A laundry detergent allergy can cause an itchy, red rash to appear after wearing newly cleaned clothes.
Other possible symptoms include hot skin, swelling, blisters, or bumps.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
What Is a Laundry Detergent Allergy?
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Having a laundry detergent allergy doesn’t necessarily mean you are allergic to a certain brand.
Laundry detergent can cause an allergic reaction when it contains one or more ingredients that you are allergic to.
When you wear clothes that have been washed in them, your body has a negative reaction calledcontact dermatitis.
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The biggest culprits are fragrances, preservatives, and surfactants.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Some people might also be allergic to dyes used to color the detergent.
Contact with a strong chemical is called irritant contact dermatitis.
Fragrances
Fragrance chemicals are added to laundry detergent to make it smell good.
However, these chemicals can cause allergic reactions.
Preservatives
Preservatives are added to laundry detergent to help protect against contamination.
One group of preservatives, called parabens, has received a lot of negative attention in the media.
These chemicals are thought to beendocrine disruptors, meaning they might mimic or interfere with hormones in the body.
In reality, allergic reactions to parabens are rare.
Other Ingredients to Know About
Other ingredients may cause skin irritation or allergies in some people.
In the existing studies, researchers often remain uncertain about the relationship between ingredient exposure and allergic reactions.
Study authors concluded that an allergic reaction to these ingredients was possible but rare.
How Is a Laundry Detergent Allergy Diagnosed?
You may be able to see your primary care provider for a diagnosis.
Or your primary care provider may refer you to anallergistfor specialized care.
Then, the provider can determine the culprit with a series ofpatch tests.
These patches must stay in place and cannot get wet.
After 48 hours, the patches are removed.
Your healthcare provider will then assess your skin to look for negative reactions.
To assess for delayed reactions, you will return after another 48 hours have passed to be reassessed.
Also, in some cases, atopical corticosteroidmay be prescribed to manage inflammation and itch.
Laundry allergies will likely persist as long as you continue to use the same detergent.
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