I'm hoping that someone can give me some information regarding the
effect that different laundry detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, and
soaps can have on acne.
Basically, I have as little acne on my face now as I've had in 8 years
back when I was 12. It was a slow process, and I still get the occasional
small breakout, but nothing as bad as it used to be. However, while this
has improved, the acne on my neck and back has gotten much much worse. This
acne only started around age 17, but I now have many breakouts of large,
sensitive (to the point where the water from a shower hitting my back can be
quite painful), long-lasting painful acne on my shoulders, upper and lower
back, and smaller ones on my neck above and below my hairline. Even when I
don't get a lot of new ones, I still have a lot of scarring from previous
breakouts (more visible than old scars on my face)
I noticed recently when I crashed at my parents' place, and slept using
one of their cushions (clean, I believe), I broke out more on my neck the
next day than usual. This leads me to the question of what detergents can
cause acne? I've also noticed that after I get a haircut, if the haircutter
uses gel on my hair, I get a rash along my hairline, as well as a few small
acne "bumps"
Can anyone recommend some laundry detergents, shampoos, soaps, hair gels
etc. that A) won't cause acne and B) won't irritate my skin
(hypoallergenic?)
Thanks
Dan

Dan wrote:

Buy unscented and dye-free laundry detergents (Like Tide Free). Or baby
formulas (though they are often heavily scented, like Ivory Flakes).
But I've read that with newborn skin (which is very sensitive), the most
important part is using two rinses in the laundry cycle. You can use
regular detergent if you are careful to rinse the washload twice. Most
home washers nowadays have this option. It's a bit trickier if you use a
public laundromat, though. Skip the fabric softeners.

Shampoos: do NOT use any shampoo containing sodium lauryl sulfate.
Sodium Laureth sulfate is better, cocobetaine is better also.If you can
find other natural formulas that don't have SLS hidden in the coconut
oil listing, all the better.

If you don't need conditioner, skip that step as well.
Here's a list of (in their opinion) "safe" cosmetics (link below). I see
Kiehl's gel and KMS sculpting lotion listed. If you can't find any of
them locally, print out the ingredient lists and look for similiar
products available near you.
http://www.zerozits.com/SafeCosmetics/HairCare.htm

When it comes to hair products, it might be a bit of trial and error
unless you find out what ingredients are a specific problem for you. (if
you live alone, wear a cap to sleep in!)


Also, if you can find a moisturizer or lotion that is beneficial to your
skin, that can help a lot. Daily application can act as a barrier to
whatever it is that is a problem for your skin.

hth!
kita

The Earth Science Sulfate-FREE shampoo (internatural.com) is what I would
suggest. Very affordable, yet safe for sensitive skin. Thanks to Stuart
who recommended it in one of the loops.

gv

I use All Free Clear laundry detergent. I haven't researched laundry
detergents -- I wouldn't be surprised if there are some organic ones that
are better. I would avoid fabric softener.

I use Earth Science Sulfate-Free Shampoo, ingredients:
Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MEA,
Yucca Juice, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Kiwi Fruit Seed Extract,
Nettle Extract, Glycol Stearate, Guar Gum, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate,
Fragrance (natural).

I also use Earth Science Intensicare Conditioner (you may not need
conditioner at all), which is absolutely wonderful, btw. Ingredients:
Water, lactamide MEA, Stearalkonium Chloride, Birch Bark Extract, Glyceryl
Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein,
Panthenol, Tocopherol, Guar Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol,
Fragrance (natural).

I would avoid most hair sprays and gels. I use a few drops of Fantasia Hair
Polish as a conditioner/detangler. Leaves my hair feeling like silk.
Ingredients:
Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Aloe Extract,
Benzophenone -3, Fragrance.

Not all laundry detergents rinse completely free. By this I mean that
there is residual soap left behind in the fibers of the clothes being
washed.

The skin can be irritated by body sweat and clothes rubbing against the
body with residual soap left behind in the cloth fibers. Most notably
rashes and skin burns. I am not certain as to how this can aggravate
acne.

For the above mentioned reasons I use a natural laundry detergent. No
more skin rashes burns or irritations. This product has actually helped
to save my clothes also. No bleaching agent.

The name of this detergent is called Melapower and is supplied thru a
company called Melaleuca. All the laundry products are toxin free and
have a natural cleaning agent. Aromatic and-non caustic.

There is also a 4 treatment acne system available. Both the detergent
and treatment system are very affordable. The treatment system is half
the price of Proactive solution.

You can contact me for further information about these products or visit
www.melaleuca.com

I just read a thread of bad reviews of Melaleuca products (acne and
cosmetic) on a beauty board. Buyer beware for those products.
It didn't mention the laundry detergent though.

I personally would try double rinsing before I went out and bought
costly alternatives. For most people, this would be fine. If not, *then*
I would investigate other alternatives (including dr bronner).

Considering that Melaleuca is a MLM (multi-level marketing) company, I
suspect the true reason you use a natural laundry detergent is because
you are required to buy a certain amount of the product yourself, in
addition to selling it.


Marc B wrote:

Not everybody has positive results. Any product out there can be
unsatisfactory to some but not all.

One thread does not speak for the whole of everybody.

The acne product works and there are plenty of people asking my sister
what she has done to clear her acne.

Melaleuca is not a purist mlm company.

No matter what business you are in there is always a chain of command
(Pyramid, MLM). It exists in every business. Not just Independent
workers at home.

There are no monthly qualifications, selling, quotas or breakaways
required.

Being a Melaleuca customer there are no requirements to sell or recruit.

I use the laundry detergent because it has no toxins to irritate the
skin. Purchasing monthly products thru Melaleuca is no different than
shopping anywhere else.

You buy what you use and save more money than by purchasing commercial
brands.

This group is actually pretty spam friendly. At least when the reps are
here to offer up information and answer questions and educate.

Not ALL opinions are equal. The opinion of an independant consumer is
worth far more (imo) than the opinion of someone with a vested financial
interest in a product. Therefore if I read you saying "It's great" and a
thread of a bunch of people that bought the acne products and hated
them, well then I will believe the impartial consumers.

You are not going to post that your product stinks, if you are trying to
SELL it, now are you?

It is possible that a MLM company could have good products, I can even
think of a couple examples. However, more often the company is just
about making money. If the products were amazing, they would sell
themselves, imho. Case in point, Leung published his hypothesis in an
obscure periodical, and people beat a path to his door about it. Search
"B5 acne" and you'll get a thousand times as much info as you did three
years ago.

At any rate, maybe your product is good, maybe it's not. If you want to
sell it, then offer up the ingredient list and the cost here. Tell us
the source of the detergents. Show us some studies that show that
detergent residue is not rinsed out completely from clothes thru
multiple rinse cycles.

Otherwise you are just peddling, imho.


Marc B wrote: