Eczema and skin conditions

Reactions to washing detergents are very rare, even in those with sensitive skin and eczema. Studies of people with allergic contact dermatitis show no reaction to laundry products in nearly 100% of cases.1, 2

If your baby wears clothes washed in normal detergent without issue, their nappies can be washed in the same detergent. If an all-over body skin reaction occurs ensure you get a diagnosis for skin conditions and comprehensive allergy testing by a medical practitioner or specialist. If nappy rash occurs visit the GP for diagnosis.

For more information on what is in detergents and the function of the raw materials see our information on how to select a laundry detergent for cloth nappies and general laundry and the WashWise information sheet on Laundry Detergent Ingredients.

Managing eczema

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Melbourne3 has fantastic eczema resources. This includes:

References and further reading

  1. National Library of Medicine, Allergic contact dermatitis to detergents: a multicenter study to assess prevalence <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11807430>.
  2. Medscape, Enzymes, Detergents and Skin: Facts and Fantasies <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/575890>.
  3. Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Clinical Practice Guidelines > Eczema (May 3, 2021) <https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/eczema/>.