Can Soaps & Detergents Cause A Rash
For years, patients have been coming to my office with eczema, complainingthat they had changed their soaps and detergents but their rashes had not goneaway.
The first thing I always tell them is: “Contrary to what you’ve heard,eczema is rarely, if ever, caused by soaps and detergents.”
I say this because it fits with my experience. People get rashes when theyhaven’t used anything different, and they don’t become consistently better ifthey keep shifting products in a futile effort to locate the culprit in thelaundry.
And now — at last! — there is published scientific evidence to back up myexperience.
In the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Donald V. Belsito from the University of Kansas and his colleagues in the North AmericanContact Dermatitis Group published an article entitled “Allergic contactdermatitis to detergents: A multicenter study to assess prevalence.” Theirconclusion reads, in part: “Laundry detergents appear to be a rare cause ofACD .” They found that fewer than 1% ofpatients, in whose cases a laundry product was suspected, reacted to allergytesting with detergent. The authors added that the true prevalence of allergymay have been even less than this small number since several patients who didreact may simply have had an irritation rather than a true allergy.
Reference: Belsito, D. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology “”Allergic contact dermatitis to detergents: A multicenter study to assess prevalence.” February 2002
Dont Overload The Machine
Loading your washer with just the right amount of clothing means the laundry detergent will dissolve correctly. It’s always a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for your appliances, says Lio. Why? Overfilling the machine could allow for ineffective cleaning, and that could leave residual detergent on the clothing, which would be very unwelcome, Lio adds.
Best Plant Based Detergent
Ecos Free and Clear is also good for those with atopic dermatitis. The reason is that this is a plant-based product free of dyes, parabens, phosphates and phthalates. These harsh chemicals can irritate sensitive skin. I support this brand because they are eco-friendly and participate in sustainable manufacturing practices.
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Identifying The Cause Of A Skin Rash
Your next step is identifying what caused the reaction so that you can avoid it in the future. Your doctor will want to first rule out other conditions, such as atopic dermatitis or other skin conditions, with a thorough history and physical exam.
If you believe youre experiencing contact dermatitis related to your laundry detergent, you should avoid this product and see a doctor for evaluation and treatment of your rash. You may need a referral to a dermatologist who may suggest patch testing, where skin patches containing specific allergens remain on your skin for 48 hours and then are read for a reaction. You will return in a few days for a delayed reading.
If your laundry detergent is causing your rash, it may seem obvious that youll need to stop using it. Some ingredients in detergents, such as fragrances and preservatives, are also found in many laundry and cleaning products, as well as some hairstyling products. If avoiding the laundry detergent for example does not cure your rash, further evaluation with a physician will be necessary.
Have a lingering rash or skin irritation that isnt responding to at-home care?
A Primary Care Provider at the University of Maryland Medical System can provide care for these and other skin-related conditions.
What To Look For In Laundry Detergent
Thebest laundry detergent for eczema sufferers will be free from harsh chemicals and irritants. Keeping in mind that conventional laundry detergents build up on your clothing over time and can aggravate your skin by rubbing against it all day, look for a truly natural detergent. This will drastically help speed up the healing process.
In short,avoid chemical detergents that never truly wash out and opt for a hypoallergenic laundry detergent for eczema instead.
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Tide Purclean Plant Based Honey Lavender Detergent
When it comes to laundry soap, Tide is a household name. But the brands Purclean Plant Based Detergent is nothing like the famous dark blue liquid. While it does have a light honey lavender scent, this product contains 65-percent plant-based ingredients and no chlorine, dyes, brightening agents, or phosphates.
Best of all, its easy on the skin yet still just as powerful at cleaning your clothes as the original formula. Also, this detergent is made at a zero-waste manufacturing site that uses electricity from 100-percent renewable wind power.
Is Powder Or Liquid Detergent Better For Eczema
Liquid formulas are preferred, as they dissolve more easily in water. They also reduce any potential residue left behind from insufficient rinsing. Furthermore, the powders and tablets are caustic. Plus, with liquid detergent, you can use less than the recommended dose, which is always more than you need.
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Eczema Or Just Dry Skin
Eczema can start as dry skin, but its more than dryness, says Dr. Tamburro. Its red, scaly, extremely itchy skin lesions that can ooze at its most severe presentation. Sometimes scratching can cause the skin lesions to bleed and crust.
Eczema can appear anywhere on the body, but location often changes with age. It can turn up on:
- Face, scalp and legs in infants.
- Arms, legs and face in toddlers.
- Elbows, wrists, creases of hands, knees, ankles, feet and neck in teens and adults.
While dry skin can trigger flares, so can environmental factors, including:
- Allergens, like pollen and pets.
- Skin irritants, like laundry detergents, dyes, fragrances and other chemicals.
- Clothing fabrics.
- Stress.
Liquid Detergent Is Better Than Tablets
Liquid formulas are preferred, as they dissolve more easily in water. They also reduce any potential residue left behind from insufficient rinsing. Furthermore, the powders and tablets are caustic. Plus, with liquid detergent, you can use less than the recommended dose, which is always more than you need. A heaping tablespoon is sufficient for a load.
When washing your childs clothes, try setting an extra rinse cycle to remove all the detergent.
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Diagnosis And Management Of Allergies
Allergy symptoms from laundry detergent can occur within a few hours or as late as 10 days after you’ve been exposed to the allergen. This can make it particularly difficult to determine the cause of your symptoms. However, your doctor can determine the culprit with a series of patch tests.
During patch testing, a series of “patches” containing different allergens are taped to your back. These patches must stay in place and cannot get wet. You won’t be able to shower, and you’ll have to avoid excess sweating during the five days it takes to complete a patch test.
After 48 hours, the patches are removed. Your doctor will then assess your skin to look for negative reactions. To assess for delayed reactions, you will return to the doctor after another 48 hours has passed and be reassessed. If you have an allergy to one or more of the substances, your symptoms will still be present at your last visit to the doctor.
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Is Your Laundry Detergent Causing That Skin Rash
We have wonderful detergent powders and liquids for our washing today that provide stain removal, whitening and brightening up our colors. Many of these detergents contain harsh chemicals that can cause allergic reactions to the skin. Should you find you are experiencing skin irritations or allergies, you are one of many who experience such problems.
Reading this guide will help you to alleviate some of these problems by identifying the various skin irritants caused by detergents and whats more, we can certainly assist you in identifying the type of rash. At the same time, well offer some great shopping ideas on what types of detergents treat your skin and clothes gently.
Jumping the gun a little, we can help you identify these laundry detergents and related rashes.
How to Categorize these Skin Blemishes Irritating red swollen and ugly detergent rashes look similar to and can be confused with atopic dermatitis . You need to identify that it is being caused by your detergent or is a condition caused by your clothes or the material they are manufactured from. Many man-made fibres today can produce red itchy skin or even rashes especially if in areas where they can rub against the skin.
Ruling Out Your Detergent Problem If you can say with certainty and rule out your detergent as the cause of the rash, then one needs to look elsewhere. Consider the following:
Laundry Detergent Sensitivity And Eczema
Many people with eczema have sensitivities to different ingredients in laundry detergents. These sensitivities can range from mild irritation to severe eczema symptom flares. This article provides tips on what to avoid in your laundry products as well as detergents recommended by members of MyEczemaTeam.
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Always Run New Clothes Through The Wash
Many new clothing articles have finishing sprays and chemicals that can be highly irritating, says Lio.
Some of those chemicals may not be listed on manufacturers websites. There is a lack of published research on the subject, but scientists at Stockholm University in Sweden tested 60 new garments and identified about 100 chemicals on the clothes that could be irritating to the skin manufacturers didnt disclose these chemicals.
Play it safe by washing new clothing with a double rinse cycle before wearing, Lio says. I have a case that I will never forget a young man developed a terrible, itchy rash over most of his body that I just couldn’t control, he recalls. We did patch testing and found that he was allergic to formaldehyde, which is used in “wrinkle-free” clothing sometimes, and he had been wearing these new jogging suits once we got rid of those, his skin totally cleared.
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Should I Use A Baby Detergent For Sensitive Skin
We all know that babies have the most delicate skin of all, however thereâs no need to go out and buy a specific baby detergent. A gentle washing powder that doesnât contain colours or perfumes is gentle enough for both you and your babyâs skin and can help reduce the risk of skin irritation for the whole family.
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Bleach Bath For Eczema
While harsh soaps are not recommended for eczema patients, a 2009 study published in the journal, Pediatrics, found that bleach bath is actually good for people with moderate to severe eczema.
The researchers tested bleach baths because previous studies showed that 90% of eczema patients carry the bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, on their skins in contrast to only 25% of the general population.
For the study, the researchers recruited 31 children aged between 6 months and 17 years. All of them were first treated with antibiotics for 14 days. Half of the children were also given bleach bath twice a week while the other half received their baths without the addition of bleach.
The results showed that the bleach group got a lot better than the control group that the researchers stopped the study well before its 3-month duration.
Why did the bleach bath work? Bleach is such a strong oxidizer that it was very effective at getting rid of the bacteria that perpetuate eczema. Even drug-resistant bacteria were killed off by this topical agent.
It is important to note the difference between a bleach bath and laundry detergent. This bleach bath was given to patients with active moderate to severe eczema and for short periods of time .
If it were given more frequently and to people who do not have active and infected eczema, it would have caused itching, dry skin, and rashes too.
In addition, they also recommend not taking this bath more than twice a week.
Recommended Laundry Alternatives For Eczema
The SmartKlean Laundry Ball is the best detergent for sensitive skin because of its natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly properties.
Plus, it won’t leave behind any residue on your clothing like detergents do. Considering that 2% of a garment’s weight comes from laundry detergent residue, thats a huge advantage! Free of harsh chemicals and gentle on the skin, it works great for both babies and adults suffering from eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin in general.
For clothing that getsstained from stubborn substances such as berries, blood, grass, oil, or red wine, check out this SmartKlean Natural Stain Remover. Carefully handcrafted with all natural ingredients, its great for removing stains without aggravating your eczema. Made with hypoallergenic ingredients and free from artificial dyes and fragrances, its truly a powerful, all-natural stain remover.
Also – itseasy to use: simply moisten the fabric, gently rub the stick on the stain until it lathers, then pop into the laundry as usual.
Finally, if you want you clothes to havea fresh scent when you remove them from the dryer, but are worried that artificial fragrances may trigger your eczema, consider using a few drops of essential oils. For effective results, cut an old piece of clothing into squares, add some drops of your favourite essential oil, and throw it into the dryer with your wet clothes. The outcome will be an aromatic load of laundry without the nasty side effects!
References:
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Why Can Laundry Detergent Be An Eczema Trigger
The modern detergents are formulated with four main ingredients for cleaning such as surfactants, enzymes, bleaches, and builders. These potentially harsh components, rather than just cleaning, trick our eyes and make our clothes look brighter and smell good. Chemicals such asSodium Lauryl Sulfate and Coconut Diethanolamidewill break up the layer of oil on our skin that keeps it from drying out.
Moreover, detergents are not pH balanced, and they are high in alkaline, which further infuriates an already inflamed or damaged skin. Over time, these detergent residues can accumulate on the fabric on the clothes. The residues, which can be potentially allergic pollutants remain on the clothes rubbing all day on your skin and can more easily penetrate with all the creams youve applied to treat your damaged skin.
Treat Your Allergic Reaction
While you’re waiting to see the doctor to determine if you have an allergy to laundry detergent, there are several ways you can help reduce your symptoms while you’re recovering. These include:
- Applying over-the-counter creams or ointments
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
Once your allergy has been diagnosed, the most important part of managing your condition is avoiding anything that contains the allergen. This might require you to change your laundry detergent and/or other cleaning and hygiene products.
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Make Your Own Detergent
Theres nothing like making your own laundry detergent if you are trying to avoid chemicals and artificial fragrances. Soap nuts are all-natural alternative that contain saponin and are free of harsh chemicals, colours or scents, They are also biodegradable and suitable for all types of fabrics. You can also use a mixture of borax, vinegar and washing soda to clean dirty laundry.
Limit Your Use Of Fabric Softeners
Fabric softeners contain a number of synthetic fragrances and are often poorly tolerated by atopic skin. Try placing clothes in the dryer, which makes clothes softer and more supple. If you do not have a dryer, opt for fabric softeners containing very few fragrances. Even still, try to avoid using them as much as possible.Better to go without and have stiff clothes rather than have soft clothes infused with chemicals from these products.
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Laundry Detergent For Eczema Buying Guide
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