Name: Judi
Message: Are there chemicals in dyes that may react to a person's body chemicals? I've recently ruined around 20 tops, mostly made of cotton, after wearing them just once or twice. They end up have several bleach-like spots on them. At first I thought it was from washing them, but I've tried different detergents and they still came out spotted. Recently the spots appeared BEFORE I washed the tops. So now I know it's me. Do you have any advice? Have you ever heard of this???

Do you, or does anyone in your family, use any form of acne medication?

Yes, I use a cleanser, toner and moisturizer on my face that is for acne-prone skin (ProActiv brand).

There's your answer! ProActiv lotion contains benzoyl peroxide, a potent fabric bleach. See the ProActiv website for their lists of ingredients.

I've been using these products though for at least 3 years, and this "bleach" problem first started occuring this year.

Things change. Products often undergo changes in formulation. Or, you may be using the benzoyl peroxide-containing product more in the daytime now, instead of only at bedtime, as is common.

Benzoyl peroxide specifically tends to bleach common blue dyes; surprisingly, blue dyes may be found in many different color mixtures. Somewhat who wrote to me found bright orange spots on a khaki towel. A turquoise blue towel that was used to dry someone's face in the morning, even after carefully and thoroughly washing and rinsing, developed a large beige patch. A purple bath mat developed a pink spot, where a bit of the skin cream must have been dropped. If you even just rub your face with your sleeve, while wearing this product, you can expect the fabric to be bleached.

Some people chose to switch to an alternative, usually prescription, product, such as Retin-A Micro. Unfortunately, the fact that this product works well for one person does not necessarily mean that it will work at all well for you, given the wide range of individual variation.

However, very few users of benzoyl peroxide have such big problems as you have had. Usually, only towels, and, far less frequently, pillows and nightclothes, get damaged. Perhaps you could take more care to use the benzoyl peroxide containing products only at bedtime, and use a white towel to dry your face in the morning, after carefully washing and rinsing it. Also, be sure that you are not wearing good clothes while applying the lotion!

I have never had someone write to me with mysterious bleach spots who was not also a user of benzoyl peroxide. It's not a side effect one would expect from acne medication, is it? Interestingly, benzoyl peroxide is also an explosive, and can be used as rocket fuel.

What I have changed this year is that I started taking herbs to help me with my slow metabolism. I've already discussed my problems with the naturopath I work with, but he has never heard of this happening to clothes. Do you know anything you can share? I really don't know what to do since my wardrobe is almost down to black & white tops!

The only commonly-used herbs I can think of immediately that cause photosensitization are St. John's wort and Bergamot, but, while St. John's Wort, taken internally, can cause severe sunburn and/or uneven excess tanning on your skin, it does not affect your clothing. Bergamot is a common ingredient in perfumes, often leading to a skin rash after sun exposure, but again, I have never heard of damage to clothes.