# I have bumps on my skin--is this from laundry detergent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001 "2003-08-27T16:18:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vlad\_M.Paler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d26b3c/32.png) [@Vlad\_M.Paler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_M.Paler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/1 "2003-08-27T16:18:49Z")
I guess this is a quasi-medical question…I have bumps on my upper arms and shoulders, tiny ones that are practically invisible, but I can feel them quite distinctly. The area they cover is where I wear my t-shirts, which I wear everyday. Does anyone have the same thing on their arms? Is this caused by a certain brand of laundry detergent? I just get the cheap stuff, I’ve never really noticed other kinds. Now that I’ve grossed everyone out, you can finish your breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/2 "2003-08-27T17:56:12Z")
IANAD… … but, keratosis pilaris. [www.keratosispilaris.org](http://www.keratosispilaris.org) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/3 "2003-08-27T19:38:12Z")
Ugh that’s what I have and it sssuuuuxxxxx. Nothing you can do about it (so says my dermatologist) ☹ ---
**Author:** ![lilgreenmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@lilgreenmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilgreenmonster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/4 "2003-08-27T21:02:03Z")
It could be your laundry detergent, or your body soap. Try using baby shampoo or baby bath to bathe with, and see if that helps. I used to get bumps simlar to what you’re describing, and changing body soap was the first thing my dr. suggested. (it worked, and the generic baby bath/shampoo are only a buck a bottle) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/5 "2003-08-27T22:23:33Z")
If it happened after you switched detergents, that’s a hot clue. I’m scared to switch brands. Last time I did, Mrs. Nott woke up with her eyes swollen shut. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/6 "2003-08-28T04:19:50Z")
Someone told me that they had those bumps, and when they stopped eating wheat products, the bumps went away. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/7 "2003-08-28T12:28:09Z")
Hey, I think I have that, and I never knew what it was! I love this board! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/8 "2003-08-28T12:50:45Z")
Try washing the Tshirts without detergent (and you’ll be amazed at how many suds there are) and then wearing them. If they don’t bother you, it’s the detergent. You may simply be using too much to rinse out. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/9 "2003-08-28T13:00:19Z")
I had this really bad rash on my back for several days and I couldn’t figure out what it was. It turned out to be one of those anti-static spray things. I would spray my shirts in the morning if they were really wrinkled. Are you using any of those? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-bumps-on-my-skin-is-this-from-laundry-detergent/198001/10 "2003-08-28T14:52:26Z")
Dryer sheets can give me a giant rash, so watch out for those, too.