Contact Dermatitis: Is Your Detergent Causing Skin Irritation?

Laundry detergent is meant to make you feel comfortable in your clothes, but if you’re experiencing itchiness, you may be wearing the very thing that’s irritating your skin. The detergent you’re using can remain on your clothes and cause skin irritation, known as contact dermatitis.

Whether you’re allergic to detergent or irritated by one of its ingredients, understanding your condition can make a difference. Learn what contact dermatitis looks like and what could be causing it.

Can Laundry Detergent Cause Contact Dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction caused by interaction with an irritant or allergen. Laundry detergent contains chemicals and certain ingredients that can cause these reactions.

When you wash clothes, traces of the laundry detergent may remain on them. When you wear those clothes, the leftover chemicals come in contact with your skin and cause an inflammatory reaction.

What Does a Detergent Rash Look Like?

Detergent rashes appear as red, itchy areas, possibly with bumps and blisters. The affected skin may appear dry, cracked, or scaly and can swell.

Several chemicals and ingredients in laundry detergent can cause detergent rashes, so it can be difficult to pinpoint what is causing the reaction. However, the reactions typically fall into two categories: irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.

Knowing which type of reaction you’re experiencing can help identify the ingredients at fault. While they’re very similar, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis have distinguishing features, though they can coexist.

Types of Contact Dermatitis

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common form and occurs when harsh chemicals damage the skin’s outer layer. These reactions appear almost immediately, especially for those with sensitive skin.

Some people experience a reaction after a single exposure to strong irritants, while others develop a rash after continuous exposure to mild irritants. Some may even develop a tolerance to certain substances.

Symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis include:

• Dryness and redness with clear borders
• Burning or stinging sensation
• Sudden appearance

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Unlike irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis is caused by an allergen in laundry detergent, or potentially another product you’re using. When experiencing a detergent rash, you might assume you’re having an allergic reaction, but true laundry detergent allergies are rare.

While less common, allergic contact dermatitis caused by laundry detergent can worsen over time and needs more management. Allergic contact dermatitis requires sensitization, where the immune system is initially exposed to a certain allergen and develops a sensitivity to it. Reactions start gradually and often worsen after each exposure.

Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis include:

• Dryness and redness with unclear borders
• Cracked or flaky skin
• Bumps or blisters
• Slow, gradual appearance

4 Ingredients That Could Be Causing Irritation

For individuals experiencing skin reactions to laundry detergent, irritation can be caused by almost any ingredient. However, certain ones tend to cause issues more often than others.

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals typically used to soften and strengthen plastics. They are used in various products, from vinyl flooring to hair products. In laundry detergents, phthalates make artificial fragrances last longer and alter the liquid’s consistency, but they can cause skin irritation.

Phthalates have been linked to several worrying side effects beyond irritating the skin. Studies show that phthalates may affect the body’s hormone production, possibly affecting reproductive functions such as fertility, child development, and pregnancy success.

Detergent companies have begun to turn away from phthalates. However, companies do not have to disclose that they use phthalates. Some detergents explicitly state they are phthalate-free on the label. For those with sensitive skin, consider a fragrance-free product.

Dyes

Natural and synthetic dyes have long been recognized as triggers for allergic contact dermatitis. While dyes are often used for cosmetic purposes, most traditional detergents use blue dyes to make whites appear whiter. Modern detergents shifted to synthetic dyes known as optical brighteners to achieve this effect, but many companies are transitioning to dye-free detergents.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

Fabric softeners became a laundry room staple for making washed clothes feel softer. This laundry additive contains quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats, which help kill bacteria and soften fabrics. However, quats have been linked to health and environmental issues.

Recent studies link repeated quat exposure to contact dermatitis and respiratory issues. While these studies mostly focus on disinfectants and antiseptics, the presence of quats in fabric softeners could be irritating to the skin. Opt for a quat-free product, such as dryer balls, instead of fabric softener or dryer sheets.

Phosphates

Phosphates have been used as a water softener in detergents, increasing their cleaning efficiency, but these chemical compounds were scrutinized for their environmental damage. They cause nutrient pollution that leads to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.

Phosphates have also been associated with health concerns. They have been linked with skin and eye irritation and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Phosphates, which are also used in dishwashing detergents, can be the cause of contact dermatitis.

In 1994, phosphates were banned in laundry detergents. However, they’re still used in heavy-duty commercial cleaning detergents. Check the formula on your detergent to ensure phosphates are not present.

While some initially believed phosphate-free formulas might compromise cleaning power, many newer detergents are designed to clean well without them. A good detergent should work in both hard and soft water, and plenty of phosphate-free detergents can help soften water and thoroughly clean your clothes.

Tips to Prevent Contact Dermatitis

• Avoid irritants and allergens: If you know the substances you’re allergic or sensitive to, look out for them in the detergent’s ingredient list. 
• Use dye- and fragrance-free detergent: People with sensitive skin may be more prone to skin irritation by dyes and fragrances. Opt for a detergent without these added substances.
• Rinse twice: Run your load through two cycles to reduce detergent residue on your clothes. Using hot water can increase the likelihood of killing allergens.
• Use dryer balls: Typically made of wool, dryer balls are an alternative to fabric softener that can soften your clothes without irritants.
• Wash your washing machine: If you’ve used a detergent that has caused an outbreak, residue may be left in the washing machine. Run a hot water cycle with baking soda and vinegar to clear soap scum and chemical residue.
• Use alternatives to detergent: Baking soda and vinegar can be used as a natural cleaning solution. Alternatively, make your own laundry detergent using washing soda and borax. However, these alternatives can damage your clothes and the washer.

What Is the Best Laundry Detergent To Prevent Contact Dermatitis?

Preventing contact dermatitis looks different for everyone. What irritates one person may not irritate another. However, there are general things to look for in detergents to lessen the chances of contact dermatitis.

Avoid detergents with any ingredients you know you’re allergic to. Look for detergents without dyes, phosphates, 1,4-dioxane, and phthalates. For sensitive skin, find a fragrance-free detergent.

Freddie is an alternative to traditional laundry detergents. Clinically tested for skin irritation, our detergent sheets showed no skin irritation in the 100-subject RIPT study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Number One Cause of Contact Dermatitis?

The main cause of contact dermatitis is direct contact with an irritant, known as irritant contact dermatitis. Common irritants include solvents, detergents, and soaps, and often cause reactions immediately after contact.

Final Thoughts

Everyone loves the feeling of freshly cleaned clothes, but laundry can become a nightmare when those lovely, soft clothes start itching. Contact dermatitis can be painful and frustrating, but alternatives exist to help solve skin irritation.

Freddie provides an alternative to traditional detergents that may contain common irritants. Free of bleach, phosphates, dyes, and 1,4-dioxane, Freddie laundry detergent sheets deliver a powerful cleaning and even come in a fragrance-free option for sensitive skin.