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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
http://skin-issues.blogspot.com/
click above to see pictures
who is the one to blame?
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Cheers !
Andy Colleman
Good article. but there are lots of hypoallergic ones too
Types: hypoallergic, natural, homemade, coupon, coupons, history, substitute, research, tablets, low suds, low sudising, liquid, organic, wholesale, cheap, ingredients, how to make laundry detergents.
Or you could wash your clothes without detergent – try the BioWashball. No detergent, no residue, ecologically friendly, and 1 ball costs around $34 and lasts for 3 years or 1000 washes. Can you imagine cleaning clothes for 3 years for only $35????
Just pop it in the washing machine with the dirty clothes. Clothes come out clean, soft and smelling clean, AND the planet and your skin are not exposed to detergents AND you save money. Check it out!
My child reacts with-in a few minuets to things washed in detergents, we use all soap products. I agree it’s not an ‘allergic’ reaction – but it’s certainly a sensitivity.
Only yesterday I put an only bib of his sisters on him (washed last in detergent) He had it on for 20mins while he ate – 4hrs later he still had an angry rash on his neck till I washed it with soap and moisturised it, skin then settled within 20mins.
I’m sensitive to laundry products too; the wrong powder can have me scratching like a loon.
1% is still one in every 100 and when you think about the amount of people with itchy skin that’s a lot of people.
I have read this article that only 1% actually suffer from laundry detergent allergy’s and rash. I am a redhead with a very fair complexion and well I am here to say that I unconditionally do have another rash because my wife bought liquid laundry that was on sale and 2 days later I developed yet another rash. I have suffered from rashes my whole life and is always after we use a product that is not free and clear. My question is what the heck can I use to sooth it and get rid of it. I have been itching for 4 days now and its not getting any better.
Most people who stumble upon this are probably in that “1%” for the most part. I personaly have allergic reactions to certain soaps and scenteed laundry detergents. When using unscented I have no outbreak issues at all…but surely enough when someone else washes my laundry in scented detergent I break out quickly. I have mnay other problems with sensitive skin, such as having reactions to pool water. It could be various chemicals in the pool water, most likely the chlorine. Most people who have 1 sensitive skin problem, have many.
I must be in that 1%. I still have to believe it’s more people than that. I have had this problem since I was a child (Frest Start was the detergent) and know a few others who do also. I use Melaleuca (internet or telephone order) and no longer have problems. I just got home from vacation, thought I would chance it using the cottage’s detergent, a Purex (believe it or not), and here I am itching my arms and planning to check another garment (pants) and see if my legs itch afterwards.
The “detergent provided by Procter & Gamble Company.” What it does not say was if the test was sponsered by Procter & Gamble Company and what detergents were NOT tested. The “less than 1% of patients who were tested actually had an allergy to detergent,” may be true for the specific detergent provided by Procter & Gamble Company but is not necessarily true for other detergents.
I found this page after googling “Sun detergent” because I found my clothes causing me a terrible itch after washing them in Sun detergent. They are currently in the washer with water only to get the Sun detergent out of my clothes.
Not all tests are what they seem, if Procter & Gamble Company sponsered the test and only used certain detergents they may be trying to suppress the fact that detergents cause itching.
If laundry detergents do not cause allergies then please explain to me why i am up at 4 am with only about 30 minutes of sleep because i was up all night itching? This happens to me every time I use Sun laundry detergent. I was unaware of the fact that someone washed my sheets with it and now I’m doomed because i have to go to work with no sleep. I don’t believe that I’m not allergic to this product.
I have a VERY itch skin, primarily under arms, under boobs, groin, head hair. It is absolutely unbearable. Have switched laundry detergent many times to no avail. I have used many many creams and gone to many many doctors. No one can help me. My brother said I have inverse psoriasis but I have no rash. It’s occurs only in the summer when I sweat. The itch is just in areas that I sweat. HELP
Thanks……
Who wrote this? Seriously! A detergent company representative? Let’s put it this way, EVERY time I wash my sheets I get a rash. Who ever wrote this probably doesn’t have an MD. They also are probably paid by some company to write this dribble. I don’t buy it though, because I’m not a ****ing tool!
Oh yeah, and they didn’t cite where that 1% came from [probably a research team funded by a detergent company or worse, a made up statistic made up by a detergent company]. Seriously, keep your eyes open folks. Everything from graphics card comparisons to so called “medical” articles can and will be written by ignoramuses and paid LIARS.
What a bunch of hooey!!! I NEVER itch or break out into hives from changing laundry detergents, yet any time my cheap fil buys SUN, I itch and breakout like crazy. Ever hear of aristotelian syllogisms there doc? Maybe you should because you are grouping everyone together without knowing all the facts.
@Dawn Wolf
Dawn – I have the EXACT same problem! Did you ever find out what the cause to your rash was? Help!
PUREX 3 IN 1 SHEETS. DO NOT USE. Severe allergic reactions
I’m wondering if random people were tested for sensitivity to detergent in this test. Is this 1% of random people or 1% of people who claim sensitivity? Who gets tested for that anyway? I haven’t read the article but the only allergy tests that I know of that doctors give regularly are for animal, dust, grass, and maybe food allergy. Lotion might help but I think that some lotions or soaps dry out skin excessively. My mother and I have both had reacions to some scented soaps on inner elbows/knees, a sign of eczema apparently. I can’t say that it’s an allergy but eczema is an allergic reaction. I also react to scented candles. Maybe I am not allergic because no one is testing for it.
Detergent DOES cause dry and itchy skin. There’s no doubt about it. Fragrances and dyes are poisonous. Why do you think nobody uses those weird color toilet paper rolls anymore? It’s because of the rashes and infections that it causes in women. No man made fragrance is safe. If you’re using perfumed or dyed products it’s just a matter of time before it becomes toxic to you. It’s okay to poison yourself, but, please don’t use these products on children.
a test re wash a load of laundry after you have dried it do not add any soap or detergent i believe you will be amased at the results . suggestion use detergent only when necessary ” grime ” probably once every 4or 5 loads. taking a shower? only wash where you sweat/ learn the song grandma” lye SOAP it aint detergent|| so use soap if you can find it what do they say TRY IT YOU”L LIKE IT