Can Clothes Make You Itchy Or Give You A Rash?

Life can be challenging for people with sensitive skin – it could involve checking the ingredient list every time you’re trying something new, not being able to wear cheap jewellery, spending a fortune in the name of good skin, et al. Here are a few things you must know about dermatitis:

Can I Be Allergic To Clothes & Detergents?

Textile dermatitis is a skin allergy caused when certain fabrics come in contact with the skin. It could be due to the fabric itself or the textile dyes and other chemical agents used in processing the fabric. While any kind of fibre, natural or synthetic, could cause an allergic reaction, the latter is more likely to bring in a rash. This is because polyester, rayon, spandex, etc., don’t breathe as well as natural fibres, making you sweat more.

New clothes contain formaldehyde resins to make them wrinkle-resistant. Some clothes contain para-phenylenediamine, anthraquinone, and flame retardants that could cause dermatitis.

Laundry detergents contain fragrances, preservatives, and other chemicals that cause itchy rashes. The surfactants used in these detergents loosen dirt and oil, but they could irritate the skin. Similarly, fabric softeners contain a range of chemicals, including diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, triethanolamine quat, and Hamburg ester quat, that could cause several health problems like asthma and skin allergies.

How To Prevent Clothing-Related Rash?

The easiest way to prevent rashes is to stop using items that cause them and wait until the skin clears up. Stick to natural fibres and loose clothes as much as possible. But even natural fibres can cause rashes – look for clothes made of 100% organic fibre. For instance, our Turkish towels are made using natural and high-quality cotton.

Choose light coloured clothes and those marked ‘free from synthetic dyes.’ Avoid items that are marked ‘wash separately’ as these are likely to bleed colour. Similarly, clothes marked wrinkle-free, no-iron, dirt-repellent, etc., may have chemicals that could be potentially harmful.

Avoid fabric softeners; instead, use vinegar or baking soda to reduce odour and remove soap residue.

At Loopys, our range of Turkish towels is made using 100% organic cotton and without chemicals or synthetic dyes. They’re skin-friendly and prewashed. You don’t have to worry about washing our Turkish towels before use.