Can Dye From Clothes Cause a Rash?

By Christian Morqueda

11 comments

 

What is contact dermatitis?

  • Dyes from clothes can cause a rash in people who are allergic or sensitive to synthetic dyes. Contact dermatitis is a condition where a skin rash occurs after the skin is exposed to fragrances, dyes or other irritants.
    Those prone to contact dermatitis should consider wearing unbleached, nondyed garments that are labeled as such. They could also wear clothes labeled as dyed with nontoxic dyes.

    According to the Health and Safety Assessment of the Washington State Department, clothing dermatitis can result from dyes in clothes rubbing off easily on the skin. The department explains that commercial dyes are easily transferred to people in this way.

    • Remedies

  • The simplest way to reduce clothing dermatitis is to remove any clothing that has commercial dyes. Unless a garment is specifically labeled as being dyed with nontoxic dyes, it is likely dyed with much cheaper, synthetic dyes.
    According to the Safety and Health Assessment of the Washington State Department, blues and violet synthetic dyes often create skin irritation for those with this sensitivity.
    Instead, select garments that are not dyed with artificial dyes or those that are not dyed at all.

    • Preventive measures

  • Today many garments are dyed from plants, herbs and even teas. These garments are sold online or in specialty catalogs. Purchasing and wearing clothes that are not dyed with synthetic colors might reduce or eliminate skin rashes.
    It will be a process of trial and error to discover which types of clothing will not irritate an individual with clothing dermatitis.

    • Source: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5382336_can-dye-clothes-cause-rash.html

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    11 comments

    Rob White

    Rob White

    Last year I started getting a red rash around my ankles. It was itchy and in the summer so I stopped wearing socks and wore only shorts. The rash went away. I put on socks again, rash came back. Talked to a friend of a friend who had a similar problem. On his advice I only wore white socks, no rash. If I wear white thermal underware no rash on ankles, if I wear coloured thermals and I don’t put them over my socks, I get a rash with in an hour of putting them on.
    But I don’t get the rash anywhere else, just my ankles, and only if there is dyed clothing up against the skin.
    So I know only wear white socks, and high ones to have it between my ankles and the fabric of pants.

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