Allergic Reactions To Laundry Detergents

Your immune system is responsible for defending the body against bacteria and viruses. In some cases, your immune system will defend against substances that typically don’t pose a threat to the human body. These substances are known as allergens, and when your body reacts to them, it causes an allergic reaction.

What signs show that you are reacting to your laundry detergent?

You may firstly experience dermatitis. Dermatitis is a general term that describes a skin irritation. It is a common condition that has many causes and occurs in many forms. It usually involves itchy, dry skin or a rash which causes the skin to get swollen on reddened and can occur anywhere on the body

Many people who have realised they are allergic to or are sensitive to laundry detergents tend to purchase “hypoallergenic” products. The term “hypoallergenic” means the detergent contains few allergy-producing substances known as allergens.

Many hypoallergenic laundry products eliminate common allergens which could be from the fragrances or the colours. The hypoallergenic label can be very helpful to those persons whose skin is sensitive or tends to get irritated more easily. However, it’s important to note that “hypoallergenic” doesn’t necessarily mean it is completely free from causing skin allergies.

How can you detect that detergents are the causes of your dermatitis?

Chances are, if you suddenly develop a random skin rash, you’re likely to first of all consider the food you’ve eaten, a drink you might have taken, or a new skin-care product you were introduced to but have you considered that your dermatitis may be as a result of your laundry detergent?

Hand dermatitis is quite common and may be obvious because you may react soon after a hand washing Saturday morning. However with face or body dermatitis, if the rash is present on one side of your face and you usually sleep on your sides, then your detergent could be the culprit. You should also ask yourself whether you’ve recently switched detergents or if you only get rashes when you sleep in a hotel or a guest house. Know that, substandard detergents are notorious for causing dermatitis.

Can I Manage The Symptoms?

The easiest way to determine whether you’re allergic to the detergent you’ve been using is by switching to a different detergent. It is likely that you could be sensitive to an ingredient in a particular detergent, note the brand name and try an entirely different detergent. As much as possible, Search for a natural, eco-friendly formula that’s free of all the most common allergens. If your skin irritations goes away after the change, it could be that the old detergent is responsible.

At Smile Laundry, we only use eco-friendly non-toxic cleaning agents, while avoiding life-threatening carcinogens like Perc which is highly cancerous.