Why do my hands stain towels yellow?

Question

I have noticed that when I wash my hands and dry them on cloth towels, the towels turn a very bright yellow color. Well, I just did laundry, and noticed the same very bright yellow on the left sides of my shirts--not under the arms, but down the sides of my tank tops. Ordinarily, I would think it was perspiration, but this yellow is such a bright, odd color that I'm worried something is wrong with my body chemistry. Also, I don't sweat that much and this issue has only sprung up recently. Any ideas? We did get a water softener recently, but that's the only change I can think of in our water.

I'm not a smoker. Nor is anyone in my home.

I do carry a handbag, sometimes on the left. But the hand towels are turning bright yellow too. I'm not noticing any yellow in other areas of my clothing where I would typically sweat.

Answer 1

Certain chemicals, such as chlorine bleach, may cause the color reactions you describe, but they never occur as quickly as you make it sound. The same is true of certain perfumes, colognes, talcum powders, and other cosmetics. Sun tanning lotions and acne medications often discolor clothes.

It is certainly possible that your water or laundry detergent, etc, may be "staining" your clothing and towels, and that the act of rubbing it triggers the discoloration (i.e., it may have nothing to do with your skin). To test this, put on a pair of brand new, never washed, vinyl or latex gloves, and gently rub clothing or towels that have been recently washed. If you see any discoloration, then it's the water or detergent or something else (it could also be due to the material used in the clothes or towels). If nothing happens, then remove the gloves, and rub it with your clean hands. If nothing happens, put both articles in a safe place, and wait a full day to see if either or both display an discoloration (put a note on each so you know which was handled with gloves, and which was handled without gloves). Regardless of the result, it is very unlikely that your skin has anything to do with it.

Since you mentioned the water softener,
I can only ask the painfully obvious question:
"Have you tried NOT using it?" ;)

Answer 2

I have the same problem and was wondering if anyone here had any updates. My light green hand and bath towels get yellow blotches on them after drying my skin. Not every time but I cannot figure out any rhyme or reason as to when it happens vs. not. And no particular body part seems to cause the permanent stains more or less than any other.

My skin tone and whites of my eyes show no signs of jaundice and I have not had a drink in 11 years so should have no liver problems anyway. I never smoked. I had assumed the water in my old apartment building was the problem but a filter on the shower head did not solve the problem and now that I have moved to a house in another state, the problem is still there.

I do not use bleach in my wash and in fact when bleach once accidentally got in a load of my towels, the reaction to the bleach was very different - turned white, burned a hole right through them. I have gone through like 4 sets of towels in the last 5 years. It's disgusting and disturbing. I am hoping someone has an update. Thanks.

Answer 3

Yellow Hand Towels

Answer 4

You know, it could be a water issue, but I had a similar problem about a year or so ago when I was using Proactiv. There's benzoyl peroxide in it (which is virtually the same chemical as bleach) and it bleached out spots on some of my towels and pillowcases, and even on some clothing if I wasn't careful. If you are using a product which does contain a level of peroxide in it, that may be it. You may need to rinse your face off a little more stringently and only use white towels when you wash your face. Good luck! I hope you find the root of the problem!

Answer 5

Yellow discharge in your hands is usually uria. If you rub your hands togeather and get them sweaty and what you rub off is uria then your kidnes are putting urine into your body where it does not belong. Drink lots of water and if it does not go away go to see a doctor. Sometimes something like this can be a warning sign for jaunduce (I may have spelled that wrong) this is when your skin turnes yellow because your kidneys are not working properly. Your liver not working properly can cause the same discoloration as well. I had a friend that noticed this same thing and it turned out that she had a kidney infection. Its possible that you have the same thing or something different. If you are worried consult your doctor. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you've gotten a water softener recently, you've most likely got a private well. When I first saw your question my first thought was what someone has already suggested "Do you smoke?", but as I read through your question it became more apparent that you have a problem with minerals in both your well & water. First double check that water is actually running through your softener (sometimes a careless worker will bypass the system) from there eliminate all the things it couldn't be, tie-dye in the washer, food coloring in the soap powder...etc. If you still have a problem you can use bluing to make whites white. You've heard the saying "little old blue haired ladies?", that's where that one comes from. Good luck!

Answer 7

Hmm, Well everytime I here "yellow" come in contact with the body, I think of Liver Failure. When your liver fails, your eyes can turn yellow and your skin can have a tint of yellow. Including your hands. Im not trying to scare you, im just offering my advice. Go see a doctor. Liver Failure is my best guess. You can always get a new liver.

Answer 8

This is the same technique I have taught over 138,000 men and women in 157 countries to successfully treat their excessive sweating condition over the past 7 years!

Remember: Watch the whole video, as the ending will pleasantly surprise you�

Answer 9

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Answer 10

my bet is if ur using bleach then thats whats causing the yellow stains on the towels...