For people with extra sensitive skin, skincare experts say laundry detergents and dryer sheets could be a little-known cause of breakouts.

Nobody likes dealing with breakouts, and when you notice that you’re dealing with more acne than a couple of small spots, your first instinct is usually to figure out what’s causing it. We all know that sleeping in makeup, dehydration, using an irritating product, or simply not using a good cleanser on a regular basis can result in breakouts. But if you’ve already eliminated all of these possibilities, and you still can’t figure out what’s bothering your skin, you might have to look at your laundry basket.

When it comes to acne, anything that touches your face could be the culprit—including your clothing. Dermatologists say that dryer sheets can actually worsen eczema and cause acne. But, how does that happen? Dryer sheets are actually coated with wax and grease, and when you put them into the dryer with your clothing, the wax and grease rub off on to everything you wash.

Wearing sweaters that were dried with dryer sheets could cause acne on your shoulders, back, and chest, while using pillowcases that came into contact with them could cause a breakout on your cheeks, chin, or forehead. Dryer sheets are also treated with fragrances that can cause eczema to flare up. Liquid fabric softeners contain similar ingredients, but the good news is that you can replace these products with woolen dryer balls—your clothes will still come out feeling extra soft and warm and smelling great.

If you’re not using dryer sheets or fabric softener, but you still suspect that your clothing or pillowcases might be causing your acne, you may want to try out a different laundry detergent. Some detergents contain fragrances that can clog pores and cause acne or irritate your skin and lead to redness and discoloration. Consider switching to a fragrance-free detergent instead, or making your own detergent with just a few simple ingredients that you can easily find in the grocery store. Either of these options are typically cheaper and much gentler on your skin.

Breakouts are no fun, but if you can figure out the root cause through the process of elimination, you can clear up your skin in no time. If you have sensitive skin, why not try out some fragrance-free laundry products and see if you notice any improvements?

NEXT: COLLAGEN COULD BE THE KEY TO FLAWLESS SKIN, IF USED PROPERLY

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