Allergy to laundry detergent

Allergic diseases have become a real disaster for the inhabitants of the planet, it seems, on the ground there is no corner where there is no person at least predisposed to allergies. Provocative of an allergic reaction can be anything you like - food, sun, dust, water, cold, smell, synthetic detergents. The beginning of the XXI century was marked not only by new scientific and technological achievements, but also by the appearance and development of previously unknown diseases, including allergy to washing powder.

Obviously, the desire to accelerate and alleviate many processes, including domestic and domestic work, has passed reasonable boundaries and led to the emergence of chronic diseases of unclear etiology, to total allergization of the population, to pollution of the environment, especially water. Almost all developed civilized countries have switched over to using environmentally safe, non-phosphatic household chemicals more than 15 years ago.

Legislation of Hong Kong, Korea, South Africa, Thailand prohibits the import, manufacture and sale of synthetic detergents containing phosphates, and Japan banned similar products back in 1986. However, practically the entire population of the countries of the former CIS continues to thinklessly use household chemicals that poison the health of adults and toddlers. According to statistics, only Russians consume over 1,000,000 tons of phosphate household products per year, about 90% of all detergents sold on the shelves of Ukrainian stores contain various types of surfactants (surfactants) and chlorine. Unfortunately, to date, this problem is not widely covered in the media, and scientific research on phosphates is irregular, perhaps, therefore, an allergy to washing powder continues to amaze a growing number of people.

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Causes of allergy to washing powder

The main factor that causes an allergic reaction is various compounds of phosphorous substances. Phosphates provoke acid-alkaline imbalance, change the function of metabolism in dermal cells, resulting in allergic dermatitis. In order to understand what are the causes of allergies to detergent, you should find out what phosphates are.

Phosphate compounds - this is what modern people contact daily, because phosphoric acids are part of medicines, SMS - synthetic detergents, mineral fertilizers, many flavored food additives with the designation "E". In turn, phosphoric acid and harmful substances are included in the phosphate composition - metal salts, the norm of which exists, but is hardly strictly controlled. The permissible limits of arsenic per kilogram of phosphate-containing product are 3 milligrams, the amount of lead should not exceed 10 milligrams, but it is impossible to find a detergent on the packaging for which these parameters were indicated.

The causes of allergy to washing powder are the ways of penetration of dangerous substances into the human body, among them the following are most common: 

• Skin, which is the largest organ capable of absorbing everything that comes into contact. Allergy to washing powder is provoked by a hand-washing factor with a synthetic agent without special gloves.
• The allergy-inducing factor is the residual microparticles of phosphates on the washed clothes, which also penetrate the body through the skin. Biologists and allergologists have experimentally established that to remove all, even the smallest particles of a phosphate powder, it is necessary to rinse the laundry at least 8 times. It is doubtful that every housewife rinses things every hour for an hour. 
• Allergies are also caused by surfactants, anionic surfactants. These are the most aggressive components of detergent powders that are transported into the body through the skin using phosphates. It is the surfactant that can accumulate in the fibers of natural tissues (bed-clothes) and stay there for more than three days. Even a ten-fold rinse can not remove them completely. 
• The causes of allergies to washing powder are also the respiratory tract, when a person is forced to inhale the microscopic volatile compounds released during hand washing. 
• Phosphate compounds penetrate the body through water, which each of us somehow uses daily. None of the most powerful filters are able to clean up 100% of polluted water containing sewage containing chemicals.

In addition to the fact that phosphate compounds and surfactants exert an external influence on the skin, they also act on the whole organism, since they are able to be absorbed quickly by the skin and penetrate with blood into internal organs and systems.

Environmental communities conducted blood test tests from more than 150 housewives who used the usual standard powder. The analysis showed significant changes in the percentage of hemoglobin, changes in serum density, protein level. Accordingly, from year to year, in the human body, abnormalities occur in the functions of internal organs, metabolism is disrupted, the activity of the immune system is reduced, and all conditions for the development of allergies are created.

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Symptoms of washing powder allergy

Most often, the allergy symptoms to a detergent are manifested in the form of skin rashes, dermatitis on the hands. In fact, signs of "rejection" of the body by phosphate compounds are contact allergic dermatitis. There is no reliable, confirmed information that washing detergents can cause hyperactivity, memory impairment and concentration, aggressiveness, as some sources indicate. Most likely, these signs indicate another disease. To date, the main symptom of an allergic reaction to phosphates and surfactants is allergic dermatitis. Its peculiarity is that the exclusion of synthetic products - from powder to shampoos and mouth rinsers, as a rule, leads to a complete cleansing of the skin. Very rarely, the allergic reaction is complicated and manifested in the form of eczema or bronchospasm.

Symptoms of allergies to a detergent may be as follows: 

1. A small rash, similar to hives, no clear localization, is located throughout the body.
2. Strong itching all over the body.
3. In children, most often allergies to a detergent appear on the face, breasts in the form of reddened, itchy skin.
4. Peeling of the skin, less often puffiness.
5. Dryness of the skin, redness (most often the skin of the hands is damaged).
6. Bacterial eruptions (vesicles) that can burst and provoke severe itching.
7. It is extremely rare to have rhinitis, dry cough, up to an asthmatic attack. Most likely this is a consequence of the general allergic predisposition and the available cases of an allergic reaction earlier.

How is the allergy to washing powder recognized?

Diagnosis of allergy to a detergent usually does not cause difficulties, since the symptoms of dermatitis are manifested in a few hours and are clearly associated with a provoking factor. Nevertheless, vesicular eruptions can mislead the most afflicted person, who sometimes resorts to self-management, presuming eczema in himself.

How to distinguish the symptoms of allergies, contact dermatitis caused by a detergent, from true eczema?

Indeed, the signs of an allergic reaction to SMS (synthetic detergents) and manifestations of ekzema (eczema) may be similar. However, allergic contact dermatitis is characterized by mild symptoms, in addition, vesicles and erythema (reddening of the skin) are localized only at the points of contact with the allergen. Most often, the reaction is visible on the back of the arms, forearms. Of course, if the use of harmful SMS does not stop, the disease can develop before the manifestations of eczema, as repeated contacts with the allergen activate the allergic reaction. The most correct thing that a person who has noticed symptoms of contact dermatitis can do is to see a doctor. Diagnosis of allergy to washing powder consists of two main actions of an allergist: 

• Elimination, elimination of provoking factor.
• Confirmation of allergies to synthetic detergent by skin tests with a drop or a compress.

In the diagnosis, important lesion zones are the important clinical signs, as well as typical manifestations of contact dermatitis. The choice of diagnostic methods depends on the state of human health, the degree of skin lesions and the intensity of the allergic reaction.

Treatment of allergies to washing powder

Therapeutic actions for diagnosed contact dermatitis are standard. Treatment of allergies to washing powder is as follows: 

1. Elimination of contacts with any synthetic substance, from washing powder to shampoo or mouth rinse. An obligatory measure is to eliminate the possible risk of the pathological interaction of surfactants with phosphate with skin. In addition, it is recommended at least for a while to abandon jewelry, jewelry and cosmetics of unnatural origin.
2. With an explicit clinical picture, the use of antihistamines is indicated, both in tablet form (per os), and external ointments, gels, solutions. Effective are such drugs as Claritin, Telfast, Zestra, Cetrin, Loratadine, Fenistil gel.
3. With cracks in dry skin, wound surfaces after bursting vesicles, external antiseptic and wound healing preparations are prescribed - Panthenol, Kuriosin, Bepanten, less often Radevit or Videosystem (with tocopherol - vitamin A).
4. When the eruptions are damp, similar to the manifestations of eczema, combined external agents containing antiseptics and glucocorticosteroids - Belosalik, Dermozolon, Diprogen, Elokom, Sinaflan are shown.
5. Effective will be the appointment of sedatives, such as Glycesed, Corvaltab, Persen, Trivalumen.

Also, the treatment of allergies to washing powder suggests a short period of compliance with a hypoallergenic diet to improve the overall condition and reduce the risk of a cross-allergic reaction. Allergy to SMS, usually ends in a favorable outcome and is treated fairly quickly.

Prevention of allergy to washing powder

How to prevent the harmful effects of phosphates and surfactants, is the prophylaxis of allergy to washing powder effective, if literally everything around is full of synthetic substances - from food to clothes?

Of course, it is impossible to completely isolate yourself from the outside world and its realities, whatever they are. Nevertheless, the prevention of allergies to washing powder is not only possible, but also necessary, since these simple enough actions will help to prevent and allergy, and to strengthen health in general: 

• If possible, it is necessary to purchase only hypoallergenic phosphate-free powders, the maximum allowable concentration of surfactants and phosphates in them is not more than 5%.
• It is necessary to accustom yourself to the smell of cleanliness, that is neutral flavor, and to refuse to use SMS with perfumes and fragrances.
• When using powder, even hypoallergenic, the recommended dose should not be exceeded.
• When hand washing, a mandatory condition is the use of special protective gloves.
• Even if you use an unphosphatic powder, you must thoroughly rinse the laundry. Washing with powders containing phosphates, chlorine and surfactant requires repeated rinsing - at least 7-8 times.
• Any package with powder must be hermetically sealed, even after a one-time use. In addition, the washing powder does not have a place in the kitchen next to food, crockery or in a room with children's toys.
• Lingerie of newborn babies is best washed with a hypoallergenic baby soap or a special powder intended for these purposes.

Compliance with these simple recommendations is the best prevention of allergies to washing powder. If the symptoms of contact dermatitis are still manifesting, you need to contact the allergist and find out the true etiological cause of the allergic reaction.

Washing powder is not allergic

How to choose a detergent that does not cause allergy?

First of all, when buying, it is necessary to be guided not by the influence of ubiquitous advertising, attractive price or "charm" of economical packaging, but with common sense and evaluation of the following parameters: 

• Packaging should contain complete information about the composition of the powder, and not printed with microscopic letters, which, if desired, can not be read. In addition, the text should be in several languages, including in the language of the country where you live.
• The packaging should indicate the manufacturer's coordinates (address, telephone numbers, faxes, website), and the expiry date and supplier's contacts should be clearly indicated if the powder is imported.
• The structure of the powder should be crumbly, without lumps. This indicates its quality and the minimum percentage of surfactant, phosphate content.
• Even if the package indicates a small percentage of the content of phosphate substances and surfactants, and the powder strongly foams, then the manufacturer is cunning at least, and the percentage of harmful substances is in fact great.
• It is advisable to choose a detergent without a pronounced odor, fragrances, which can either provoke an allergy, or aggravate its symptoms.
• Washing powders of good quality, not causing allergies, it is better to buy in specialized stores or order from distributors of organic products. Powder bought in the market, you can not return, or make any claims about its quality.

Washing powder not causing an allergy should correspond to such parameters: 

1. In the composition of the powder there should be no anionic surfactants, phosphates. Even their small amount, 5-10%, can cause an allergic reaction.
2. Washing powder should be safe not only for human health, but not a threat to the environment. Only one gram of sodium phosphate in wastewater can activate the growth of ten kilograms of cyanobacteria in water (blue-green algae). Given that the standard packs of powder contains about 60 grams of phosphate substances, you can imagine the concentration of toxins, which is released into the water 600 kilograms of cyanide.
3. Powder, designated as hypoallergenic, must have a corresponding certificate and a sanitary-epidemiological conclusion.

Safe washing powder that does not cause allergy at first glance is more expensive than usual, however it is several times more economical due to the smaller used dose, so such washing non-phosphate powders are very popular today: 

• Washing powder Frosch (Germany).
• The concentrated eraser Baby Bon Automat (Czech Republic).
• Concentrated amphosphate free powder.
• Powders of the German company Burnus - Burti, Burti Baby.
• Besphosphate powder "GREEN & CLEAN", producer - Poland.
• Airy powder with granular safe bleach Wells Natural OXI POWER (Poland).
• Universal washing powder Milis (Czech Republic).
• Domestic safe means: nanopowder DAKOS, children's powder "Ladushki", washing means "Nash", "Oreol" (Simferopol).
• One of the first besfosfatnyh brands in the world, German powder Sonett.