Laundry detergent is something most of us use on a regular basis without much thought. But could our trusty Tide or Gain be the culprit behind those mysterious red welts popping up on our skin?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes – your run-of-the-mill laundry detergent can sometimes trigger uncomfortable hives.
What Are Hives?
Hives, also known as urticaria, are red, itchy rashes that appear on the skin as a result of the swelling of the skin’s outer layer. Each individual hive can range in size from a few millimeters to the size of a dinner plate. They may first appear circular but can merge together into larger blotchy areas.
Some key facts about hives:
- They are often triggered by an allergy, but other factors like stress or temperature extremes can also cause them
- The itching is usually the most bothersome symptom
- Most singular cases resolve within 24 hours, but chronic hives can recur for months or years
- Antihistamines and corticosteroid creams are commonly used to treat hives
Laundry Detergents Can Trigger Hives in Sensitive Individuals
Laundry detergent contains a number of ingredients that can trigger hives in people prone to skin sensitivities or allergies. The main offenders are typically the cleaning agents, fragrances, and preservatives.
Surfactants make up the cleaning agents that work to penetrate fabrics and help lift away grime and oils. Common surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate are known irritants and can disrupt the skin’s protective outer layer, allowing allergens in.
Added perfumes and dyes also commonly cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis. Sensitive skin may react to these artificial fragrances and chemicals with redness, itching, and hive breakouts.
Finally, preservatives help extend the shelf life of liquid detergents. However, they can also provoke skin reactions in those with allergies, especially when they come into contact with skin that’s recently been wet or damp.
Who’s At Risk for Laundry Detergent Hives?
Those most at risk for experiencing laundry detergent-induced hives include people with:
- Sensitive skin
- Known skin allergies
- Eczema
- Respiratory allergies like hay fever
- Past reactions to soaps, cosmetics, or other skin products
Babies and children typically have more sensitive skin that can react with hives to irritants that don’t bother most adults. Expectant mothers are also at an increased risk while pregnant.
Keep in mind that even if you haven’t had a skin reaction in the past, new product formulations or emergent allergies mean you could still suddenly develop hives from doing laundry.
What Do Laundry Detergent Hives Look Like?
Hives caused by laundry detergent contact will generally emerge within minutes to hours after exposure. You may first notice:
- Tingling or burning skin
- Small, red bumps or welts
- Intense and sudden itching
As the reaction spreads, the telltale raised, puffy white or red patches with defined edges will begin to appear. These irritated areas of swelling can merge and cover large portions of the body in extreme cases.
The hives are usually most prominent wherever the skin made direct contact with the laundry detergent residues. For example – on the hands and arms or along the collar, waist, and leg hems where clothes sit close to the body.
The Hives Can Linger After Just One Exposure
It only takes one exposure to an offending laundry detergent to trigger hives in those prone to skin sensitivities. The welts themselves may only stick around for 24-48 hours. However, hives can also continue recurring for weeks to months after if the immune system remains on high alert.
This reaction is known as chronic inducible urticaria. It involves elevated immunoglobin E (IgE) antibodies that remember the initial allergenic trigger. Subsequent exposures prompt an immediate release of inflammatory histamines without needing to reprocess the original irritant.
In essence, once the body identifies a new threat like laundry detergent hives, it can remain primed to react again long after the first hive-inducing incident. The tendency for recurring reactions can make treating the root cause difficult.
Effective Treatments for Laundry Detergent Hives
If your sudden skin swelling and itching stems from switching laundry detergents or wearing clothes washed in a new brand, effective treatment involves:
1. Identifying and eliminating the trigger
Switch back to your regular non-offending brand if the timing points to a recent detergent swap sparking symptoms. This allows symptoms to resolve while preventing repeat exposures and further skin irritation.
Carefully washing any remaining residue out of clothing and linens can help hasten recovery too. An extra rinse cycle dilution wash helps remove excess soap or chemicals from already laundered items.
2. Taking antihistamines
Oral antihistamines like Allegra, Claritin, or Zyrtec counter the histamine reaction causing swelling and itching. Starting antihistamines at the first signs of hives can help minimize severity and duration.
3. Using corticosteroid creams
Low-dose hydrocortisone cream decreases inflammation to relieve itching and swelling. Applying it sparingly to the affected areas as needed combats laundry detergent hives without thinning the skin with long-term use.
4. Protecting the skin
Carefully shielding the skin from water, heat, cold, pressure, and friction can prevent secondary hive flares until the reaction runs its course. Loose, breathable clothing reduces contact irritation. Lukewarm showers also prevent added swelling.
5. Living with sensitivity
For those prone to recurrent hives, taking note of triggers allows you to avoid offending irritants. See an allergy specialist to pinpoint problem ingredients and customize treatment if chronic hives persist despite your best efforts.
The Bottom Line
Laundry detergents can cause hives in those with sensitivities. The blend of fragrances, chemicals, and preservatives is a common trigger with symptoms emerging within minutes to hours post-exposure.
Take note if timing points to a new detergent as the likely catalyst. Eliminating further contact allows the reaction to resolve while preventing aggravating repeat flares. Safeguarding your skin, antihistamines, steroids creams, and avoiding triggers limits discomfort until the hives fully clear.
While frustrating, laundry detergent hives are typically temporary and not dangerous for otherwise healthy adults. But seek emergency care if you experience any signs of a severe reaction like wheezing, throat swelling, or fainting accompanying the outbreak.
References:
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2022). Hives (urticaria). https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/library/allergy-library/hives-urticaria
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2022). Skin allergies. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/skin-allergies
John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Hives. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hives
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.