There are many people who are allergic towards laundry detergents. They get it when their skin comes in direct contact with a particular detergent while using it. Those who do not handle detergent may develop it after wearing clothes or using bedding washed in it. The main culprit of detergent allergy is the chemicals present in it which act as an irritant for the skin. Generally, those chemicals that are used to make its various laundry detergent ingredients such as dyes, perfumes and bleaching agent are responsible for this. Residues of such chemicals remain in the fabric of the clothes even after rinsing and cause allergic skin reaction. Those people who have highly sensitive skin are at a higher risk of getting this kind of allergy.

Symptoms of Detergent Allergy

The allergic symptoms usually show up as soon as you are exposed to the allergen (the detergent). Sometimes, they are observed a day or two after the exposure. You get allergy symptoms when the immune system of your body assume a specific component of the detergent to be harmful and release various antibodies like histamines. As a result, the body responds with inflammatory symptoms so that the allergens can be eliminated.

Basically, detergent allergy is a kind of skin allergy. Therefore, the main symptoms are observed on the skin surface itself. Initially, an itching sensation is felt in all those parts which are exposed to the detergent. It means the itchiness is localized to all those patches where your clothes come in contact with the skin. If you have handled the detergent then you are going to experience irritation on your hands. After sometime, the skin becomes dry and scaly.

When skin is continuously exposed to the allergen, then it results in skin inflammation. It can be identified with reddening of the skin and eruption of raised detergent allergy rash. These rashes give a stinging or burning sensation and are tender to touch. Gradually, they develop into fluid filled blisters that start oozing out. Eventually, the skin breaks and crust is formed on its surface. The condition of the rashes worsens with exposure to the sun.

While using the detergent, if it goes into your eyes, then it irritates its mucous membranes causing red and itchy eyes. Later on, it may lead to allergic conjunctivitis that causes watery discharge from the eyes. In some cases, the respiratory system may get affected by the fumes of detergent and symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, wheezing are observed. Read more…