Are you having an allergic skin reaction and aren’t sure what the cause is? It may be time for you to take a look at what detergent you are using!
My mom has very sensitive skin and for the longest time she couldn’t find the cause of her rashes. We originally thought the culpret was food, but unfortunately this was not the case. It was so hard to see my Mom so uncomfortable for such a long time!
Since I already have a skin condition called DSAP, I’m very cautious about my skin care, cleaning & laundry products so we finally he had the idea to switch the detergent we were using to see if that was the cause of my Mom’s skin allergy.
And guess what… it worked! Although it did not relieve all of my Mom’s symptoms it was clear that detergent was a major cause of her discomfort.
Doctors such as Dr. Jeanine Downie agree that detergent can be a major cause of skin allergies. If you are worried that this might be the case for you, there is no need to worry any longer! I have put together a list of 3 Common Symptoms that you will experience if you are allergic to detergent.
3 Common Symptoms That You are Allergic to Detergent
1. An Uncomfortable Rash Will Appear
This rash usually includes dry, itchy, and red skin. If the rash is more severe the area will also swell.
2. You Will Sneeze an Annoying Amount and Have Itchy Eyes
This type of reaction tells you that your allergy is more severe because it was brought on by inhaling the soap particles while breathing.
3. Skin Will Be Hot to the Touch and You Will Have Blisters
This is the most extreme of the three symptoms and the most uncomfortable.
When looking at ingredients in detergents there are a few things to look out for. In fact there are 3 Common Allergens that exist in many of the mixtures.
Top 3 Allergens in Detergents
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This chemical breaks up the layer of oil on your skin that keeps it from drying out.
- Fragrance
Many fragrances are hard to detect as an allergy because the products don’t tell you exactly what the ingredients are. It is still one of the most common contact allergens in soap even though it doesn’t directly contribute to cleansing.
- Coconut Diethanolamide
It is actually more common for people to be allergic to coconut through touch than it is through ingestion. In detergents it is similar to sodium lauryl sulfate and breaks down the oil on your skin.
If you are experiencing one of the three symptoms, or using a product with the three allergens you having a reaction called dermatitis. Dermatitis is any inflammation of the skin that leads to redness, scaling, itchy or tiny fluid-filled blisters. It occurs when your skin comes in contact with a specific substance or chemical. Your body takes in the allergy through your skin and becomes inflamed. The most common cause of detergent allergies comes from fragrances and dyes.
It is ironic that something that is supposed to clean actually has the ability to irritate and harm your skin. Many times when it comes to detergent, the area that comes into contact through touch is the part that is actually having the reaction. However if the reaction is severe enough it will spread to areas that are not covered by clothing.
It is sometimes hard to tell the difference between different types of rashes. Ones that are caused by laundry detergent normally show up all over your body. But there are ways to prevent a reaction and treat your sensitive skin.
6 Treatments for Sensitive Skin
1. Use Histamine Administered Oral Antihistamines Gels or Creams
- Second-generation Antihistamines are most commonly administered
- Make sure to check out the side effects because some cause drowsiness, nausea, etc.
2. Use Topical Corticosteroids
- Topical corticosteroids are classified based on potency
- Results are best when it is used 2-3 times a day
3. Use Natural Remedies like Oatmeal
- This is better if the reaction is occurring on a large part of your body
- Put a cup of oatmeal in a tub of water to improve the dryness and itchiness of your skin
4. Switch to a Naturally-derived Detergent
- Some ‘natural’ detergents just don’t seem to do as good of a job. I’ve searched for years and finally found Grab Green. Their fragrance free 3 in 1 Laundry Detergent works even better than conventional detergents.
5. Remove Laundry Detergent Residue Left on Your Clothing
- Use less detergent to begin with
- Use an extra rinse cycle
- Add vinegar or baking soda
- Look for detergent’s that have a good ‘rinseability’ score
6. Avoid Dyes and Perfumes
- Pick the hypoallergenic version of the detergent
- Choose the ‘fragrance free by Grab Green‘ version
- Try homemade or natural laundry detergents
If you are experiencing any skin allergy symptoms it is time to make a change! Take care of yourself, stay healthy, stay green.
A lot of this information was interesting to me. I didn’t know that some people are allergic to things like detergent, and I for sure didn’t think there was so many issues that could come from it if they were. I guess it makes sense that there would be problems, because most people are allergic to something, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. Thanks for the heads up!
The laundry soap i switched to was “SUN” now i itch all over. Need to find relief. Driving me crazy
yes yes me to thats the same one as i and man is the rash and reaction so severe cant hardly believe it . Especially under my chin andon my neck red red red with lumps and blisters just pulled my shirt off over my head and suddenly my neck was on fire ten all these bumps appeared. I ran into living room asking my cousin to look at my neck and to please please tell me whats happening ! it was that fast its the only spot m having difficulty getting rid of due to sweating and the itch is unreal. bumps all about my neck and let me tell u im 49 this is the first time ive ever used baking soda in my laundry in all my 49 yeas nothing and i mean nothing makes laundry fresher or softer im astounded blown away in total shock to be exact.
I did the same thing. Tried most of the free and clear not so good. I finally read clean your clothes in cold water no detergent little loads at a time what you what to wear for the next day or two. Double rinse, large load and load half the drum. This has given me relief from the breakouts. I am now going to explore Dreft after rash leaves with a quarter cup in the water before adding laundry so it gets diluted a bit. I hope my input helps . I know this just started for me and im 50 working in a prison don”t need the distraction of itching. Of course hydrocortisone from $1 store and and the Hydrocordisone spray from walmart. You will figure it out just need to keep clothes seperate and two days or one day at a time. Im actually going to do two washes: one with the quarter cup and one with the double rinse cold.
My son developed a laundry soap allergy, his Doctor said it looked like ringworm. Not!! He went to a dermatologist, he said acne, he had never seen a soap allergy that looked like that. I pulled up pictures of laundry soap allergy’s and it looks just like it.
Doctors sometimes don’t have the slightest clue. Allergists are more familiar with this sort of thing though. I cannot stand to be around bedding that was even washed in fragrance/dye free detergent. I have to do an extra rinse and sometimes another wash with just hot water afterwards. I cannot use scented shampoo either. It drives me insane within 2 mins.
Cold water according to my neighbor that had a wife that had allot of issues sd cold water washes out the soap better then hot. He’s pretty smart so I went with his brain and it work awsome.
Yea i never knew i was allergic until tonight after i washed my clothes and got a shower i put the ones i washed on not even 20 mins later i started itching.
My husband has developed what we believe to be a severe allergy to Laundry Detergent. We have found that drinking alcohol or taking hot showers exacerbates his symptoms. We have yet to figure out exactly what the cause is though because not all detergents have the same ingredients and he has had outbreaks, even when using Hypoallergenic, scent free etc.
I am also severely allergic to any and all laundry detergents including ones specifically formulated for infants. I have been to Stanford Medical Center Dermatology and also U.C.Davis. I will soon be going through Patch Testing which will hopefully provide me with more answers. I am currently just using 3/4 cup baking soda to wash my sheets and towels. I have had two very severe reactions, with hives and burning skin, when I used the detergents. I wish your husband the best of luck.
Hello,
I’m so sorry you are going through this. I too am having allergic reactions from what appears to bemy laundry detergent. I’ve switched to Seventh Generation detergent, after reacting to Gain an Tide, however, I’m still breaking out in hives…my question for you is does the baking powder get your clothes clean?
I plan to try it.
Thank you!
AVOID Seventh Generation detergent products if you’re trying to recover from skin allergies. It apparently contains GM corn derivatives. My child has been suffering from an itchy rash for 3 weeks and we couldn’t find the reason until we realised it maybe the new sensitive skin clothes detergent we had been recently using. It all made sense. It’s biological we noticed in the small print and after a brief search online I found many folks are complaining of allergic reactions to this brands products. My advice would be to re-wash any clothes / bed linen that has been washed with this stuff and go for a basic non-biological detergent or simply go detergent free altogether for a while till current symptoms die down. Do reaseach. Corn starch is not a good thing to add to your wash. Most corn in the US and now globally is GM.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry detergent contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, one of the ingredients pointed out in this article.
There were many reviews on Amazon of 7th Generation causing hives, but they have disappeared. Wonder why?
I’m a college student and the first time I switched to seventh gen detergent and started wearng washed clothes I woke up at three am totally broken out in HIVES ALL OVER MY BACK!! it was one of the scariest things to ever happen to me because ive never had an allergic reaction before.
I know you missery. I hope this works im having the same issues after 50 years of nothing. Started working in a prison 100 year old prison and my body fights off too much all day and now even laundry detergent messes with me. Neopreme glove, regular gloves all of it. it’s so annoying all the things i now all of sudden cant handle. Been on steroids all of it. Bottom line is you need to get rid of all of the things the body cant handle.
Katie, that sounds like my husband. He’s been to several Dermatologists and Allergists, nobody can figure out what is going on with his rashes. They have prescribed creams and pills but nothing is working. They suggested Dove soap and cool showers, that’s not working either. We have eliminated certain foods, that didn’t help. I’m just researching laundry detergents because I didn’t know you could be allergic to laundry detergent. I’m hoping the Seventh Generation detergent works and I’m also going to try the extra rinse cycle. I hope something helps him, he’s up half the night itching even with medication.
I can’t believe the doctor never mentioned detergent! It makes me sick all the way around. Headaches, stuffyand runny nose depends which day. I feel nauseous around it. Shampoo is worse because it gets in my bloodstream.
I tide detergent and immediately I developed redness in my fingers , and they were swollen itchy with fluid filled blisters and the same I felt as your husband. My whole body , abdomen, face,eyes Al got swollen. I visited dermatologists and he confirmed it as contact dermatitis and prescribed anti allergic, anti histamine, low level of steroids,and creams to apply. For whole one month I was under this treatment with little relief, even those allergies didn’t got cleared,and relapsed with the end of medicine. Since I am breastfeeding I thought steroids may effect my child so I turned to homeopathy..and believe it or not homeopathic medicine gave me relief from such physical and mental menance…. I’m still under homeopathic treatment as the doctor said it will take a year medication for it to get cured. You too can opt for homeopathy….
Guys, I get two steroid shot, a long acting depo medrol shot, then in 24 hours my doc gives me a dexa methasone shot. It works every time, the depo is slower acting so you think it isn’t working but the dexa is fast acting and will clear you right up! I have been through several extreme reactions and scars from the places they sent in for a test. Laundry soap and fabric softner is the other thing…I can use best choice mountain fresh dryer sheets but that’s it.
I recently washed my husband’s clothes in fabric softner separately and it still set me off, I got the shots even pain without insurance but found out they have dexa methasone pills gonna try if it happens again. Prednisone some how makes me WORSE!!! Please take note of that important fact.
Curious about the prednisone. DexaMethasone works to eliminate my symptoms, though it makes me feel foggy as all get out. But I’ve yet to find the cause. I do see that the “regular” Woolite Gentle contains two of the three flagged ingredients plus a coconut derivative, so for now switching to All Free & Clear with an extra rinse cycle. Fingers crossed.
Me too. I have severe reactions stretching over the last 12 months. I have been blaming all sorts of things and am now finally thinking it is the washing powder I started using 12 months ago!!! I am now starting to wash all my laundry with bicarbonate of soda which I have read up on and am prepared to give it a go. I will start with my linnen cupboard and wash everything in it and then gradually wash all my clothes with it as I wear them. The doctor is sceptical but it is me who is suffering and he is not giving me any hope.
I’ve been inching for over 11 months. I’ve been to to dermatologist and three medical doctors. I was put on a gluton free diet. None of these help. Two days ago I told my wife I bet I’m allergic to liquid (tide) detergent. I told my wife several days ago that my ankle were itching very bad. I took off my socks and few minutes later I put Jergens lotion on it and no itching. Next day I wore no socks. No itching. My body is a complete mess from these steroid creams that I have been using for over 11 months. My skin is so thin that it breaks on the easiest thing I hit. My sister said to use Osco detergent that you can purchase at Costco club. I’m going to try Arm and Hammer until I see my sister in a few days. I hope this info may help someone, because this suffering for almost a year has just about made me want to end my life. God bless anyone that is suffering the itching on their skin.
I suffered for over a year, had to wear turtlenecks. Went to 5 doctors, no hope. Not one asked me about detergent. Ran into someone one who said it looked like what a friend had and it was from Tide. Went home, washed everything in All Free and clear. Horrible itchy infected rash gone in three days. I cried and cried for joy.
Thank you ,My mom was allergic to Tide and I had forgotten and started using it.
My legs broke out in scaly patches and red dots and spots, I am going to a dermatologist to be safe, but I will not be using Tide again
I started with the hives right after buying A&H detergent, so it may not be a good idea. I am going to wash EVERYTHING in baking soda today, then go back to Costco brand, which is what I used before. Fingers crossed
What homeopathic products are you taking?I have lymph nodes standing out,chest pressure,dry skin,seollen face etc6 months of dryer sheets. thanks
I know you missery. I hope this works im having the same issues after 50 years of nothing. Started working in a prison 100 year old prison and my body fights off too much all day and now even laundry detergent messes with me. Neopreme glove, regular gloves all of it. it’s so annoying all the things i now all of sudden cant handle. Been on steroids all of it. Bottom line is you need to get rid of all of the things the body cant handle.
Your problem is laundry detergent. Do not use Arm and Hammer bad idea had the same problem. Stop using soap all together. Put your two day supply of socks, underwear, jeans, tshirts and sweatshirts in a big load, extra wash, double rinse. and dry on high heat. try that for a day i think you will be let your body heal. then repeat with the rest of your laudry keep seperate so you mess up and get the soap laundry that makes you misserable. Get your own laundry basket and wash daily and get serious about this. Thicker the shirt double the cold water wash to get this shit out. just put one one tonight knew within ten minutes soap wasn’t out. Work at the prison and my clothes were great today tshirts uniform and pants no new rash beauiful day. I hope i helped you been miserable for a month. As soon as all is healed im going to quarter cup of dreft then washing in cold water second load and if thats a problem going all natural. I shower three times a day dont need my clothes making a statement at this point especially if it makes me irritable. good luck bud let me know.
God bless you! Constant painful itching that makes you wanna cry & scream is sooo awful. Going thru it myself. It’s like this mystery case I try to solve for 6 months. But now I may be pointed in the right direction after reading these posts! What happens to me is suddenly I get a prickly feeling sometimes then comes the unbearable itching!! It’s maddening! I usually get a flare up of 3-4 red bumps that look & feel like a flea bite. (it’s not fleas) But the bumps are more hard than like a blister. Sometimes it feels like they have a scab days later. I immediately reach for itching cream or calomine lotion & alchohol has sometimes helped. (On the skin! Even tho this could easily drive someone to drink!) The next day I may have a new group of bumps (usually on torso & chest & back) But sometimes the insane itching begins & it comes from the same bumps the prior day! Weird! Usually after maybe a week the old bumps shrink & no longer itch but they are making my skin ugly by leaving red or brownish marks where they were. I’ve been noticing it usually happens when I have a lot of clothing on & if I take clothing off not always but sometimes the itching calms down a bit! It makes me think it sounds like a heat rash, but I didn’t think heat rash causes a few red hard bumps. But I will start looking into detergents. I almost always wear cotton because polyester makes me feel kind of itchy-but no rash. Wish me luck! I need it badly!! Thanks for listening. Cherilyn
Hi , have you found out what it is ? Is he doing better
I recently developed an allergy to ERA laundry detergent. I have used it for years with no problem, but it began about 3 months ago. I also started using the Grab Green Fragrance Free and no problems. It also does a much better job cleaning my clothes.
hello everybody, I have suffered for this condition from 16 years. I helped my mother to washing the dishes and doing the laundry. Today I cannt help scraching my hands during the night. I use corticoesteroids cream, and any kind of cream. It´s so annoying the pain and the itching. that sometimes I need to scratch my hands with a nails comb under the hot water, and I get some relief. It started when I was 20 years and I have a lot of allergic reactions in my body. Then after some vaccines that the allergist gave me, I could breath better. I could smell the dust before vaccines and a got asthma. I born allergic to everything, like some food, dust, pollen, and animal hair. My mother gave me a padded full of goose feathers, I couldnt stop sneezing. She is so evil, so I got it back. Then if I have ice cream, chocolates, fried food, and butter or cream for a week, I had a allergic reaction. and I need decadron dextametasona. and then I feel better, I had for some time antihistamine pills, and improve my life. I always suffer from sonambulism, nighthawk. Sometimes when I sleep I feel like a thousands of ants eating my skin. I think because of the sheets. My mother always thought that I had scabies or parasites, because it always was difficult to me sleeping at night. I will get your advise and change the damn detergent to a hipoalergenic one like woolite that is for babies. My father used to put vaseline pure, after taking a shower all over his body. I had johnson baby oil, and creams for the itching that I have. but in my hands teh itching I cannt take it anymore. well kisses from Buenos Aires Argentina, bye.
Have you looked at the fiber content of what you are sleeping in? I am highly allergic to polyester and really anything “poly” related, including carbomer in lotion. Carbomer is a polyester!
Hi, I am getting burning, itchy skin. And when I get into something that is a allerhic response I feel the ants biting sensation. I am reacting to cloths brand new not washed. Clothes washed. I also have chemical allergies to chemical spf and if food allergies and asthma. My 5 year just told me she has felt the ant biting feeling as well. But she refuses to stay away from her allergy food. I sometimes feel like I am itching, burning, or being pumped full of venom. Your not alone.
Why not you visit a homeopathy? I also suffered from laundry detergent allergy for 2 and half years…and these long period I visited dermatologists but got no relief….then I decided to visit a good homeopathy….and he assured me that I will get cured may be 1year medication I have to take…and believe it or not my condition is improving…now I don’t feel itchy and rashes clearing up..I don’t touch detergent powder or utensils cleaners….using gloves….and extra rinse my clothes….using body cleansers free of sodium lauryl sulphate and also thrice a week, after bath use pure coconut oil…. don’t eat brinjal at all and every morning taking neem leaves 6in no empty stomach and doing pranayam….no fast food or ready made food…. lifestyle changes helps
I’ve had a contact dermatitis rash for over a month now and was told by my doctor that it may be caused by some soap or detergent I use. I haven’t changed the brands of these items and have used them for years now. I just buy a cheap laundry soap, but am going to try Sun hypo-allergenic detergent and hopefully that is the cause. I’ve also always used Softsoap body wash, but am going to switch to Dove sensitive skin bar soap. I pray that one of these changes help, because the itching is all over my arms and legs, so I think maybe the body wash or detergent might be the cause..I hope. I don’t understand how this contact dermatitis would just start now after all these years using the same things. Could aging and Menopause make a difference too? I know your body changes when you get older, but I’m only 45.
I have a reaction to perfumes, underarm deodorant , and have gotten blisters in my throat that are extremely painful from detergent . I am dealing with a painful reaction ,blisters in my throat,’ What can I do to relieve the papin?
I have to get at least two steroid shots, not the pills, they make it worse for me. The first steroid shot seems to make it worse on me which makes me scared to get the second, and the second shot makes it stop totally. I wash my clothes again and only wear what was rewashed until they all are rewashed and use extra rinse. Most recently, I accidentally bought “Splashless” bleach…wrong idea to use it anyway and I paid dearly, so had to rewash everything. Half the battle is mental, it will be ok though. You will get through it. Poison ivy will get me also, gets in bloodstream and pops up anywhere.
Just like the lady above in Argentina, she is talking about the steroid shot.
Betamethasone cream can help too, it’s a steroid cream.
Hi my name is Selina and 41 and I having these issues too I have changed my laundry soap and hope it works I have a friend that a dr and she said menopause can most likely also cause these issues is woman can not win lol good luck .
Mine started from allergy injections. Had to stop them three years into them. I could hardly get up my stairs anymore. My breathing was getting really bad. Going to the dr tomorrow. Have a constant itch going on.
Have you been tested against any chemicals? One that is a real stinker in a lot of things we pit on our body….Methylthizilone or methelchlorizlione.
Surecare is the only wasing powder/ pruduct in the market that csuses me no harm. Everything else sends me spinning with throata he, itch etc. It is worth tryi g guys.
So I’ve been using that laundry detergent Xtra. I have been breaking out in blisters mostly on my arms my legs a little bit and a little on my face. I don’t feel sick I don’t have a fever. But it was giving me anxiety thinking something was wrong. The doctors didn’t know what it was. So I started researching the laundry detergent and a lot of people break out. And I read that blisters is the most severe reaction. I’m switching detergent using vinegar. I hope this works because there is nothing else that I can think of that’s causing this
I started by feeling itchiness after putting on my night free and I didn’t figure out what could be the problem until I spent the day cleaning up my clothes oops I had rashes on the hands, breasts and at the abdomen.very irritating. I realised it could be detergent reaction. Thanks for informing me what to do.I spent whole sleepless night.
i too am allergic to every laundry detergent. i cant wear pants which i have to but they just burn and prickles and turn my legs red mostly jeans are the worse. i am allergic to flormalihyde which is put on everyones clothes now for bacteria and bugs from other countries. that could be some of your problems and mine. wont rinse out either. i found a laundry detergent that works and now it is no where. it is called evolve sensitive. use to sell at k mart. cant get ahold of company either. lot of people looking for it. if you fine it let me know. please!!!
I habe heard that you can soak clothing in milk to get rid of the formeldahyde. Soak overnight and then wash. Anything from China is NOT regulated from the US as to how much formeldahyde they can spray on clothing! Quite shocking!!
I have changed from tide to arm and hammer with no perfume or dye. Worked all summer NO ITCHING,until I returned to Florida for the winter. All of my clothes, bedding, and towels are full of tide. I am double rinsing everything. . My arm pits are raw. I read the articles on making your own soap. I am going to try it. Have you noticed the HUGE SELECTION OF TIDE PRODUCTS in the soap isle? It is shocking. My mother always used tide, so did I , But, when I stopped (I was in Michigan). I double rinsed everything. It was an awful job. HOWEVER, I stopped itching all summer in MI. HOPE THIS HELPS, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. I am back in Florida, double-rinsing and waiting for my raw itching pits to heal.
I have been having itchy armpits too. I scratched like crazy for months then started itching under one breast. Tried every cream and powder. Finally was prescribed an antifungal cream and put it in my armpits and under boobs. It stopped but is now back. It is so hard to find a fragrance free deodorant that actually stops sweat! I read it can irritate you for four weeks after exposure. I was told to take a Benadryl as soon as the itching starts. Well it isn’t easy to be doped upon that stuff all the time. Going to my primary care physician tomorrow. I don’t expect him to have a clue(new dr). I read to wash bras in the sink to make sure all soap gets out. I am going to try that now.
My entire family has been itching for about a month now. Just switched to All Free and Clear after using Gain. How long does it take for body to quit itching?
My granddaughter made that sweme you make with the soap and glue etc. she is now fighting problems with her hands. I’m sure it’s from that. Have u heard of other cases?
My daughter and grandson began breaking out in itchy hives when she switched to Gain detergent! Would love to hear from anyone with perhaps same problem and if you also believe it’s the detergent.
Im going threw the samething
I have the same problem it’s just the gain irritating her skin it should go away in a week!
I have a rash that spreads though out my body it could be on my head then on my wrists it’s everywhere and very itchy I think it might be laundry soap but it’s been a month and I stopped using that laundry soap help me please
It might take a month for all systems to be clear.go talk to homeopathic dr.or mother Earth store.
Hello even i think i have detergent allery but am not sure..because i heard and saw that ringworm in palm look like same so am scared..that shouldn’t be…
But my palm is not itchy every time but some time and am suffering this aince from 3months some people told that i drink less quantity of water..so please let me know what it is am scared..
Dryer sheets, hairspray, body wash that’s heavily perfumed like Axe, and perfumed lotions.
Rhonda
ivygeni@yahoo.com
I used to get that. It was either soap or makeup I bet. I got a huge headache from my foundation three times before I caught on. Felt like my head was going to explode and my face and chest were red. Urgent care dismissed it as a sinus infection and allergist knew what it was immediately after I told them it happened the third time I wore it.
Yes! All of the above. Also candles, air fresheners, carpet cleaners, dog shampoo, my shampoo and hairspray. I get the severe headaches along with all the rest. I also had an inhaler that made me cough all night long for years until I got the more expensive version of it(must be different fillers in the generic they told me).
What ever this is what I have. It leaves crystals on my skin. feels like I am being pricked by pins. If I lay the clothing on top of one that does not it me It seems to transfer from one garmet to the next with out washing. I have nothing to put on and can no longer sit in my cloth covered chairs without itching. My doctor say I have what looks like crushed glass in th lobe of my lung. They come out over time through my nose. Driving me insane. I told my wife I wish I could lay down and never get up. I am not talking about taking my own life here.
Years ago I had a reaction to Tide, and had red welts. I stopped using it. Then, 20 years later I used it again, and had a terrible reaction of hives, and my LIPS swelled to an alarming size, and I suffered! I didn’t think about the Tide and threw out Tea mix, Ovaltine, everything I found that I had recently used. Then I remembered the Tide, and stopped using it, and healed. I am now using the detergent for babies. I think we have to look at many things that include dangerous ingredients when we don’t even realize they are dangerous and that are harmful.
I Cant find a laundry soap that will not make me itch or bodywash
My son has once again what he feels is athletes foot–he had for 3 months previously and got rid of it by natural means–it came back 3 weeks ago and nothing is working. He’s on ultra flora probiotic, soaking his feet in baking soda water, using a balm(all natural) and it won’t go away this time. He works in a warehouse, his feet get hot walking around. He feels if he doesn’t get an answer to this he might have to take a leave of absence from work and then he won’t be able to help me pay our 2016 taxes and if we don’t pay them, we will lose our home. I’m going to try the Grab Green Fragrance Free laundry detergent but not sure that will stop this. Any suggestions? My email add is Jerilyn.capaccione@yahoo.com
i think every detergent have their own side effects.
30 years ago I developed what turned out to be an allergy to Bounce fabric softener sheets added to my dryer. So I stopped using it. But now since I bought the new Tide 3 in 1 pods it has returned. The symptoms are identical, a horrible burning itchiness that moves randomly over my whole body, even my eyelids, and keeps me awake at night. I’m switching detergents to one that is supposed to prevent these reactions and in the meantime take Benadryl. I’m wearing clothes that haven’t been washed in the new Tide pods and rewashed some that had been washed in it using the last of my old liquid Tide (never caused problems). Have been trying to check ingredients for Bounce and the Tide pods to find something in common, but so far haven’t found one, although I discovered many other people have detergent allergies. Tide is better now at cleaning stains, but at what cost?
I am allergic to DMAPA. It was diagnosed after skin testing last September. I was using ALL free and clear for years, and all of a sudden last summer I came down with a HORRIBLE itchy and red rash. It covered my legs, arms, chest. I was taking benadryl, allegra-D, zyrtec and topical antiobiotic creams…nothing worked. My dermatologist was giving me steroid shots and topicals, and finally sent me for skin testing at an allergist. So, my allergist gave me a safe product list that is free of DMAPA products. I started using Seventh Generation detergent last September, and what a difference. It took a few weeks, but my skin healed. Now, all of a sudden, I am breaking out in this horrible rash again. Sleepless nights and lots of benadryl which makes me crabby and tired. I am at a loss. I go to my dermatologist on 6/25, and hope they can help. I am wondering if Seventh Generation free and clear changed the make-up of the detergent, or perhaps I am allergic to something new all of a sudden. I am thinking it has to be detergent because it is just like the rash last summer. At a loss…and frustrated, and making my family miserable because all I do is complain.
Try cleaning your washing machine… You need to actually take the drum out and vacuum all of the mildew and mold out. This should be done every few months. Leave the washing machine lid open at all times otherwise the water has no where to evaporate to and try not to,leave them in the washer after you wash them for longer than a half hour…. It will do wonders for your skin. You wouldn’t imagine the nasty stuff that comes out of your washing machine drum…disgusting!!!! Not a lot,if people think,i doing this..it may not just be laundry detergent it may be mold and mildew allergies as well that are effecting you
I got tired of having hives on my arms all the times. So I started washing my things twice.
Try this it worked for me and I had a very bad raised allergic rash which is now gone.
1. The first wash with half the regular amount of laundry soap and hot water.
2. I leave the items in the washing machine and wash them a second time (without laundry soap ) in hot water. This gets all the soap out.
3. If I wash a blanket or quilt I run the machine twice with hot water only to get all the soap out.
I now have lost the raised red rash on my arms and sneeze half as much as I did before.
I think I developed the sensitivity because I worked as a Operating Nurse for twenty years. Back then I had to scrub my skin for surgery and it became a hypersensitivity problem.
I use Ecos washing liquid or the Method brand free & clear. I am severely allergic to many things & most fragrances. I have even had a reaction to using my washer after someone washed with a different detergent in it so it is pretty severe. Ecos brand is at Walmart and Target & Method brand is at Target. I’ve had these allergies for 20 years now. Good luck!
After having swelling of my eyes and various other eye symptoms I finally narrowed down my laundry detergent as the cause. I switched to free & clear and have been using it for about a month. Today I used my freshly washed makeup remover cloth and my eyes have swelled up all over again. The skin around my eyes is irritated, red & burning. Guess I’m going to have to switch to a plant based detergent!
I had the same problem for years until I started using magnets in my water. They have the same effect on the water as detergents so your clothes get clean without the chemicals. Here’s an article: https://medium.com/@celanbryant/the-magnetic-laundry-system-mls-never-buy-laundry-detergent-again-847fb7b24fdd
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I see no one has mentioned MI (Methylisothiazlinone). I’ve always had eczema and very sensitive/allergy prone skin since I was a child and try to avoid fragrance etc. After some new skin issues all over I’ve finally realized it is this chemical giving me all the issues. It is in absolutely everything. Google it. It’s overwhelming. It was in my Paul Mitchell shampoo, Trader Joe’s body lotion, Method dish soap, Trader Joe’s dishwasher liquid, and Ecos liquid laundry detergent. It is a preservative from the -isothiazolinone family, so check the labels and if you see anything that ends in that, avoid!!!!!
It’s in all Method dish soap, most liquid laundry detergents (even free and clear/baby ones/seventh generation/etc), liquid dishwasher detergents, and some toiletries.
I’m still on the hunt for a good laundry detergent (preferably liquid as powders can risk clogging of your pipes) that is MI free. Trying Everspring Free and Clear from Target now but it’s not perfect either.
Surprisingly Ecos Free and clear dish soap and their liquid dishwasher detergent does NOT have MI although their laundry detergents do.
Good luck to all. It’s awful.
Constant painful itching that makes you wanna cry & scream is sooo awful. Going thru it myself. It’s like this mystery case I try to solve for 6 months. But now I may be pointed in the right direction after reading these posts! What happens to me is suddenly I get a prickly feeling sometimes then comes the unbearable itching!! It’s maddening! I usually get a flare up of 3-4 red bumps that look & feel like a flea bite. (it’s not fleas) But the bumps are more hard than like a blister. Sometimes it feels like they have a scab days later. I immediately reach for itching cream or calomine lotion & alchohol has sometimes helped. (On the skin! Even tho this could easily drive someone to drink!) The next day I may have a new group of bumps (usually on torso & chest & back) But sometimes the insane itching begins & it comes from the same bumps the prior day! Weird! Usually after maybe a week the old bumps shrink & no longer itch but they are making my skin ugly by leaving red or brownish marks where they were. I’ve been noticing it usually happens when I have a lot of clothing on & if I take clothing off not always but sometimes the itching calms down a bit! It makes me think it sounds like a heat rash, but I didn’t think heat rash causes a few red hard bumps. But I will start looking into detergents. I almost always wear cotton because polyester makes me feel kind of itchy-but no rash. Wish me luck! I need it badly!! Thanks for listening. Cherilyn
My 20 yr old daughter got this bright idea of cleaning her mattress so she used some Woolite on her mattress and most likely slept on it. My best guess is that it was still kind of damp and came in contact with her face because she said she was having a reaction and I noticed a rash and swelling on her face. I applied an ointment for rashes and the next morning it had gotten worse. I then took her to her clinic and medication was prescribed. Just as you mentioned her right cheek and right side of her lip became swollen and irritated and the next morning there were also two blisters on her cheek. That’s when I decided to get medical attention. Its now 5/17/20. I was told by the doctor on duty to bring her back today. Based on how the irritation looks, he will determine if I need to bring her to a hospital instead so I’m hoping the medication will begin to clear it up. Your article has been very helpful.