If you’ve been feeling itchy recently, have you checked to see if your clothing could be the culprit? If so, it’s possible that your skin has developed an allergy to something in your wardrobe. Common offenders include fragrances, dyes, and even chemicals used to treat fabric.

Luckily, there are simple ways to avoid these materials and find clothes that don’t make you feel uncomfortable or itchy. In this article, we’ll look at common ingredients in clothing that can cause skin allergies and review some of the best fabrics to wear when you have sensitive skin. 

10 Signs Your Clothes Are Damaging Your Skin

1. You have sensitive skin.
2. You experience itchiness when wearing certain fabrics.
3. You notice redness or rashes after wearing certain clothing items.
4. Your skin feels dry or tight after wearing certain fabrics.
5. You notice hives or welts after coming into contact with certain fabrics.
6. You have a known allergy to a fabric or material used in clothing construction.
7. You avoid certain colours or patterns because they irritate your skin. 
8. Certain clothes make you feel self-conscious, embarrassed, or uncomfortable. 
9. Certain clothes cause you to sweat more than others during hot weather conditions. 
10. Some fabrics give off odours that bother you and make you feel uncomfortable. 

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, then it's time for an inspection of your closet! Do you know what kind of clothes are best for those who have sensitive skin? Keep reading for tips on how to find out if your clothes are the culprit! 

Firstly, determine which fabrics are most likely to cause problems: wool, polyester, acrylics (which may contain formaldehyde), animal fibres like wool and cashmere, nylon, or cotton.

Then start by assessing whether your body reacts negatively towards any of these materials. Wool and polyester are typically among the worst offenders for sensitive skin.

Next up is looking at the colour scheme of your wardrobe; too many shades can lead to increased sensitivity as well as a compromised immune system due to the excess stimulation from all that different stimuli from so many colours, one or two good solid pieces can go a long way in keeping sensitivities under control!

5 Tips for Finding Sensitive Skin Friendly Clothing

1. Check the fabric content- natural fibres like cotton are usually best.
2. Look for a loose weave- the tighter the weave, the more likely it is to irritate.
3. Avoid anything with a harsh chemical finish- these can strip away your natural oils and leave your skin vulnerable.
4. Be careful with dyes- some can be harsh and cause irritation or allergic reactions.
5. Opt for simplicity- less is usually more when it comes to sensitive skin. 

Bonus tip: When in doubt, check the tag! Brands will often list specific fabric types as well as any potential allergies on tags.

3 Ways To Care For Sensitive Skin

When you have sensitive skin, it's important to take extra care when choosing and using products. Here are three ways to care for your sensitive skin:

• Choose fragrance-free products. Fragrance is often the culprit behind skin sensitivity. Even natural scents like lavender and eucalyptus might be too strong for those with sensitive skin so opt for unscented options instead.
• Check for ingredients that could be irritating your skin. Some ingredients can cause reactions in some people but not others. You may want to avoid these if you have sensitive skin: sulphates, DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, linalool, limonene, linalyl acetate. 
• Avoid harsh scrubbing. Gentle exfoliation is all you need! Be sure to use gentle circular motions with a soft cloth or your hands, rather than rubbing hard with anything abrasive.

Now that you know what to look for, you can choose products that are best for your needs and avoid ingredients that could trigger reactions or make your sensitive skin condition worse.