My Skin is Itchy, Could Be The Laundry Detergent…
You have tried many ways to figure out what could be happening with your itchy skin.
First, you thought it was the sunscreen, then the makeup and so on… Then you thought it was the sweat, and you were getting closer but one day, just when you open your eyes early in the morning and you realized you had laundry to do… Boooom! I had a guess that could be the Laundry Detergent.
When taking a closer look at the bottle and read everything and guess what I was using way more product for the number of clothes.
We want them to smell nice and clean, so the more I use, more benefits I would get right? Not Actually…
Based on many researches, it is easy to find that there are many chemical products, including fragrance that in contact with our skin on a daily basis, and to be more specific, night and day, all the time, from the bed sheets we use to sleep on, to the everyday clothes, towels and many more…
If you want to go deep in the researches, you may find that even your washing machine could be the one to blame, if it is not rinsing the clothes properly.
Or you are loading the device with some many products that are impossible for the machine to rinse them thoroughly!
That shows us that many times, we are in touch with elements that we have no idea, that could be uncomfortable for our skin.
First of all, if you have sensitive skin, fragrance-free and dye-free are the best options for you and your family.
How Can the Laundry Detergent Cause Irritation To My Skin?
Remember one thing, chemical components on a laundry detergent are made to take out the dirt and grease from clothes.
If the scent can stay in your clothes, so the dyer and other chemical products, that in contact with your skin, break down the oil (natural shield) causing the itchy or irritation on your skin.
Usually, babies and young kids are the most vulnerable for irritation skin caused by laundry soap, so if you have kids and they are suffering from itchy skin, BUT NOT under the diaper/underwear that is another strong clue that the laundry detergent is the one to blame.
First Signs of Irritation Skin Caused By Laundry Detergent
- Red Skin
- Itching skin turning into intense from time to time
- Skin Rash
- Cracked Skin
- Hives
- Sun sensitivity
- Burning Skin
How to Prevent Itchy Skin Caused by Laundry Detergent?
There are many DIY ways to address this situation and here are the most efficient and immediate solutions.
Rinse your clothes twice – Many times that is enough to get rid of the excess of product accumulated in the clothes.
Some laundry machines work in different settings. Other times, many people do not read all the label instructions on the detergent and realize that they could be using a lot less product and have the same cleaning effect.
Natural Ways to Clean Clothes
Baking Soda and Apple Vinegar For Cleaning Clothes Naturally – If you are a fan of natural stuff and you still didn’t know about this alternative, you can use 1/2 cup of vinegar OR 1/2 cup of baking soda – Not both together – for the batch of clothes you are washing, and you will be surprised that they are going to brighten and soften your clothes.
Your Own Laundry Detergent – Borax, Washing Soda and Olive Oil Based Castile soap. Are the ingredients you need for saving money and clean clothes naturally as well.
If you have stains on the clothes, drop some apple vinegar, washing soda and baking soda, letting these natural ingredients to sit for a while fifteen to thirty minutes (15-30 min) before washing the piece in the machine.
Washing The Washing Machine – For a good start on everything, just run your machine empty (no clothes) with hot water and 1/2 cup of apple vinegar and baking soda.
Dryer Balls – The ones made of plastic, wood, rubber reduce static. They are good alternatives to avoid exposure to irritants also present on fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
Other Irritant Skin Reactions – If you are still trying to find the root cause of an allergic reaction, the quickest way to find out is a visit to a Dermatologist that could diagnose precisely what is going on.
On the other hand, we always want to have an idea previously what could be the root cause.
For your knowledge this is also called Allergic Contact Dermatitis – When a specific component in contact with our skin, affects the area with sensibility, triggering a reaction to your skin as described in the introduction of this post.
Could be triggered by food, medicine, perfumes so we have to be aware as much as we can before taking any action.
Otherwise, you could be trying many things and not finding the root cause of the issue.
The Most Common Allergens besides Laundry Detergent are:
- Nickel, used in coins, jewelry, buckles…
- Medications, such as antibiotic creams and oral antihistamines
- Balsam of Peru, used in many products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, mouth rinses, and flavorings
- Formaldehyde, which is in preservatives, disinfectants, and clothing
- Personal care products, such as deodorants, body washes, hair dyes, and cosmetics
- Plants such as poison ivy and mango, which contain a highly allergenic substance called urushiol
- Airborne substances, such as ragweed pollen and spray insecticides
- Products that cause a reaction when you’re in the sun (photoallergic contact dermatitis), such as some sunscreens and oral medications
If I don’t treat well the Causes, What Else Could Happen?
Expect Complications. If you are able to address many of the causes described in this post, I’m pretty confident you will be able to get rid of this issue that affects more people than we imagine.
Contact Dermatitis, if not treated, can lead to an infection. Mainly because the ones suffering from it repeatedly scratch the affected area, causing it to become wet and oozing. This creates a right place for bacteria or fungi to grow and may cause an infection.
