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Symptoms of Soap Allergy

Different types of soaps are used for various purposes. Bath soaps, dishwashing liquid, and laundry detergent are just a few of the many types and each type has several kinds and brands. There are people who are allergic to one or more chemicals comprising soaps or even the fragrance can cause allergic reactions.

Soap allergies are caused by the immune system’s oversensitivity to several components of the soap you are exposed to. Exposure may either be through direct contact or through inhaling. Usually, direct contact to the soap is the primary cause that is why soap allergies are classified under contact dermatitis.

Now, being allergic to certain types of soaps should not be taken for granted. Your body may react in different levels, it can be mild or severe and you wouldn’t want to suffer most of your time dealing with what your allergy does to your body. It is therefore important to know the symptoms that will indicate if you are allergic to certain types so that you could avoid them as soon as possible. The following are the common symptoms of soap allergy that may appear within 30 minutes after contact with the soap:

• You develop rashes on the part of your skin that made contact with the soap. Simple rashes that are red, itchy, and do not produce blisters are the most frequent soap allergy symptom.
• Parts of your skin become swelled.
• You have over sensitivity in certain parts of your skin.
• Dry, red patches develop on the part of your skin which made contact with the soap.
• You develop eczema which is characterized by redness, swelling, severe itching and dryness, blistering, or bleeding of your skin.

As mentioned, soap allergies are not always caused by direct contact but can also be triggered by inhaling its fragrance. If you are allergic even with the fragrance only, you may experience coughing, sneezing, and other respiratory symptoms primarily because the allergen will pass through your nasal passages and go to your system.

The symptoms listed above are only for mild to moderate cases. If you are very sensitive to a type of soap or have been too much exposed to it, you may suffer from severe allergic reaction. If this is the case, here are the symptoms that would help tell if you are having severe allergy attacks and should go to a doctor immediately:

• You have headaches.
• You feel dizzy and nauseated.
• You sneeze continually.
• Your have runny nose.
• Your eyes become itchy and your vision may get hazy.

If you do not address any of these symptoms and continue being in contact with the soap you are allergic to, contact dermatitis can turn into a chronic condition or your symptoms may get worse, making your skin thick and scaly, and may result to loss of hair on the affected areas.

Remember that if you experience any of the listed symptoms, it is important to go and report them to your doctor. Only certified physicians can verify your allergies and may state what specific types of soap you must avoid. Your doctor could also suggest other kinds of soap available in the market which are safe for you to use. If you haven’t gone to the doctor yet, what you can do is to buy hypoallergenic products. Many kinds of soaps have been made hypoallergenic to cater to people like you who react to ordinary ones. If you react against the fragrance, then you can buy fragrance-free bath soap, detergent, or dishwashing liquid. Aside from the hypoallergenic products, you can choose to go with natural substitutes. For example, your face is a little too sensitive making it prone to allergic reactions to different kinds of facial wash, what you can do is to use olive oil instead. Run 1 teaspoon of olive oil on your face for a minute then put a hot towel on top of your face. This will open the pores to allow the olive oil to attach to the oils and impurities. After, wipe off the oils then rinse your face with cold water.

You see, even if soap allergies may sometimes be difficult to handle if you are overly sensitive, all you have to do is to prevent the proper kind of soap. This will prevent you from all the itching but will not stop you from cleaning yourself or your things as there are many products that will be safe for you to choose from.