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Laundry detergent for sensitive skin: what to know

The AAD advises fragrance-free, dye-free detergent for eczema-prone skin. Patch-test studies find detergent a rare cause of rashes. What to choose and check.

A folded grey knit sweater and a plain white bar of soap on a wooden table beside a glass vase of yellow flowers

By Nick, Founder of Skinli. Not a doctor. General education only.

Part of the Sensitive skin, which puts every step in order.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises a laundry detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free, or one made for sensitive skin, for children with eczema. Studies that patch test people with rashes find that detergent causes a small share of cases. Both facts help, first when you choose a detergent and then when you look for the cause of a rash. This guide covers what the AAD advises, what the studies found, what is inside detergent, and when to see a doctor. It is part of Skinli's guide to sensitive skin.

Skinli gives general education and is not a doctor. Skinli has tested no detergent, so this page names no brand. The AAD's detergent advice in the sources read for this guide comes from its pages on children with eczema.

What the AAD advises

The AAD's page on eczema-friendly products for children says: "Use only detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free". For bedding, it says: "Always wash bedding in hot water, using laundry detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free." Its page on triggers at home adds that bedding should be washed weekly.

The AAD's self-care page for eczema in children gives four more steps:

  1. A detergent for sensitive skin. "Using a laundry detergent made for sensitive skin may be beneficial."
  2. No scented softener. "Scented fabric softener or dryer sheets may contribute to irritation."
  3. The right amount. "Only use the recommended amount of detergent."
  4. A full rinse. "Use enough water for adequate rinsing." No source read for this guide gives a number of extra rinse cycles.

The AAD also suggests looking for the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. That is a seal on the package, and Skinli has not checked which products carry it.

Fragrance-free and unscented are different labels

The AAD's eczema page defines the two words: "Unscented means that a fragrance is masked, so you cannot smell it." Fragrance-free means free of all fragrances, even ones you cannot smell. Its advice names fragrance-free detergent. The FDA also says that "Even some products labeled 'unscented' may contain fragrance ingredients." Fragrance-free vs unscented explains both labels for skin care products.

Detergent labels follow different rules from skin care labels. The FDA says products that may contain fragrance but "are not applied to the body, are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission", and its list of those products names laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

What studies of rashes found

A 2025 letter in a dermatology journal reviewed patch-test studies on detergent allergy. Patch testing is how a dermatologist finds the cause of an allergic rash: small amounts of possible causes stay on the skin for two days, and the skin is checked over the following days. The letter's points:

  • Patients and some doctors often suspect laundry detergent, yet studies have linked only a small share of cases to it.
  • In one large study, the authors "concluded that the laundry detergent could have been the cause of CAD in less than 0.7% of patients". CAD means contact allergic dermatitis, a rash from an allergy to something that touched the skin.
  • In a patch test on 36 people already allergic to fragrance, "only 2 had a mildly positive reaction".
  • One study of enzymes in laundry detergent found no risk of skin reactions, irritant or allergic.
  • The letter says the amount of detergent left on machine-washed clothes is too low to matter for the skin, and that this holds for people with sensitive skin.

The letter also says where detergent is worth testing: "if skin changes are confined to areas covered by clothing, particularly high-friction regions such as the axilla and groin, it is advisable to perform a patch test". The axilla is the armpit.

What is inside detergent

The same 2025 letter lists the parts of laundry products that "can potentially cause skin reactions, such as surfactants, washing enhancers, bleaches, additives (fragrances, enzymes, dyes), and preservatives." Surfactants are the cleaning agents.

A 2020 review read the ingredient lists of 65 top-selling US laundry products and tested no people. It found:

  • "Fragrances and essential oils are the top allergens in laundry detergents (66.7%), fabric softeners (90%), dryer sheets (75%), and stain removers (58.8%)."
  • Common allergens appeared in 80 percent of detergents labeled "baby safe" and 57.1 percent of those labeled "free and gentle". The most common was methylisothiazolinone, a preservative that the FDA lists among common allergens in cosmetics.

So read the ingredient list as well as the front label. MedlinePlus names soaps, detergents and fabric softeners among the substances that irritate the skin, and the NHS says irritant contact dermatitis "may be caused by frequent exposure to a weak irritant, such as soap or detergent." Soap on the skin itself is covered in body wash for sensitive skin.

Your clothes can be the cause

The AAD's dry skin page says: "Wearing clothing made of wool or polyester against your skin can also irritate dry, sensitive skin." Its contact dermatitis page says to avoid "rough-feeling fabrics like wool and synthetics like polyester and rayon." The NHS lists textiles as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis, "particularly the dyes and resins that are contained in them".

That is why the AAD advises: "If you've had contact dermatitis in the past, wash new clothes before wearing them to avoid irritation." Its eczema page explains what the first wash does: "This will remove excess dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin."

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if a rash spreads, blisters, lasts, or keeps coming back, or if it stays in the places your clothes touch. A dermatologist can patch test you, and the AAD says patch testing "can find what's causing your rash". The NHS lists washing detergent among the things that can make atopic eczema worse, and the guide to eczema flare-up triggers covers the others. Get urgent care for swelling of the face or throat, or hives with trouble breathing.

Frequently asked questions

What laundry detergent is safe for sensitive skin?

The American Academy of Dermatology advises a laundry detergent that is fragrance-free and dye-free, or one made for sensitive skin, in its advice for children with eczema. It also says to use only the recommended amount of detergent and enough water to rinse well. A 2020 review found common allergens in detergents labeled free and gentle, so read the ingredient list as well.

What is sensitive detergent?

Sensitive detergent is a laundry detergent labeled as made for sensitive skin. The American Academy of Dermatology says using one may be beneficial for children with eczema. Detergent is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a different US agency from the FDA, which covers skin care. A 2020 review found common allergens in many detergents labeled free and gentle.

Does sensitive detergent work?

No study read for this guide tested whether sensitive detergents prevent rashes. A 2020 review of the ingredient lists of top-selling US laundry products found common allergens in 57.1 percent of detergents labeled free and gentle. A 2025 letter on patch-test studies says detergent is the cause of skin allergy in a small share of cases. The AAD still advises fragrance-free, dye-free detergent for eczema-prone children.

Can laundry detergent make your skin itch?

Laundry detergent can irritate skin, and an itchy rash is a common sign of contact dermatitis. MedlinePlus names soaps, detergents and fabric softeners as things that can irritate the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology says scented fabric softener or dryer sheets may add to irritation. Wool, polyester and dyes in new clothes can also irritate, so check your clothes as well as the detergent.

Can laundry detergent cause a rash?

Laundry detergent can cause a rash, though patch-test studies find it is an uncommon cause. A 2025 letter reviewing those studies reports that, in one large study, detergent could have caused contact allergy in less than 0.7 percent of patients. The letter advises a patch test when a rash stays in areas covered by clothing, such as the armpits and groin. A dermatologist does that test.

Does laundry detergent cause eczema?

Washing detergent can make atopic eczema worse, the NHS says, along with soap, some fabrics, pets, pollen and house dust mites. No source read for this guide says detergent causes eczema in the first place. For children with eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology advises a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent and washing bedding weekly in hot water. A dermatologist can check what causes a flare.

Should I use fragrance free laundry detergent?

Fragrance-free laundry detergent is what the American Academy of Dermatology advises for children with eczema, together with dye-free. A 2020 review of ingredient lists found that fragrances and essential oils were the top allergens in laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The AAD also says scented fabric softener or dryer sheets may add to irritation, so the softener matters too.

Is unscented laundry detergent better?

Unscented and fragrance-free are different labels. The American Academy of Dermatology says unscented means a fragrance is masked, so you cannot smell it, while fragrance-free means free of all fragrances. Its advice for children with eczema names fragrance-free, dye-free detergent. The FDA says even some products labeled unscented contain fragrance ingredients, so read the ingredient list.

Can I use sensitive skin detergent for baby clothes?

The American Academy of Dermatology's advice for children with eczema is a fragrance-free, dye-free detergent, or one made for sensitive skin, with bedding washed weekly in hot water. A 2020 review found common allergens, most often the preservative methylisothiazolinone, in 80 percent of detergents labeled baby safe. Read the ingredient list, and ask a doctor about any rash on a baby.

Do biological detergents irritate sensitive skin?

Biological detergents contain enzymes, and one study of real exposure to enzymes in laundry detergents concluded there was no risk of skin reactions, irritant or allergic. A 2025 letter on detergent allergy reports that study. No source read for this guide compared biological and non-biological detergents on people with sensitive skin, so a patch test is the way to check your own skin.

Should I wash new clothes before wearing them?

Washing new clothes before you wear them is the American Academy of Dermatology's advice if you have had contact dermatitis before. Its eczema page says washing removes extra dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin. The NHS lists textiles among causes of allergic contact dermatitis, particularly the dyes and resins in them, so new clothes are worth washing first.

Sources

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Skinli gives general skincare education and is not a doctor. Stop a product that stings, burns or itches, and wash it off. See a doctor for a rash that spreads, blisters, lasts or keeps coming back. Call emergency services for swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing.

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