Did you know that the clothing you choose can support your skin’s recovery from a recurring skin condition?
The wrong fabric or style of clothing can trigger a skin flare-up of common skin conditions such as eczema, TSW, psoriasis, or rosacea. The usual culprits are irritating fabrics or styles that bind, rub, stifle, and scratch your sensitive skin. What’s worse is that during a flareup, when your skin is red, raw, stinging and oh so sensitive, choosing the right clothes to wear can be an even more agonizing decision.
The good news is that the right clothing choices that help you avoid a flare-up are the same types of clothes that feel better on your skin while you are recovering.
Fabric and Style Choices to Look For:
Here are the types of fabrics and clothing you’ll want to build your wardrobe around:
- Lightweight fabrics that breathe
Cotton, linen, silk, rayon, bamboo, modal, or tencel are all good choices. Wool is also natural and breathable, but it can be too scratchy or irritating next to your skin. You want breathable fabric primarily because you really want…
- Fabrics that allow moisture to evaporate or wick away
This is especially important for exercise wear and the layer of clothing you wear right next to your skin. Nothing can trigger a flareup faster or make lesions worse than fabric that seals in your perspiration and body heat.
While light, breathable cotton is often the preferred fabric of choice for skin conditions, there are times when cotton may not be a good choice. Cotton can sometimes trap moisture next to the skin when worn as a base layer under athletic wear or winter clothing, or when it’s worn in damp weather. That’s why athleticwear companies make socks, underwear, base layers, and sports gear specifically for the purpose of wicking away moisture to keep your skin healthy and dry.
- Styles that don’t cling
Look for knits in styles that flow and drape easily on your body. If you like clothes that mold to your shape or are more tailored, make sure they are soft, preferably seamless, and made of a natural, breathable fiber.
- Fabrics that don’t hold a static charge
Cotton, rayon, and silk are good choices here, or use a fragrance-free and chemical-free laundry treatment to reduce static. For example, adding vinegar to the fabric softener cycle in your washing machine will reduce static cling, as will adding woolen dryer balls.
- Non-chafing, non-binding, and label-free
Look for soft or no waistbands, no elastic on wrists or ankle cuffs, and clothes that skip the irritating labels sewn into the back of the neck or at the waistline. You can now find underwear, shirts, pajamas, and athletic wear that are seamless for extra comfort.
- Pre-washed clothes, free of chemicals and fragrances
The clothing you buy at the store often has remnants of formaldehyde, starches, and other chemicals from manufacturing and storage. It’s a good idea to put them through a wash cycle before your first wear so you don’t risk a reaction.
- Laundered in fragrance and dye-free detergents
Choose fragrance and dye-free, or “free and clear” detergents to launder your clothes. Search out the gentlest most natural brands that won’t irritate your skin. Vinegar works well as a natural fabric softener, and as a bonus, will clear away soap residue from your fabrics. Beware of dryer sheets, too. They often contain artificial fragrances and chemicals that can irritate your skin. Try woolen dryer balls instead.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe right away. However, having at least one or two skin-friendly outfits in your closet will go a long way in case you do have an unexpected flare-up.
Why Synthetic Fabrics Can Feel Irritating
Some people with skin conditions cannot tolerate the feel of synthetic fabrics at all. They are supersensitive to the feel of even the slightest percentage of synthetics in fabric blends. Here’s why synthetics can feel scratchy or “wrong,” and why higher-quality synthetic blends in functional clothing (i.e. moisture wicking sports fabrics) might be worth a try:
- Fiber structure: Synthetics like polyester and nylon are made from plastic-based fibers, which can be stiffer or more abrasive than natural fibers.
- Weave/treatment: Some synthetic fabrics are tightly woven or treated with chemicals (e.g., flame retardants, wrinkle resistance), adding to that rough, scratchy feel.
- Quality variation: Cheap or low-quality synthetics tend to be rougher; high-quality synthetics used in performance gear are often engineered to feel soft and smooth.
Common Scratchy Synthetics:
- Acrylic: Often compared to wool but much itchier for some.
- Nylon: Can feel slick or abrasive depending on finish.
- Polyester fleece: Soft to the touch at first but can pill and get scratchy over time.
- Rayon/viscose: Semi-synthetic—can be soft, but cheaper versions may feel stiff.
Where to Shop?
You don’t need to shop at specialty stores for skin-friendly clothes. Understanding the parameters above will help you find comfy items at most department stores and even resale shops.
But for those who want an idea of the types of styles and fabric textures to look for, here are some brands and stores to consider:
- Vouri — Check out their ultra-soft “Dreamknit” that wicks away moisture.
- J. Crew — Theirsueded cotton tee shirts for men are super comfy and soft.
- The Perfect Jean – Here are men’s jeans that are soft and stretchy, but fit great and look fantastic.
- Cottonique– If your skin is super sensitive or you are allergic to latex, try their 100% organic cotton clothing and underwear.
- Happy Skin – This company produces eczema-specific clothing for children and toddlers, designed to maximize comfort and reduce scratching.
- Dermasilk – specializes in clothes and bedsheets that help manage eczema and other skin conditions.
Conclusion
Managing a skin condition is a holistic endeavor. In addition to sticking with your treatment plan (and supporting your health with proper sleep, nutrition, hydration, and exercise), you can also help by pampering your skin with soothing, soft, snuggly fabrics that help you stay flare-up free.
Want to Learn More About Skin Health?
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.