Allergies, Anaphylaxis, Eczema, Topical Steroid Withdrawal & Asthma

Top 10 Health Blogs 2022 Top 10 Health Blogs 2021 Free From Hero 2021 Top 10 Health Blogs 2020 Best Blogs Award 2020 20th in the Top 60 UK Health Blogs Best Free From Blog 2014
  • Home
  • About
    • In the news!
    • Advocate
    • Testimonials
  • Books
    • Anaphylaxis – The Essential Guide.
    • The Shape of Skin
  • TSW
  • Advertise
  • Discounts
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Allergic to washing up liquid

06/02/2012 by Ruth Holroyd 26 Comments

One week after my first judging session for the freefrom food awards and I have learnt another allergy lesson, and this thanks to the amazing care and attention from Michelle, Cressida and Katherine.

Having someone on the judging panel with real allergies, and not just one, but many, posed a few logistical, safety and process problems for the freefrom management team. They tackled and overcame all with ease. I was made to feel completely included and at no time felt that my allergies were at risk or that I was causing hassle.

Almond in washing up liquid

They even checked the washing up liquid, which contained almond essence! Since my real allergies are to nuts and dairy, and not to my knowledge to almond we figured this would be OK. I’ve eaten almonds and not had an allergic reaction, but I do still avoid them on the whole due to cross contamination. I have also heard of a case where almonds were moulded from peanuts. Why would anyone do this? Well almonds are fairly expensive whereas peanuts are fairly cheap. Some food manufacturers will do anything to make a product cheaper.

However if you have an allergy to almond, both Earth Friendly and Fairy have an almond variety so it could be something to watch out for. If you used washing up gloves and rinsed carefully you’d probably be OK, but would residue from dishes washed in this liquid contain enough allergen to set off an allergic reaction? It poses questions about everywhere you eat then, which washing up liquid do they use? Will there be traces on the dishes? Am I just being paranoid here?

Can someone be allergic to washing up liquid?

So what is in normal washing up liquid? Can someone be allergic just to the normal soap varieties? The Ecologist focuses on Fairy liquid and examines the ingredients in its mild green variety which is supposed to be kind to your hands, right? Read
“Behind the label – Fairy liquid” for a list of known allergens in this product. Reading this I wouldn’t be surprised if lots of people were allergic to many washing up liquids. I always wear my non-latex washing up gloves because my hands are sensitive and I get eczema from too much washing up, perhaps this explains all that… A good excuse to get out of the washing up I think!

Dairy in washing up liquid

I then remembered that one of Ecover’s washing up liquid’s contains dairy. I have known this for some time and always buy the variety that doesn’t, but I wonder how many people know this.

This is what Ecover say about this product on their website:

“Our Camomile and Marigold Washing Up Liquid is the only product in our range which contains a small percentage of animal ingredients, i.e. milk whey. Milk whey is a bi-product of the cheese industry and would otherwise be thrown away. All our other products are suitable for vegans.

We add milk whey to our Camomile and Marigold Washing Up Liquid to ensure that it is extra kind to the hands. People who suffer from skin allergies or eczema can use it without putting on gloves.

Lemon and Aloe Vera Washing Up Liquid is an excellent alternative for those who prefer not to use a product containing milk whey.”

What they don’t say here is whether people with allergies to dairy should use it. I use their aloe vera washing up liquid but this still irritates my hands a bit so I always wear the washing up gloves and always rinse well.

Here are the ingredients of Ecover’s Aloe Vera washing up liquid: “Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), Lauryl Polyglucose, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Parfum, Limonene, Hydrolized Wheat Gluten, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Citral, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol.” I know I’m allergic to limonene and also worth noting is that it contains wheat gluten – though hydrolisation should render it allergen free could someone still react? Isn’t SLS also a known allergen? I have never had a problem using this washing up liquid but I do always wear gloves and rinse off soap residue thoroughly. I know that if I wash up with bare hands I get lumps on my skin.

I use this washing up liquid because I want to be kinder to the planet, but I might try some of the other options below as a comparison, especially as some don’t contain SLS.

How do you avoid washing up liquid allergy?

Here are a few options for avoiding allergies to washing up liquid.

  • Always read the ingredients in washing up liquid
  • Wear gloves and rinse well
  • Opt for latex free washing up gloves to avoid irritation
  • Use the dishwasher. This has a pretty good rinse cycle so should remove all traces of allergens
  • Bicarbonate of soda with hot water
  • Soap nuts dissolved in hot water – are recommended everywhere for people with sensitive skin. Find out more about washing clothes and dishes with soap nuts on the Natural Spa supplies website. Soapnuts are actually drupes, a fruit with a few seeds in each plant, which contain saponins, a natural soap. If you’re worried that soap nuts might be a nut and might cause an allergic reaction read this article I found by Christopher Sicurella of NaturOli. He seems to know what he’s talking about and the only other possible reference I found was on a forum from someone who thought they might have an allergy to the soap nuts they were using. All other sources I have say they aren’t a nut. However, technically someone somewhere could be allergic to them. Do a skin patch test before doing a full washing load!
  • Get someone else to wash up – volunteer to dry up instead… or just milk it and say you can’t wash up cos you’re allergic… LOL
  • Take washing up gloves that are safe on holiday with you

Do you have an allergy to washing up liquid? Do you get hives? a rash? hand eczema?

Soap Nuts from Natural Spa Supplies

Which brands are better?

  • Surcare washing up liquid – Surcare’s website had no ingredients information but Waitrose had this: Surcare Washing Up Liquid contains amongst other ingredients:, 15-30% Anionic Surfactants, Less than 15% Non-Ionic Surfactants, Amphoteric Surfactants, Also contains: Dimethylol Glycol.
  • Bio-d washing up liquid – A blend of detergents derived from Coconut Oil, Aqua, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Vegetable Glycerine.
  • Earth Friendly Free & Clear Dishmate – Aqua, 100% natural anionic coconut kernal oil based surfactant* (15-30% anionic, 5-15% amphoteric), salt. (* Does not contain SLS)

Are you allergic to your washing up liquid? As well as thinking of your safety in your own home and whether soap residue from washing up could be enough to trigger an allergy in an allergic person, think about other places where you eat. Could this pose a problem when eating out? Should we be asking which washing up liquid our friends use and also any restaurants? As well as questions about how food is prepared we now need to ask which washing up liquid they use… They really will think we’re all nuts! This is something that I’d never thought of until last week. Now am I taking all this a bit far?

When you look at my success at eating out you will realise why I have to take everything this far. I react to so many things that it’s easier for me to stay at home and cook my own food. Could this be one of the reasons I have so many problems?

I’d love to hear what you think. Special thanks to Foods Matter and the Free From food awards team for inspiring this blog post. More on the free from awards soon.

You may also be interested in reading

  • Best washing powders and soap powder for eczema skin
  • Get a free trial with smol, eco washing powder, dishwasher powder and washing up liquid
  • Seven natural bath treatments for eczema

Related posts:

almond milkAlmond allergy #101 nitrile gloves for allergiesNitrile gloves for contact allergies Sarah at her allergy test appointmentAm I allergic to almonds?

Filed Under: Eczema, Skin care Tagged With: allergic to washing up liquid, almond in washing up liquid, Limonene allergy, washing up liquid allergy

About Ruth Holroyd

Author of 'Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide: An Action Plan For Living With Life-Threatening Allergies' and 'The Shape of Skin, both available as paperback or Kindle on Amazon. Ruth is a Writer, Blogger and Patient Expert in allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.

Comments

  1. Michelle BJ says

    07/02/2012 at 7:00 pm

    Great blog Ruth – but yours always are!!

    One of the great things about a blogger with multiple serious allergies is that they uncover all kinds of nooks and crannies in the management of allergy that most of us would never think of!! And then they research them….. What would everyone do without you!

    Michelle

    PS And it was really great having you on the FFFoodAwards judging panels – we always try to get a balance of foodies versus nutritionists, food professionals versus amateurs etc but it does alter the perspective of the judging sessions when we can include genuine allergy sufferers who have to deal with freefrom food and how good it is on a daily basis.

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      08/02/2012 at 9:43 am

      Awww thanks Michelle! My number one fan ;o) I absolutely loved the whole process. Everyone has different tastes, different experiences, different opinions etc. Putting those all aside and judging a product for its own worth, usefulness, innovativeness etc. was much harder than I thought it was going to to be. Especially with such a high standard of foods entered this year. Having such a diverse group of judges really helped us all see each food from a different angle I think. Good luck with the final judging decisions. Glad I don’t have to make that call. I’d want to choose loads of winners!

      Reply
  2. roger says

    03/01/2013 at 3:15 pm

    im looking for gluten free wheat free washing up liquid please help

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      03/01/2013 at 5:04 pm

      I would suggest checking out some of the ones listed above. Most of them are. Good luck.

      Reply
    • Micki Rose says

      03/01/2013 at 5:31 pm

      Yep. I use Bio-D which is coconut oil based and nothing from grain except corn-derived citric acid but they haven’t confirmed the source.

      Reply
    • Donna McBride says

      06/05/2018 at 3:06 am

      I have spent so much money on doctors until I found my cure. The best all natural super organic cleaner. Let me know if you want to try it. No more suffering or doctor bills.

      Reply
  3. Peter Hawkes says

    04/07/2014 at 6:34 am

    We are in the process of applying for Allergy UK certification and would like information on the ingredients of Fairy Liquid. It seems to be very difficult to find out. We have Soil Association and Cruelty Free certification and are trying to add Allergy and Vegan as well. Limited information and the high costs of gaining some certification makes it very difficult for a family owned business like ours.

    Peter

    Reply
    • Donna McBride says

      06/05/2018 at 3:08 am

      Please email me if you want the best organic super cleaner. It actually heals my hands and is the best cleaner that I’ve ever tried. Took me years of suffering and medical bills before I found it!

      Reply
      • Terese Lawton says

        17/09/2018 at 9:28 pm

        Please let me know what the best organic cleaner is. Some cleaners affect mybreathing!

        Reply
  4. kate says

    22/09/2015 at 6:00 pm

    Re fairy liquid… For about the last 7 years I have had persistent dermatitis on my hands and feet. To cut a long story short I have changed washing powder, shampoo and shower gels. I have also changed washing up liquid from fairy liquid which I have used for years. I accidentally put fairy on a sponge scrub with my bare hands and immediately rinsed it off thinking I had ruined my “experiment.” Not so – my hands erupted within the hour. Hives, skin peel and what felt like chemical burns on my little fingertips. Am now awaiting an appointment with a dermatologist. Like the author of this blog I too worry about what our family have been ingesting via the “washing up”.

    Reply
    • Donna McBride says

      06/05/2018 at 3:12 am

      Please email me . After years of medical bills and suffering I’ve found the cure and answer to my problem.. The best organic super cleaner and actually seams to soothe and heal my skin. No more doctor bills for allergy rash!

      Reply
  5. Lizzie says

    02/12/2015 at 2:45 am

    I break out in hives after smelling any kind of dishwashing liquid. It doesn’t even need to touch my skin. I get the same reaction to perfumes and colognes, but since I am using dishwashing liquids without any fragrance, I will guess that it isn’t the perfume or cologne itself, but something added that is also common to dishwashing liquid. What can that possibly be? So far every single dishwashing liquid gives me hives just from inhaling the vapors. The allergist did a skin patch test, and I wasn’t allergic to anything. I live in the U.S.

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      02/12/2015 at 11:01 am

      See if you can buy some soap nuts. You could use these in the same way as a tablet, if you put them into some kind of bag. I haven’t done this before but google it. I live in the UK so my suppliers might not be great.

      Reply
      • Lizzie says

        02/12/2015 at 5:38 pm

        Thank you Ruth! 🙂

        Reply
    • Christina Hawkes says

      02/12/2015 at 8:15 pm

      Dear Lizzie & Ruth
      I am replying because Greenscents nonscents washing up liquid is probably the most natural and non-allergenic in the world. All Greenscents products are Soil Association certified organic, Allergy UK certified, Cruelty Free International & Vegan Society approved. Our nonscents range has no fragrance. We have many customers with allergies from all over the world who use our products. Do have a look at our website and if you have any questions please email me at christina@greenscents.co.uk with kind regards Christina

      Reply
      • Ruth says

        03/12/2015 at 9:41 am

        Thanks so much Christina, I haven’t come across this brand. I would love to try it. Will be doing some internet shopping, not for Christmas presents but for some of this washing up liquid :o)

        Reply
        • Christina Hawkes says

          03/12/2015 at 10:42 am

          That’s great Ruth. Let me know by email and we can discuss any other Greenscents products you are interested in.
          with kind regards
          Christina

          Reply
    • Donna McBride says

      06/05/2018 at 3:15 am

      I suffered the same way and finally found the solution. Please email me and I will give you the info. Guaranteed and the best organic cleaner that I have ever used. No more suffering or doctor bills for this problem!

      Reply
  6. Sindy says

    01/05/2018 at 7:17 am

    I have been washing dishes since ages. Only a few months ago I changed to Fairy apparently because it cleaned better and I contracted this allergy for washing up liquid that refuses to go away. Thanks to Fairy, I’ve developed an allergy to any milder supermarket version of washing up liquid. My skin gets boils and super itchy even if one drop of the liquid touches my skin. Thankfully I have a dishwasher, but there are some dishes which I can’t put in the dishwasher and have to wash by hand. It’s causing me a lot of problems and irritation lately. Please help. Also, what would you suggest to do after? There is only one handcream that has proved remotely effective to heal my hands, that was Nivea anti ageing hand cream.
    Could you please specify where I would get the products that you have mentioned? Do I need to go online or are they available in supermarkets?

    Thanks
    Sindy

    Reply
    • Donna McBride says

      06/05/2018 at 3:18 am

      I have been where you are and found the solution. Please email me and I will give you the info. No more suffering or doctor bills for me for that problem. This is guaranteed and the best cleaner I’ve ever used. Very economical also.

      Reply
      • Ruth Holroyd says

        07/05/2018 at 1:06 pm

        Hi Donna, thanks for the comment. I get by wearing gloves most of the time as too much washing dries my skin out on my hands a lot. I’ll email you! But please forgive me if I forget… I have a sieve for a brain right now. LOLS 🙂

        Reply
  7. Donna McBride says

    06/05/2018 at 12:52 am

    I was spending a lot of money on doctor bills until I found the life saver for me. Organic super cleaner Basic H. Reply if you want to order. Fully guaranteed and all natural.

    Reply
  8. Bailey Perry says

    27/05/2018 at 2:25 am

    Hi I’ve had a quick look at this article and one of your solutions is to wear gloves, Ive worn gloves but still experience extremely itchy skin

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      31/05/2018 at 9:01 pm

      you need to make sure you’re not allergic to the gloves. Find some non latex gloves made from vinyl I think which might help.

      Reply
  9. Alison says

    11/02/2022 at 11:10 pm

    Dishwasher? Yeah fat chance, my kitchen is the size of a shoebox.

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      12/02/2022 at 12:18 pm

      haha, me too! But we can dream. I have been trying to find a slimline mini one that I might be able to shoehorn in but have kind of got used to washing by hand now.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to my blog!

https://whatallergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2853.mp4

Hello, I’m Ruth, author and blogger

Ruth

 

Hi I'm Ruth. I've grown up with eczema and multiple life-threatening allergies and collected more as I've got older.  It started with a peanut allergy and now I'm allergic to milk, wheat, soya and many more. In this blog I share tips, advice and things I've learnt living with allergies, asthma and eczema with a focus on topical steroid withdrawal. You can buy my books, which are brilliant by the way! The first is Anaphylaxis: The essential guide and the second, The Shape of Skin, healing poems for eczema and sensitive skin. The reviews speak for themselves. If you want to chat you can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (links below). Do get in touch. And please comment on blogs, it makes a humble blogger do a little happy dance!

Subscribe today for Free Resources

Share and Connect

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Allergies Anaphylaxis Asthma Awards Coeliac Cold Sores Cooking Digestion Eating Out Eczema FreeFrom Awards Hay Fever Indoor Allergies Industry News Mental Health Natural remedies Nutrition Poetry Product Review Rant Recipes Restaurant Review Skin care Topical Steroid Withdrawal Travelling Vegan

The Shape of Skin – poetry for eczema

The Shape of Skin poetry for eczemaThe Shape of Skin

Strange, striking and sensitive poems for people with eczema, psoriasis, topical steroid withdrawal and troubled skin.

Readers comments include: "Powerful, relatable, Absolutely bloody fantastic (pun intended)..."

Buy it now on Amazon

Buy ‘The Anaphylaxis Guide’ Now

Anaphylaxis - the essential guideAnaphylaxis - The Essential Guide. An action plan for living with life threatening allergies.

"This book is such a great wealth of information and a delight to read! A must read for anyone with allergies or connected to an allergy sufferer. Congratulations!" Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, Natasha Foundation

Find out more

get help - in distress?

Pollen Free Flowers and Plants

Read my blog, "Allergen and pollen free, artificial plants for your home"Faux la fleur artificial pollen free plants

Please Review my book on Goodreads

Ruth Holroyd's books on Goodreads
The Reluctant Allergy Expert: How to kill the fear that anaphylaxis could kill you The Reluctant Allergy Expert: How to kill the fear that anaphylaxis could kill you
reviews: 3
ratings: 3 (avg rating 5.00)

Get Free Resources

Get Free Resources

  • Food, Mood and Symptoms Diary
  • Topical Steroid Withdrawal handout for doctors
  • Anaphylaxis Action Plan
  • 50 x Food Real Challenge
  • Eat the Rainbow Food Challenge
  • More coming soon!

Click here to Subscribe and you'll receive a link to download!

Follow What Allergy on TikTok

For even more hilarious content, check out my new TikTok account

tiktok logo

Chocolate, cake mixes & more – Top14 Free

Read my product review for Gnawbles, like Maltesers and Ferrero Rocher rolled into one.

Gnawbles freefrom top 14 allergens

Use Coupon Code WHATALLERGY10 FOR 10% OFF everything you buy!

Natural skincare for Eczema / TSW

Balmonds Natural SkincareBalmonds Natural Skincare - Use code: WHATALLERGY for 20% off

Testimonials

Find out why people love this blog!

“I think your blog is fab – I send it to everyone who has skin problems and allergies.” 
Sarah

Read more testimonials here.

Most popular blog posts

  • Should you avoid chestnuts with nut allergy?
  • Itchy palms, little blisters
  • Is calcium carbonate suitable for shell fish allergic and vegans?
  • Allergic to Dove soap ingredients?
  • Why do I eat skin flakes and scabs?
  • Do’s and Don’ts for fighting cold sores
  • Milk and wheat allergen free fish and chips
  • Allergies aren’t funny but here are 20 allergy jokes
  • Pros and Cons of washing hair with rhassoul clay
  • Which gravy and stock cubes are allergen free?

Archives – Find old blog posts

Mental Health

Why do we think eczema is ugly?

OMG! Me in a film on eczema and mental health

Did Covid cause asthma and eczema flare?

Eating Out

My coffee shop allergy – reacting to milk vapour?

Coeliacs and Vegans have it easy

Milk and wheat allergen free fish and chips

Asthma

Do you need Health Insurance for Allergies & Asthma?

What if you couldn’t have your Ventolin inhaler?

A huge thank you from what allergy

Copyright © 2023 · Terms Of Use · Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · [footer_Privacy_Policy #"privacy policy"] Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in