Can Laundry Detergent Cause Acne? True Facts Explained

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Have you ever thought, despite trying everything, why are you still having acne? You have not thought about one ingredient which might be the reason for your back-to-back acne series. Yes! We are talking about laundry detergent used for washing clothes and bedsheets.

You might love the delightful scent of your laundry detergent, but this can be the ultimate enemy of your acne. Now you might be surprised thinking that can laundry detergent cause acne? 

The short answer is: Yes. The ingredients of a laundry detergent, especially fragrance, can be the reason for acne. Besides, many other factors may contribute to your acne growth. 

In the below discussions, you will know more about why laundry detergent causes acne and what the remedy is to get rid of the situation.

Can Laundry Detergent Cause Acne?

Yes, laundry detergent can cause acne when your skin is allergic to any of the ingredients of your laundry detergent. The enzyme and fragrance are two main components of a detergent that cause such skin issues.

Moreover, so many laundry detergents contain chemicals that cause pore-clogging. For that reason, after a while, your skin may break out into pimples without your knowledge. The cloth’s waxy residue after washing can potentially adhere to your skin and cause acne on your body.

In addition, we wash most of our fabrics with detergent, from clothes to bedsheets. “Fragrance” refers to the scent of laundry detergent on our clothes. We may like the fragrance left on our clothes or bedsheets, but it can harm our skin.

The journal of toxicology found that 516 women who wore clothes washed with laundry detergent did not experience any rashes or acne after wearing the clothes. But they also tested wearing a patch soaked in detergent for 48 hours, and 0.7% of people developed skin irritations. That means if the skin is in touch directly with the detergent, that will cause acne.

On the other hand, many people believe the fabric is the cause of their acne but forget the substance they used to wash the cloth. Many dermatologists have recommended using acne-safe laundry detergent to prevent acne. Many brands have also come up with acne-safe laundry detergents.

Overall, we can say that laundry detergent can cause acne. Still, the outcome is not as excessive until you have sensitive skin or allergies. 

Why Does Laundry Detergent Cause Acne?

Laundry detergents carry some harsh ingredients that are harmful to our skin. We can feel rough in our hands even when we wash our clothes using only our bare hands with detergent. Those ingredients are made to eliminate stubborn specks of dirt from our clothes. Sometimes the laundry detergent leaves wax residue in our clothes and bedsheets, which is the number one reason for causing acne.

Detergents are made with lots of chemicals that can be left behind in our clothes if we don’t rinse them properly. And we don’t realize the residue because the chemicals usually get dry because of air. Thus, when we wear clothes, the chemicals touch our skin directly, causing acne and rashes.

In the latter portion, you will know about laundry detergent ingredients that may cause acne. If you have acne-prone sensitive skin and are allergic to those ingredients, then avoid them and purchase an acne-safe one.

Ingredient Of Laundry Detergents That May Cause Acne

If you have sensitive skin, these ingredients can harm your skin. Here is the list of components that are found in laundry detergent: 

Fragrance

The number one substance in detergent that causes acne is fragrance. The fragrance is mostly a combination of harmful chemicals that create an aroma. Even many cosmetic products contain fragrance that helps the skin break out. Some people are allergic to fragrances, so they develop acne when they come in contact with the scent.

However, it is very rare to get acne because of its fragrance. Although it is formulated following the safety cautions, people can get rashes if they have allergies in some cases.

Surfactants

Surfactants are also known as Laureth Sulfate/Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Detergents have surfactants that clean the cloth’s stubborn dirt and stains. Surfactants are essential in laundry soaps because they reduce the surface tension of liquids and increase their spreading and wetting properties, which is a great way to clean your clothes. 

But when it comes to the skin, surfactants may cause rashes and other irritations. Besides, it can clog the skin pores when the amount is so high. And finally, it may cause acne. 

Bleach

We all know how bleach is dangerous for our skin. Bleach can cause rashes and irritation for people who have sensitive skin. Laundry detergent contains 7% bleach that helps to remove stubborn stains from cloth. And whenever that bleach comes in touch with our bare hands, it can cause irritation, rashes, and other skin problems.

Enzymes

Laundry detergents have 15% enzymes that destroy bacteria and germs from the fabric. Although enzymes are not harmful to the skin, they can also cause acne for people with acne-prone or dry skin.

What To Do?

Once you have acne because of your laundry detergent, you should stop washing your clothes and bedsheet with the present laundry detergent. Use an acne-safe laundry detergent with no fragrance, enzyme, surfactants, or harsh chemicals. Rinse your clothes properly and ensure no waxy or foamy layers are there.

You may also use a fabric softener dispenser after washing your clothes. Marilee Nelson, an environmental consultant, said it removes all the traces of detergent and minerals that may have been left behind on the clothes. Therefore, the fabric won’t be contaminated by a harmful aroma. And finally, dry your clothes properly.

How To Treat Acne Caused By Laundry Detergent?

Suppose you already have acne because of the laundry detergent. In that case, you should not only change your detergent but also have to treat your acne. Here are some tips on how you can treat acne outbreaks:

Retinol

Retinols are great elements to get rid of acne. You can get results overnight by using it. However, you should take only a pea-sized amount of retinol for your whole face. 

Calamine Lotions

Calamine lotions are best for body acne and rashes. Using it twice daily will eliminate acne and rashes on the body.

Benzoyl Peroxide

An essential element for treating acne is benzoyl peroxide. You can get it in the form of a cleanser or moisturizer. Either way, it can treat and cure acne in one week.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic Acid is the main component for treating body or face acne. It’s a great exfoliator that will treat your acne faster than any other element.

FAQs

Can detergent cause fungal acne?

The wax residue from detergent has comedogenic ingredients that may clog skin pores. Hence, detergent can cause fungal acne.

What does an allergic reaction to laundry detergent look like?

You may feel itching all over your body if you get an allergic reaction to laundry detergents. The reaction can be excessive and spread to your whole body. It will also look like blisters and acne all over the skin.

What is hypoallergenic detergent?

A hypoallergenic detergent does not contain the chemicals and allergens, such as colors and scents, present in most brand-name detergents. If you use a hypoallergenic detergent, you won’t have to worry about your baby having an allergic reaction to their clothes. It will allow you to maintain the baby’s clothes cleaned and silky.

Conclusion

Laundry detergents are something that we encounter in our everyday life. That’s why most people ask, “Can laundry detergent cause acne?” Laundry detergent can cause acne and rashes, although it is rare.

You should rinse your clothes thoroughly and stop touching detergent with your bare hands. Whether you are allergic to it or not, laundry detergent ingredients can trigger acne and rashes. So, try to use acne-safe detergent and follow the guidelines.