Despite the pleasant fragrances in some traditional laundry detergents, certain ingredients can cause skin rashes or irritations. Laundry detergent rashes aren't always an immediate response to an artificial ingredient.
Sometimes, they can develop over time, and it may be hard to spot the cause. In this article, we discuss how to identify and manage laundry detergent allergies, along with tips to prevent them.
What Is a Laundry Detergent Allergy?
A laundry detergent allergy typically manifests as a skin rash caused by an allergic response to certain ingredients like preservatives, dyes, or synthetic fragrances. An allergic response to an ingredient in laundry detergent is called contact dermatitis.
How To Tell if You Have a Laundry Detergent Allergy
The most common sign of a laundry detergent allergy is a red and itchy skin rash, sometimes accompanied by bumps or blisters. A skin rash can be a symptom of many other conditions, so it's important to rule these out. Laundry detergent allergies usually develop slowly; you may not notice it initially.
Looking for the cause? Sometimes, laundry detergent is not the first thing that springs to mind, especially if you haven't changed the product in a while.
However, allergies to laundry detergent can still develop even if you've used the same brand for a long time. And once you have reacted to a particular ingredient, it won't take much exposure to do so again.
A medical professional should always look at unexpected rashes on babies and infants to rule out anything serious.
What Does a Detergent Rash Look Like?
A detergent rash is typically itchy and red. It can appear anywhere on the body, but the armpits and groin area are the most common locations. Some people also experience blisters or bumps.
A reaction to detergent may cause inflamed red patches on the skin, which do not appear as a traditional rash, spots, or hives.
Common Causes of Laundry Detergent Rashes
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by an allergic reaction to a specific substance. There are two types: allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.
Irritant contact dermatitis causes a rash to develop because a substance in the detergent damages the top layer of the skin. It can happen after a one-time use of a particular laundry product or evolve over time.
Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to one or more liquid or soap powder ingredients. Your body activates an immune response, which creates a rash.
Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis
Symptoms can develop immediately or over days and weeks with continuous product use.
Symptoms can include skin redness or a rash that can be mildly or incredibly itchy. Some people experience bumps and blisters, whereas others have skin tender to the touch.
The skin may dry and become scaly and flaky, absent any redness or itching. Without intervention, the skin can crack, posing a risk of infection.
More severe symptoms include burning and hives or blisters filled with fluid. Hives can be incredibly itchy and spread across the body. Scratching prolongs the reaction and makes it worse.
Contact dermatitis can appear anywhere on the body but is typically worse in areas where the skin is moist or damp, such as the groin and underarms. Also, if you wear jewelry or a watch, the skin in these locations can respond more actively.
Respiratory symptoms are rare but not unheard of as a reaction to laundry detergents. These symptoms range from a runny nose to sneezing and can lead to difficulty breathing, which requires immediate medical attention.
Anyone who has a pre-existing condition like asthma should take care and avoid chemical-laden laundry products as a matter of routine. Most people with sensitive skin or skin conditions know the triggers.
Allergens
An allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction. Here are some potential allergens in laundry detergents that can cause a rash.
Surfactants
Surfactants are cleaning agents found in most soaps. They have a unique molecular structure that can surround grease and dirt. These molecules trap oil and dirt in their centers, lifting them from fabrics.
Surfactants are supposed to be washed away down the drain during the rinse cycle. However, even a tiny amount can cause skin irritation for some people, especially those with sensitive skin.
Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) remove the skin's natural oils and can cause dryness and irritation, which is an early warning about your detergent product.
People with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis should avoid laundry products containing surfactants. Luckily, alternatives are available.
There’s an increasing trend in the soap and detergent market to create products free of harmful chemicals, such as phosphates and brighteners, designed to minimize environmental impact.
Fragrance
Despite persuasive advertising featuring fresh flowers, herbs, and essential oils, most laundry detergent manufacturers use synthetic scents, which can irritate the skin even though your laundry smells nice.
Worse, they usually use a blend and don't disclose the chemical formula, making it almost impossible to identify one single culprit. Artificial fragrances in laundry detergent can also cause respiratory compromise in some people.
Preservatives
Preservatives are added to all manner of products to extend their shelf life, including laundry detergent.
Some traditional laundry powders or liquids often contain two preservatives, methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone, which are known to cause contact dermatitis. If those sound unfamiliar, you may be more aware of the collective name of these synthetic chemicals: parabens.
Scientifically, parabens have received mixed reviews, but they are undoubtedly a key factor in contact dermatitis.
Parabens are there to prevent mold growth and bacteria, which can reduce a product's shelf life.
Unfortunately, these preservatives disrupt the skin's chemical barrier. In susceptible people, only a small amount can cause a nasty flare-up.
Dyes
Some laundry detergents are often a bright color created by adding dyes to make them more appealing, but these can irritate the skin.
Dyes can also be absorbed into fabrics, prolonging exposure to the allergen while wearing the garment.
Optical Brighteners
Optical brighteners are chemicals that make fabrics brighter and whiter but leave behind irritating residues.
Many people don't react to optical brighteners, but if you have sensitive skin or a skin condition, then avoid products with these chemicals.
Laundry Detergent Allergy & Rash Prevention Tips
Use 'Free From' or Hypoallergenic Products
Source products that are free from dyes and artificial fragrances. There are laundry products available that use vegetable-based dyes and are absent of any scent. Products specifically aimed at infants are often safer to use.
Hypoallergenic products don't contain preservatives, fragrances, or dyes. However, as with any commercially marketed item, always read the label carefully.
It pays to become familiar with the different ingredients in common laundry detergents, what they do, and which to avoid.
Rinse Twice
Get into the habit of rinsing your washing twice, which helps remove detergent residue. Warmer temperatures help destroy allergens, but many new washing machines offer lower heat settings.
Some products are free from bleach and parabens and designed to work in cold water, so you don't have to compromise on removing dirt and stains.
Even if you use hypoallergenic products, you should still rinse twice if someone in the household has a particular sensitivity or known skin condition.
Avoid Fabric Softener and Use Dryer Balls
Skip the fabric softener and use dryer balls made of plastic, rubber, or wool to help soften the garments and reduce static.
Ditch the Laundry Pods
Some laundry pods contain too much soap; you don't need to use that much, and you can't control the volume of detergent with a pod as it's designed to dissolve in the machine.
If you use too much detergent, the surfactant can't rinse away into the drain. Instead, it resettles on your clothes, trapping dirt on the fabric's surface and potentially causing skin irritation. Using less detergent is also better for the planet, as many traditional products contain ingredients that pollute waterways and potentially harm aquatic life.
Clean Your Washing Machine
If you must use regular detergents, a communal machine, or one in a rental property, run the machine through on empty first on the hottest available program.
Add a mix of baking soda and vinegar to the drum, which helps disperse any chemical residue and soap scum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Soap Dermatitis Look Like?
A reaction to soap or laundry detergents creates a rash. The severity of the rash depends on your particular sensitivity and how long you've been exposed to the allergen. Some people experience bumps under the skin and blistering, but others may have some redness or mildly inflamed patches on their bodies.
How Long Does a Laundry Detergent Rash Last?
A rash lasts as long as the exposure to the product. Because some reactions are progressive, you may not immediately notice the symptoms or attribute them to something else. Stop using the detergent immediately. A severe rash may require topical treatment with anti-inflammatory creams from a dermatologist.
Final Thoughts
If you have sensitive skin or a specific skin condition, it's important to choose laundry products that are free from harmful chemicals, as these can irritate the skin. Even if you don't have skin issues, many people now prefer to avoid harsh chemicals in everyday products like laundry detergents.
Freddie’s Laundry Detergent Sheets are a convenient and mess-free alternative to traditional detergents. Plus, they’ve been third-party lab tested to be free of bleach, phosphates, brighteners, parabens, dyes, and 1,4-dioxane. Finally, if you’re experiencing skin irritation or other health concerns, we recommend consulting with a healthcare provider.