Best Laundry Products
for Eczema and Sensitive Skin
My daughter and I both experience eczema symptoms. As a physician assistant, I've treated countless clients with contact dermatitis from the wrong laundry products.
Laundry products can trigger symptoms for individuals who suffer from eczema and sensitive skin. The best treatment for eczema and sensitive skin is to identify and avoid irritants and triggers.
Let's look at the best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin.
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Less is More
The best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin is BASIC. Keep it simple. Choose fragrance-free formulations. Popular branding terms are free, gentle, hypoallergenic, sensitive and unscented.
Laundry detergents that seem to be well tolerated by individuals with eczema and sensitive skin include All free & clear, Biokleen free and clear and Charlie's Soap (commissions earned).
Unlearning may be Required
Acknowledge that your laundry ritual may have been learned from whomever taught you to do laundry, and that all steps may not be necessary or could look different.
For example, my husband thinks garments that have been washed with unscented laundry products "don't smell clean," but he doesn't have eczema and sensitive skin irritated by "fresh scent" products!
Ditch Dryer Sheets
You can typically find dryer sheets of the same or similar brand as the laundry detergent you tolerate (all, biokleen, bounce). Try wool dryer balls instead - they're not only gentle for your skin, but also eco-friendly and cost effective (commissions earned).
You can also hang dry certain fabrics that feel great on eczema-prone and sensitive skin, such as bamboo blends to maintain their softness.
Spot Stain Removers are Fine
Miss Mouth's Messy Eater or Shout Laundry Stain Remover should suffice for spot treating a small area. Be leery of soaks such as OxiClean Free Versatile Stain Remover (commissions earned).
Even though OxiClean has "free" in the name and says there are no dyes or perfumes on the packaging, sensitive individuals can detect a difference in the scent and the feel of fabrics that have been soaked in OxiClean Solution.
Don't Stray if You're Doing Okay
Trying a different laundry detergent that is on sale can be tempting, but one of the first things we ask clients with contact dermatitis is if they tried any NEW laundry detergents recently. It's that common of a culprit!
If you use laundry products that everyone in your household tolerates, then remain loyal to those brands. Why risk potentially developing an uncomfortable rash or having to pay office visit and medication copays over trying to save a couple of bucks?
Summary
Less is more when it comes to choosing the best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin. Opt for unscented formulations. Reassess your laundry routine to see if you can eliminate or change any products or steps, such as eliminating dryer use or dryer sheets.
When you find a routine that works, stick to it! Ultimately, the best laundry products for eczema and sensitive skin are the ones that are tolerated by those affected.
hat an awesome blog post!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about my laundry products yesterday. In particular, I bought a new conditioner for clothes and I am not sure if I should use it. Having read your post, I have made up my mind not to use it and risk.
Thank you for reading and for the compliment :) There are so many products, and everything poses a risk for reaction. I keep it simple with detergent only and wool dryer balls or air drying!
DeleteWe have friends with eczema and it can be tough finding out the root cause or the right products to help. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI know the struggle. Any time you can identify and avoid the cause, it makes life much simpler. Thank you for reading and for the compliment <3
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