[Significance of laundry detergent residues from a dermato-toxicological viewpoint].

Detergent residues are often accused to cause efflorescences of the skin. In the present studies different textiles were washed under standardized conditions and the residues analyzed. Textile probes were patch tested for 48 h on seborrheic and sebostatic volunteers. A second series of textiles was given to babies and small children. In all cases no reactions were observed. According to these results and further literature the contribution of detergent residues as a releaser of skin reactions is rather insignificant.