Allergy to Free & Clear Detergent?

DH recently discovered that he has all kinds of allergies. This morning he tells me that he's had a mild rash all over his body for most of the week and that he's had it on and off for a few weeks now. I switched, a few months ago, to Method Free & Clear Laundry detergent, and maybe a month ago started using their fabric softener too. He isn't sure when the rash started (as in before or after the detergent switch). He also has been switching his body soaps a lot recently too (for whatever he happens to grab at the store). Could he be having a reaction to the detergent? This isn't the first method product that I've brought into the house, I've been using their dish soap and hand soaps for a while now, and he hasn't complained about any of it.

I wish he would tell me these things when they first happen, so I can tell if I've made a switch!

Re: Allergy to Free & Clear Detergent?

I would say that he needs to stick to one thing at a time to figure out what the rash is from. He could be having a reaction to all the different soaps he's been using. And it could be your detergent.

For me, I can only use one type of deodorant otherwise I break out.

Re: Allergy to Free & Clear Detergent?

We use
All free and clear
and
DEF NO fabric softeners!

Re: Allergy to Free & Clear Detergent?

I would switch to Seventh Generation Free & Clear. My DS and I are both very sensitive and it is fine for us. As far as soaps, I would try Trader Joe's Oatmeal & Honey or Tea Tree soaps.

Re: Allergy to Free & Clear Detergent?

I found out in college that I had an allergy to Arm & Hammer detergent.

Here's what happened to me:
Went home for spring break and did like 8 loads of laundry
Came back to school and about 1-2 weeks later started getting hives.

The hives were noticeably worse in areas that clothes/sheets/towels would rub - i.e. waistband, between my legs because I used to hug a body pillow.

I may have had a mild allergy as it took awhile to notice and I didn't have a terrible rash all over.

Once I rewashed all the clothes in different detergent, it cleared up right away.

So anyway, I would recommend seeing if he is having a reaction worse on certain parts of the body and what they come in contact with. Then isolate products one at a time to determine what it is.

It could be an ingredient from almost anything. Usually the perfumes and dyes are what causes allergies.

Edited to add - if he has hives all over in a uniform way, it could also be a food or something he is ingesting like medicine. Also, if he is only mildly allergic, it could take awhile for the rash to show up.

Message edited 10/8/2011 4:59:39 PM.