Laundry Detergents & Allergies

Allergies to laundry detergent are easy to identify and easy to fix. These allergies are more common in individuals with sensitive skin, but anyone can suffer from laundry detergent allergies.

Identification

• An allergy to laundry detergent presents as itching and rashes on skin that touched clothing or other fabrics washed in the detergent. Sometimes, hives may develop on the skin, or the allergy may cause sneezing.

Significance

• Laundry detergent cleans clothes, bedding, towels and washcloths. Therefore, the exposure to laundry detergent is extremely high, and each contact with an exposed item causes a reaction.

Types

• Usually, laundry detergent allergies are specific to certain brands. Try a different brand until you find one that does not cause an allergic reaction. However, some people are allergic to all regular laundry detergents and require a special laundry detergent.

Considerations

• If there is no regular detergent you can use, see a dermatologist. This type of allergy is more severe than just having to avoid a single detergent and may require additional testing or treatment.

Prevention/Solution

• Several laundry detergents are allergy free. These detergents clean clothes without using the dyes and perfumes that cause laundry detergent allergies. Dermatologists can also prescribe special detergents for severe detergent allergies.