Dealing with sensitive skin often requires thorough research to ensure that the product you’re using will not cause a rash. However, sometimes, what works for one person with sensitive skin doesn’t work for another.
Trial and error are often needed to find the right detergent formula. Knowing how to choose a detergent is essential to protecting your skin. Explore what to look out for in your laundry detergent and how to choose the best one for you.
What Laundry Detergent Do Dermatologists Recommend for Sensitive Skin?
People with sensitive skin tend to suffer from irritant contact dermatitis, where harsh chemicals damage the skin’s outer layer. When detergents riddled with irritants are used to wash your clothes, they can become an itchy nightmare.
Instead of detergents made with fragrances, dyes, and surfactants, look for detergents that offer alternative ingredients or omit them altogether.
Freddie is a dermatologist-tested alternative to traditional liquid laundry detergent. A 100-subject RIPT study observed no skin irritation, and our detergent sheets contain no bleach, dyes, phosphates, 1,4-dioxane, or parabens. Using a natural surfactant, Freddie breaks down dirt and grime without the harsh chemical surfactants found in some other traditional detergents.
Signs Your Detergent May Be Irritating Your Skin
- Skin redness and irritation
- Dry, cracked, or scaly skin
- Severe burning or stinging
- Swelling
- Hives or rash
- Bumps and blisters
Common Laundry Detergent Ingredients to Avoid
Fragrances
Fragrances are notorious for irritating sensitive skin. They are added to make your clothes smell fresh, but they contain a mix of chemicals that can irritate your skin. In particular, phthalates may be the culprit of your skin irritation.
Used to make artificial fragrances last longer and give detergent its “goopy” consistency, phthalates are responsible for a number of health issues beyond irritating the skin. Unfortunately, it’s tough to avoid specific fragrance chemicals triggering reactions. Companies do not need to disclose their use of phthalates and can simply list “fragrance” in their ingredients, so it’s best to avoid fragrance altogether to reduce skin irritation.
Dyes
Natural and synthetic dyes have long been used in laundry detergents. Often used for cosmetic purposes, these dyes are typically blue to make white clothes appear whiter. While modern detergents have shifted to optical brighteners to achieve this effect, these synthetic dyes can still irritate your skin. Look for a dye-free detergent that is kinder to your skin.
Surfactants
Surface-active agents, or surfactants, are common cleaning agents in laundry detergents. They break up dirt and oils from your clothes and attach them to the water, ensuring they are rinsed when the water drains from the washer.
Some surfactants are harsh on the skin, stripping away its oils and allowing dryness and irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are common surfactants that can cause skin irritation.
Phosphates
Phosphates were typically used in laundry detergent as a water softener before their ban in 1994. Despite the ban, phosphates are still used in heavy-duty commercial cleaning detergents. These chemical compounds can cause skin and eye irritation, among other health and environmental concerns.
While some feel that detergents' cleaning power has suffered due to the phosphate ban, phosphate-free products have earned their place in many laundry routines. Ensure your detergent does not list phosphates in its ingredients or specifies that it is phosphate-free.
Preservatives
Preservatives are used to increase the lifespan of laundry detergents. While they can help prevent the growth of mold or bacteria, they can also irritate the skin and have a history of causing allergic contact dermatitis.
Parabens are preservatives used to combat bacteria and mold growth in laundry detergent. These chemical compounds have been associated with several health risks, including endocrine disruption and allergic reactions.
Formaldehyde is an antibacterial agent used in laundry detergent. Classified as a probable carcinogen, it can irritate your respiratory system and cause eye and skin irritation.
1,4-Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane, or dioxane, is a trace contaminant created as a byproduct of ethoxylation, a process used to create many laundry detergents. While ethoxylated ingredients are not a big concern, byproducts like dioxane are potential carcinogens. Dioxane can cause nose, eye, throat, and skin irritation.
Because dioxane is a byproduct, companies don’t need to disclose it on ingredient lists. However, looking for ethoxylated ingredients can give you an idea whether a product contains dioxane. Ethoxylated ingredients typically have “eth” in their name, such as sodium laureth sulfate.
Searching for ethoxylated ingredients can be tedious. Avoid laundry detergents created through ethoxylation to curb dioxane altogether, or look for detergents that specify that they are 1,4-dioxane-free.
9 Laundry Tips for Those With Sensitive Skin
Avoid Common Irritants
Read the labels on laundry detergents and look for detergents free of dyes, fragrances, and other harsh irritants. If you know what ingredients irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction, avoid those as well.
Use the Right Amount of Detergent
A common misconception is that the more detergent you use, the cleaner your clothes will be. Using too much detergent can actually be detrimental to you, your clothes, and your washer. Not only does using too much detergent hurt your bank account, but it also makes your washer work harder to wash it all out.
If detergent isn’t properly rinsed out of your clothes, the residue can cause skin irritation. Typically, only 1-2 tablespoons of detergent is needed, but read garment labels to know how much detergent to use and additional directions, like whether to wash in warm or cold water.
Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them
Wash new (or new-to-you) clothes before wearing them to prevent skin irritation. Many clothing brands add finishers and chemicals to their clothing to improve appearance and lessen wrinkling when shipping. These chemicals can irritate sensitive skin or cause allergic reactions.
Clothes can also carry fragrances from past owners or people who have tried them in-store. Washing your clothes before you wear them can remove irritants and allergens and reduce the likelihood of breaking out.
Separate Your Loads
If someone in your family has sensitive skin, it would be wise for the whole family to use an appropriate detergent. However, separating your loads based on fabric type and soil level can also help reduce irritation. Using the fitting settings for each load can maintain the softness of your fabrics.
Separating your delicates and heavier items reduces the friction on your softer items. Less agitation means less wear and tear and less irritation on your sensitive skin.
Rinse Twice
Laundry detergent can sometimes cling to clothes and not fully wash out. This residue can cause itches and discomfort if not addressed. Consider using two rinse cycles to wash out more detergent residue and avoid buildup.
Use Dryer Balls
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets typically contain quaternary ammonium compounds, or quats. While these chemical compounds help kill bacteria and soften fabrics, they can cause skin irritation. Dryer balls are a quat-free alternative to traditional fabric softeners. Typically made from wool, dryer balls can help soften your clothes without the irritants.
Avoid Overloading the Washer
Ensure you load the washer to an appropriate level. Overloading the washer can prevent your clothes from being thoroughly rinsed, and the leftover detergent can irritate the skin on contact.
An overly packed washer can also generate more friction between your articles of clothing. Your delicate and sensitive fabrics can lose their softness as they brush against rougher items.
Dry Your Clothes Inside
Air drying your clothes is an eco-friendly alternative to using your dryer, but doing so outside invites allergens to cling to your clothes. If you prefer to air dry, hang a clothesline inside or use a drying rack to avoid gathering allergens that can irritate your skin.
Clean Your Washer and Dryer
If you’ve used a laundry detergent that has caused skin irritation, some detergent residue may have been left behind in the washer and dryer. If you’ve switched detergents and are still experiencing skin irritation, it may not be the new detergent but rather the residue left behind in your washer and dryer.
Run your washer through a hot water cycle with vinegar and baking soda to clear chemical residue. Wipe the dryer drum with a damp cloth dipped in warm, soapy water to collect any lint and remove residue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin Sheets?
The best laundry detergent for sensitive skin varies by person. Some ingredients will irritate one person, while they don’t affect another. Avoid detergents with allergens and irritants that you know affect you. It’s also a good rule of thumb to avoid dyes, fragrances, and parabens in detergents.
How Do I Choose Laundry Detergent for Eczema and Allergy-Prone Skin?
Avoid laundry detergents with certain ingredients that can cause eczema flare-ups and allergic reactions. Fragrances, surfactants, and preservatives are common irritants, and dyes can worsen symptoms. Search for fragrance- and dye-free detergents with no harsh additives or known allergens.
Final Thoughts
Everyone should be able to wear their clothes without worrying about skin irritation. Finding the right laundry detergent for your sensitive skin can take some trial and error, but once you do, you’ll enjoy fresh, clean clothes without the flare-ups.
Freddie laundry detergent sheets offer an alternative to traditional detergents and are made without dyes, bleach, phosphates, 1,4-dioxane, or parabens—commonly avoided ingredients for those with sensitive skin.
