<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> My md clued me in on this one.... Itching or skin irritation may also be caused by detergent, the polyester in clothes OR the formaldahyde used in finishing fabrics. If it is a reaction to poly, the skin on elbows and knees is usually red and almost has a sandpaper look to it...that comes from tossing and turning at night. The only thing to do is switch to all cotton. With detergent reactions you get a rash wherever clothes touch the body. This happened to my daughter and I switched to Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile soap to do the wash etc. Because it is a soap, you do not need fabric softeners, so that's fewer chemicals you're exposed to. Formaldahyde is used to "finish" fabrics...it's that horrible smell that hits you when you open a new package of sheets or a shirt. IT DOES NOT COME OUT IN WASHING. The book "Clean and Green" suggests that you wash the clothes in as hot water as they will stand , adding one cup of either Borax, Borateem , Washing soda or Baking powder in with the soap. They dissolve the chemicals and wash them away. I use either Barateem of baking soda because they are finer and dissolve faster. You only have to do this once or twice....altho Borateem is an excellent stain remover. If it turns out that detergent is a problem and you must use soap, then get a note from your dr, and keep receipts because you now have a new medical tax deduction. Dr Bronner's is super concentrated, so don't faint when you see the price, and is available from discount houses and health food stores. In additon, Oxydol soap is back on the market...I saw it in Renovators Supply [or Renovation?]and in their catalogue.