Spring can be a beautiful time of year, but for children and adults with eczema-prone or sensitive skin, the change in season can bring new challenges. Warmer temperatures, increased time outdoors, pollen and changes to washing and drying routines can all affect sensitive skin.

If your child's eczema tends to become itchier, redder or more reactive during spring, it may be worth looking beyond skincare alone.

Your laundry routine matters too.

Clothing, towels and bedding sit directly against the skin for hours at a time. Keeping them clean, comfortable and free from unnecessary irritants is an important part of a sensitive-skin-friendly routine.

In this guide, we'll look at:

• Why eczema can be more difficult during spring
• The connection between pollen and sensitive skin
• How pollen can get onto clothing and bedding
• Whether you should dry laundry outside during high-pollen periods
• How to wash clothes for eczema-prone skin
• Why fragrance-free laundry matters
• How detergent residue can be minimised
• How to clean your washing machine
• Practical spring laundry tips for children with eczema
• How Barekin laundry sheets fit into a gentle spring laundry routine

Why can eczema flare up in spring?

Eczema is a condition associated with a weakened or impaired skin barrier. When the skin barrier isn't functioning as effectively, the skin can be more vulnerable to irritation and environmental triggers.

Spring introduces a number of changes that may be relevant for people with sensitive skin.

There may be more pollen in the environment, more outdoor activity, warmer temperatures and increased sweating. Children may also spend more time playing outside, rolling around on grass and coming into contact with plants and other environmental allergens.

For some people, these changes can coincide with an increase in itching or skin irritation.

It's important to remember that eczema triggers are individual. What causes a flare for one person may have little effect on another.

However, if you notice a seasonal pattern, spring is a good time to look at the things that come into contact with your skin every day — including your clothes and bedding.

Pollen and eczema: can pollen affect sensitive skin?

Pollen is best known for causing symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes in people with hay fever.

But pollen can also come into contact with the skin.

During spring, pollen can settle on clothing, hair, skin and outdoor surfaces. Children who spend lots of time outside may naturally bring some of that pollen back indoors.

This doesn't mean pollen is responsible for every eczema flare. But if you know that environmental allergens affect your child, reducing unnecessary exposure can be a useful part of managing their environment.

And this is where laundry comes in.

Pollen can hitch a ride home on clothing

Think about a typical spring afternoon.

Your child has been playing outside.

They've been running through the garden, sitting on the grass, playing sport or simply enjoying the warmer weather.

Their clothes have been exposed to the outdoor environment for hours.

When they come inside, those clothes come inside too.

Changing out of outdoor clothing after spending time outside can be a simple way to reduce the amount of pollen and outdoor debris that stays in contact with the skin.

For children with sensitive skin, you might also consider washing frequently worn outdoor clothing regularly rather than allowing it to accumulate.

Should you dry laundry outside during spring?

This is one of those questions without a single answer.

There is nothing inherently wrong with drying laundry outside, and sunlight and fresh air can make outdoor drying appealing.

However, if pollen is one of your child's known triggers, it's worth considering when and where you dry their clothing and bedding.

Freshly washed bedding can spend several hours outside exposed to airborne pollen before it comes back indoors.

If you notice that your child's skin is particularly reactive during periods of high pollen, drying bedding and clothing indoors may be worth trying.

You don't have to abandon the clothesline completely.

Instead, consider:

• Drying sensitive-skin bedding indoors during particularly high-pollen periods
• Changing children out of outdoor clothes when they come inside
• Washing clothing regularly after outdoor activities
• Keeping frequently used blankets and bedding clean
• Washing clothes before storing them away for another season

As with any eczema trigger, pay attention to your own child's patterns. What works for one family may not be necessary for another.

How to wash clothes for eczema-prone skin

Your laundry routine doesn't need to be complicated.

In fact, when you're dealing with sensitive skin, a simple laundry routine can often be easier to manage.

Here are some practical steps to consider.

1. Choose fragrance-free laundry products

Fragrance is one of the most common things people look to remove when creating a laundry routine for sensitive skin.

If you're washing clothes for someone with eczema-prone skin, choosing a fragrance-free laundry detergent can help you avoid adding unnecessary fragrance to fabrics that sit against the skin.

And remember: "freshly washed" doesn't need to mean "strongly scented."

Clean clothes don't need to smell like perfume.

2. Avoid unnecessary laundry additives

You may not need fabric softener, scent boosters, dryer sheets and other laundry additives.

These products can introduce additional ingredients and fragrances to fabrics.

If you're trying to simplify your laundry routine for sensitive skin, consider removing unnecessary extras and seeing whether it makes a difference.

Sometimes less really is more.

3. Don't use more detergent than necessary

It's easy to assume that using more detergent means getting cleaner clothes.

It doesn't necessarily work that way.

Excess detergent can make rinsing more difficult, particularly if the washing machine is overloaded or the wash cycle isn't appropriate for the load.

Always follow the dosage instructions for your chosen product.

4. Don't overload your washing machine

Your washing machine needs enough room for clothes to move through the wash.

An overloaded machine can affect how effectively water and detergent circulate through the load and can make rinsing less effective.

If you're washing bedding, towels or large loads of children's clothing, giving everything enough room can help your machine do its job properly.

5. Consider an extra rinse

If your child has particularly sensitive skin, an additional rinse can be worth considering.

An extra rinse adds another opportunity for water to pass through the fabric and remove remaining laundry product.

This doesn't mean everyone with eczema needs an extra rinse every time. It's simply another option to consider if you're trying to create a gentler laundry routine.

Why detergent residue matters for sensitive skin

When we think about laundry, we usually focus on whether our clothes are clean.

But there is another question worth asking:

What remains on the fabric after the wash?

Laundry detergent is designed to clean clothing, but you also want your chosen product to rinse away effectively.

This is particularly relevant when washing clothes, pyjamas, towels and bedding for someone with sensitive skin because these fabrics can remain in prolonged contact with the body.

That's why rinsability is something worth considering when choosing a laundry product for eczema-prone skin.

A good sensitive-skin laundry routine isn't simply about choosing a product labelled "gentle."

It's about looking at the whole process:

What goes into the wash → how it washes → how it rinses → what remains on the fabric.

How Barekin is designed for sensitive-skin laundry

This is one of the reasons we created Barekin.

Barekin laundry sheets were developed with eczema-prone and sensitive skin in mind, with a focus on keeping the laundry routine simple.

Our fragrance-free laundry sheets are designed to dissolve completely and rinse clean in the wash.

Rather than measuring liquid or powder for every load, you simply place a pre-measured Barekin sheet directly into the washing machine drum.

Barekin laundry sheets are:

• Fragrance-free
• Dye-free
• Designed for eczema-prone and sensitive skin
• Designed to dissolve completely
• Designed to rinse clean
• Pre-measured for easy use
• Suitable for hot and cold washes

Barekin is also recognised by the Eczema Association Australasia for suitability on eczema-prone skin.

Our goal isn't to make laundry more complicated.

It's the opposite.

One sheet. One wash. Simple.

Shop Barekin Laundry Sheets →

Spring laundry checklist for eczema-prone skin

If you're looking for a simple spring reset, save this checklist.

🌼 Spring sensitive-skin laundry checklist

☐ Choose fragrance-free laundry products

☐ Skip unnecessary fabric softeners and scent boosters

☐ Don't overload the washing machine

☐ Use the recommended amount of detergent

☐ Consider an extra rinse when appropriate

☐ Change out of outdoor clothes after extended time outside

☐ Wash clothing regularly after outdoor activities

☐ Consider drying bedding indoors during particularly high-pollen periods if pollen is a known trigger

☐ Wash sheets and pillowcases regularly

☐ Clean your washing machine regularly

☐ Wipe down the washing machine seal and detergent drawer

☐ Keep your child's laundry routine as simple as possible

Don't forget to clean the washing machine

Your washing machine cleans your clothes, but the machine itself needs cleaning too.

Detergent and fabric residues, moisture and general grime can accumulate inside the machine over time.

As part of your spring cleaning routine, give your washing machine some attention.

Try these simple steps:

Clean the detergent drawer.
Remove the drawer if possible and wash away any build-up.

Wipe the door seal.
Moisture and debris can collect around the rubber seal, particularly in front-loading machines.

Clean the filter according to your machine's instructions.

Run a machine-cleaning cycle or hot empty cycle when appropriate.

A clean washing machine is simply another part of maintaining a clean laundry routine.

What about bedding?

Bedding deserves extra attention when you're managing eczema because it spends so many hours against the skin.

Consider washing:

• Sheets
• Pillowcases
• Duvet covers
• Blankets
• Mattress protectors
• Frequently used comforters

If pollen is a known trigger, think about where you're drying your bedding during spring.

And if your child wakes up particularly itchy, it can be useful to look at the entire sleep environment rather than focusing solely on skincare.

That doesn't mean laundry is necessarily the cause.

It simply means it's one more part of the environment worth considering.

Spring doesn't have to mean changing everything

If your child's eczema tends to flare during spring, it can be tempting to change ten things at once.

But that can make it almost impossible to work out what's actually helping.

Instead, start with the basics.

Keep skincare consistent.

Reduce known triggers where possible.

Keep laundry simple.

Choose fragrance-free products.

Pay attention to pollen exposure.

And notice patterns.

If you make changes, give yourself time to see whether they're making a meaningful difference.

A gentler spring starts with the everyday things

Eczema management isn't about creating a perfectly controlled environment.

You can't eliminate every potential trigger — and you shouldn't have to.

But you can make small, practical changes to the things your skin comes into contact with every day.

Your clothes.
Your bedding.
Your towels.
Your laundry products.

For us, that's why Barekin exists.

We wanted to create a laundry product that made sense for families who were already thinking carefully about sensitive skin.

Fragrance-free. Simple. Designed to dissolve completely and rinse clean.

Because sometimes the little changes to your everyday routine are the ones that are easiest to stick with.

Ready to simplify your laundry routine this spring?

SHOP BAREKIN →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is spring bad for eczema?

Spring isn't necessarily bad for eczema, but seasonal changes can coincide with increased exposure to environmental factors such as pollen, warmer temperatures and sweating. Individual eczema triggers vary, so it's useful to pay attention to your own patterns.

Can pollen cause eczema?

Pollen can be an environmental trigger for some people, particularly those with allergies. Pollen can also settle on skin, hair and clothing. If you notice seasonal changes in your eczema, reducing exposure to known triggers may be helpful.

Should I use fragrance-free laundry detergent for eczema?

Many people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin choose fragrance-free laundry products because fragrance can be irritating for some individuals. A fragrance-free routine is a simple place to start when trying to reduce potential irritants in laundry.

Is Barekin suitable for eczema-prone skin?

Barekin laundry sheets are designed with eczema-prone and sensitive skin in mind and are recognised by the Eczema Association Australasia for suitability on eczema-prone skin.

Does Barekin rinse clean?

Barekin laundry sheets are designed to dissolve completely and rinse clean during the wash. Rinsing is an important consideration when choosing laundry products for sensitive skin because you want your laundry product to wash away effectively rather than unnecessarily remain on fabrics.

Should I dry my child's clothes outside during spring?

Outdoor drying is perfectly practical for many families. However, if pollen is a known trigger for your child, you may wish to dry clothing and bedding indoors during periods of high pollen exposure.

Should I use an extra rinse for eczema?

An extra rinse can be useful if you're concerned about remaining laundry product on fabrics. It isn't necessarily required for everyone with eczema, but it is a simple option to consider as part of a sensitive-skin laundry routine.