicated salve with us, otherwise it would’nt have been a pleasant trip.
But I do believe that is people’s first conclusion, “i broke out so it must be my detergent.” You’re right, it’s not always the case. I guess my hubby is in that 1%.
SD on June 23rd, 2008 9:05 pm

Dear Dr Benqbio, After I had my last child I developed many sensitivities to my usual bar soap, hair shampoo, and laundry detergent & fabric softener sheet with a itchy redness upon contact with my skin, so I switched to fragrance free products and now I always rewash my laundry using baking soda to remove all the soap from the laundry.
Spring Water on July 21st, 2008 6:06 pm

Can you tell me what is wrong with my skin? I thought it was laundry detergent (Tide) and so I changed it to (Arm Hammer Baking Soda) and my rashes still itch, so I changed it again to Trade Joe’s Eco Friendly detergent and it still itches. Then I read your blog and started wondering what else it could be. Please help.

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