Laundry Detergents for Children with Chronic Eczema and Dust Mite Allergy
For a 5-year-old child with chronic eczema and severe dust mite allergy, use fragrance-free, dye-free, low pH detergents with minimal additives, and wash bedding weekly in hot water (at least 55°C/130°F) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. 1, 2
Recommended Laundry Detergent Characteristics
- Choose fragrance-free and dye-free detergents to minimize skin irritation, as perfumes in fabric softeners and detergents can cause irritation in children with atopic dermatitis 1
- Select low pH detergents which may be better due to potentially fewer negative effects on the skin barrier 1
- Avoid botanical products (plant-derived extracts and herbs) as they have risks of irritant and allergic contact dermatitis 1
- Consider double-rinsing laundry to ensure complete removal of detergent residues, although clinical studies specifically supporting this practice are limited 1
Washing Recommendations for Dust Mite Control
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water (at least 55°C/130°F) to effectively kill dust mites 2
- If hot water washing is not possible, washing in warm water (36-38°C) with detergent plus bleach can remove up to 98% of dust mite allergen (compared to 84% with detergent alone) 3
- Consider a 4-hour presoak in warm water with detergent, which can kill moderate numbers of dust mites 4
- Use mattress and pillow covers that are dust mite-impermeable, as these may be particularly beneficial for children with severe dust mite allergy 1, 5
Additional Environmental Measures
- Vacuum frequently with a high-filtration vacuum cleaner to reduce dust mite allergen in carpets 1, 5
- Wash soft toys regularly or remove them from the bedroom 5
- Consider removing carpets from the child's bedroom if possible 5
- Implement these measures comprehensively, as studies show that combined approaches are more effective than single interventions 5
Important Considerations
- The effectiveness of specific laundering techniques for atopic dermatitis management has limited clinical evidence, but general principles can be applied 1
- Be aware that washing mite-infested items with mite-free items can transfer live mites between items 3
- For children under 5 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, consider food allergy evaluation if the condition persists despite optimized treatment 1
- Recognize that children with atopic dermatitis and dust mite allergy may have increased risk of developing asthma and other atopic conditions 1
Caution
- Water softeners for laundering clothing have not shown benefit in randomized controlled trials 1
- Elimination diets based solely on food allergy test results are not recommended for managing atopic dermatitis 1
- House dust mite covers alone may have limited effectiveness without other environmental control measures 6
- The evidence for specialized clothing fabrics (like silk or silver-impregnated garments) is limited and may not justify their higher cost 1