Yes, you really should wash new clothes before wearing them. Here’s why
Jillian Cracker
In a post on TikTokone woman showed pictures of her arms, legs and face covered in pink hives; She wrote that this reaction developed immediately after wearing a new dress she bought online.
Similar stories abound in posts on Reddit “itchy red bumps” and hives appear on people’s skin shortly after wearing new clothes.
Dermatologist Dr. from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Susan Massick says it’s common for her patients to complain of skin reactions to new clothing, especially in areas exposed to friction, such as the armpits, groin, waist and neck.
We spoke to experts to find out what might be causing the irritation and whether washing new clothes before wearing them might help.
Why do new clothes cause reactions?
Dr. D., a dermatologist in Portland, Oregon. Shamsa Kanwal says new clothes often contain various substances that can irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions.
He adds that dirt and dust that can accumulate in storage can lead to a red, itchy or painful rash, especially in people with sensitive skin. Kanwal says the most common cause of irritation is the thousands of chemicals used during textile production.
Kanwal says many garments are treated with a variety of substances such as fungicides, chemical finishes and fragrances that reduce wrinkling, extend shelf life, resist stains and mildew, and make clothes smell nice.
Not all of these substances will cause a reaction, he adds, but dyes are a common culprit, especially azo dyes, which are often used in synthetic materials such as polyester.
Formaldehyde (used to prevent wrinkles), pesticide residues (often found in clothes made of cotton), and fragrances can also cause itchy, red rashes in close-contact areas, says Kanwal.
Inside A study conducted in 2022Researchers in Spain examined 120 pieces of baby, toddler and maternity clothing purchased from various retailers in Spain and online. They found formaldehyde in 20 percent of the samples.
Even clothes labeled “organic” may still contain dyes, finishing agents, softeners and fragrances, says Kanwal.
Does washing help?
Washing clothes before wearing helps remove some potential irritants, such as excess. paintsExperts we talked to say that odors and formaldehyde are caused by these substances. “In our tests, a single short wash cycle with cold water removed almost all of the formaldehyde present,” says researcher Joaquim Rovira Solano of Rovira i Virgili University in Spain, who co-authored the 2022 study.
But not all problematic chemicals are completely eliminated by washing, says Sylvana Brickley, a nurse practitioner who specializes in dermatology at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts. Many chemicals that can irritate skin, such as flame retardants and antimicrobial treatments used to prevent odor in some activewear, are designed to remain on clothes after multiple washes. Brickley says people who are sensitive to such chemicals may have a reaction no matter how many times the laundry is washed.
For dry-clean-only items, steaming or airing them before wearing them for the first time may help remove some odors or other odors, Kanwal says, but it probably won’t help with other more durable finishes, such as wrinkle-resistant resins, stain-resistance treatments, and some performance coatings. He recommends wearing a barrier layer, such as a thin T-shirt, under new clothes that can’t be washed.
If the skin reaction persists after washing your clothes, Massick recommends consulting a dermatologist. Most often, he says, the reaction is irritant contact dermatitis; A typically short-lived red, itchy rash that occurs within minutes to hours after direct contact with a substance and usually does not require treatment beyond avoiding the irritant.
A more troublesome and less common reaction is allergic contact dermatitis, which occurs when your body develops an allergy after repeated exposure to a substance. Even minor exposures can cause reactions such as an itchy rash, swelling, swelling, blisters, burning or tenderness, and these can take two to four days to develop, Brickley says.
If you develop any type of rash from wearing clothes, Massick recommends resisting the urge to itch, which could make the rash worse or cause skin discoloration or infection.
Brickley says washing your clothes before wearing them at the end of the day can have some drawbacks. Collars may not be as stiff, colors may not be as vibrant. But “it all depends on whether you want that thing in your clothes or not,” he says.
New York Times
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