Can chemicals in clothing be absorbed through our skin?

Question

Throughout the day, MOST people wear clothing practically all the time. Because of this, I ask, how common is it - or rather, how likely is it that your body would absorb the chemicals found in clothing?

Even if you wash your clothing, many laundry cleaners have their own chemicals - so either way you are at risk of absorbing them. Thank you!

Answer 1

Yes, it definitely happens.  All chemicals in laundry detergent are required to be tested so they are safe for your skin.

Answer 2

Yes your skin does absorb these chemicals.  One problem is that imported clothing also is bombarded with insect repellents to prevent their transportation from foreign countries into ours.

Many of us have developed skin rashes due to these various chemicals as well as dry cleaning chemicals.  I prefer to avoid apparel, etc., that needs to be dry cleaned.

Never wear clothing, use linens, towels, etc. that have not been washed first.  Soak them overnight in warm water with baking soda, wash and add white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Then wash a second time with soap and the vinegar rinse cycle. This should remove the offending chemicals.

I normally wash everything in cold water -- conserves energy. I dry on a line outdoors, unless the weather prevents it. Only then do I use my dryer.

Answer 3

Yes! And that is why you should wash new clothes before you wear them. I actually watched my daughter get nauseated while wearing a new outfit, she was in bad shape.  As soon as she took it off, she improved.  You can also be alergic to those chemicals.  Always best to wash first, wear second.

Answer 4

Yes it can.

Answer 5

New Fabric Smell Is Toxic

Many people notice a new fabric smell on just-purchased clothes. That "new" smell is a potent mixture of chemicals such as formaldehyde and urea resins. The chemicals are used to 'finish' fabric for a range of purposes, including stain resistance, wrinkle-proofing, and even disinfecting. Most contain volatile organic compounds that are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens.

To get rid of those chemicals, place clothes in the washer with enough water to cover. Sprinkle one cup of baking soda into the washer and soak clothes overnight. When convenient during the soaking, agitate the machine for a few minutes. Launder as usual.

Some imported clothing companies are now dousing their clothes with long-lasting disinfectants. If the clothing you are about to purchase smells more pungent than usual, put it back on the rack.

Source: Real Money

Answer 6

You can absorb toxins and allergens through your skin.

This is one of the reasons people are pushing for organic cotton clothing -- they don't want to risk consumers who wear before washing to absorb pesticides.

Always wash before wearing. Clothing leaves the factory with all sorts of chemicals in it. Some are just designed to make it be attractive on the hanger.

Choose your detergent carefully if you have sensitive skin. It's a fallacy that all detergent is safe. It's only safe if you're not allergic to anything in it. The same goes for fabric softener. Don't be fooled by "natural" titles. Many use chemicals to achieve nature's smells.

Consider a high-efficiency washer if you have access to it.

As for dry-cleaning, traditional dry cleaning uses perchloroethylene, a central nervous system depressant that is legally a hazardous air pollutant. Find a green dry cleaner. They will advertise as green cleaners. There are three green options for dry cleaning; Consumer Reports said using carbon dioxide is the best but any of the three options is safer for your skin than traditional dry cleaning. Consider contacting your county's land use department; they may have a stake in recycling and have a list of green dry cleaners. That's where I found my green dry cleaner options.

Answer 7

Yes, there's no question it happens.  As a child, I use to be HIGHLY allergic to the chemicals in clothing.  So allergic, that after trying on new school clothes at the store, I ended up at the doctors with a neck to toe rash/hives.

We use to have to wash all my new clothes at least twice before I could wear them.  I'm still fairly allergic to the chemicals, but it's not as bad as it was when I was a child.

Because I'm also allergic to a lot of the stuff in soaps, once we found a brand that didn't break me out, we stuck with it.  

For new clothes, I've found a good wash in white vinegar does a good job getting the chemicals out.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 8

Your skin can and most often will absorb anything that comes in contact with it, however most of the time there is so little chemical left on the item of clothing that it can't harm you.

Your skin absorbs many chemicals all day even from the air, that is part of its job, to keep you safe from outside elements.  Most detergents and softeners are formulated to be safe for this purpose.

Answer 9

Yes, the skin will absorb.

That's why the products are tested first. After the rinse cycle, if we've followed directions (dosage amount) enough chemicals are removed.

Babies can get "contact dermatitis" from articles worn before being washed a first time.