Are your cupboards teeming with cleaning materials? Is your bathroom overflowing with personal care products (some even past their expiration dates)? Perhaps you are juggling so many chores and not enough time in to clean up, don’t worry, you are not alone.

Most people are too busy in their regular lives to examine every product, substance, or ingredient that enters their doors. So don’t beat yourself up if you do not have a hint which things lying around your house are common skin irritants.

To solve that puzzle, GoodHealth.ng made a list of the top offenders that trigger skin reactions. Some cause symptoms like itchy skin, redness, or inflammation. Some also cause a burning or stinging sensation and are activated by allergies. By identifying the common wrongdoers, you can take the appropriate precautions to protect yourself in your home. Here are the ten household products that can cause skin irritation.

 

1. Some soap like soda soap

Washing plates and hands using soda soap strips the skin of its natural oils and can result in “dishpan hands.” In the beginning, it may look like chapped, dry skin. And the skin can break and bleed if not treated on time. Other associated irritants include bubble bath, dishwasher soap, and body washes.

 

2. Household cleansers like bleach

Most folks understand that household cleansers aren’t intended for the skin and the substances used in them can have an irritating effect on the skin. These include all detergents, furniture polish, window cleaners, drain cleaners and toilet disinfectants. Wearing protective gloves before handling such materials is highly recommended.

 

3. Rough clothing

Clothes, notably rough materials like wool, can be difficult for people who suffer from a skin disorder called atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema. Dermatological studies estimate that 10% to 20% of kids and 1% to 3% of adults develop this illness.

If you your clothes material is causing itching, irritation or a rash, get rid of them!

 

4. Latex gloves

Some individuals are hypersensitive to latex; a natural rubber found in everything from gloves to condoms. If you’re sensitive to latex, you may experience welts under a bra strap or elastic waistband.

5. Some types of perfume

Perfume allergies are common, but some 5,000 scents use many different blends so it may be a bit difficult to dig out the aberrant substance. Many people might grow a skin rash or hives from musk, but others respond to vanilla aromas.

6. Facial creams

Because the skin has the tendency to break and get infected, you should take additional care with your lotions and skincare products if you experience stinging or burning when applied. The products may contain ingredients that irritate your skin.

Check out the labels for some common irritants including ascorbic acid and alpha hydroxy acids including glycolic acid, malic acid, and lactic acid.

7. Dangerous plants

Some plants are irritants to human skin; like poison ivy and oak. They all can sometimes include an oil called urushiol, which activates an allergic reaction, usually an itchy rash.

A light allergy might go on for 5 to 12 days, while a more serious episode can continue 30 days or longer. Even though most people will not intentionally expose themselves to this risk, but you need to take care and keep these type of plants out of the home.

8. Food like fresh pepper

Food allergies can cause skin responses ranging from hives to rashes. But even managing specific foods can cause skin irritations. If you happen to have cuts or cracks on your hands, cooking with acidic foods or spices can be irritating.

One lesser known occurrence is when lime on the skin reacts with the sun and causes severe blistering burns, or when you wash fresh red pepper without putting on gloves. You will see this happening very commonly during the hotter seasons.

9. Some metals like nickel

This is a common allergy. Nickel is used in making zippers, costume jewelry, and other accessories. Some people with a serious nickel allergy don’t know what the problem is and sometimes will attribute a skin rash or green coloring to “fake jewelry.”

10. Sunblock

Sunblock use is promoted as a shield for our skin from harmful UVA and UVB radiation, but specific chemical agents in sunscreens can cause a rash or allergic reaction. The most common allergic reactions happen with sunscreens which contain PABA-based compounds, so you might want to choose a PABA-free option if you develop an allergy.