Here's what you should avoid wearing for healthy skin, according to science

Not all fabrics feel the same on your skin, this much we already know. But the trick is that some of them that seem comfortable and look good are actually quite harmful to you. Often produced using toxic chemicals, they can cause skin irritation even on the healthiest of bodies, let alone their odour-trapping effect.

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While it’s difficult to exclude these fabrics from your wardrobe completely, minimising their use in your daily life will make your skin grateful.

Synthetic fabrics: treated with toxic chemicals and don’t breathe

Man-made fabrics like acrylic, polyester, rayon, acetate, and nylon are treated with thousands of harmful toxic chemicals during production, according to ScienceDaily. In a study from Stockholm University, researchers chose four groups of substances related to health risks and tested them for ‘occurrence, quantity, toxicity, and how easily they may penetrate the skin,’ and the highest concentrations of two of the substances were found in none other than polyester.

Toxic chemicals aside, synthetic fabrics simply don't breathe and trap odours, Popular Science writes. Skin germs found in sweat feast on chemicals, which synthetic fibres can't absorb, therefore creating an environment for smelly bacteria to grow. All signs point to polyester being the number one worst fabric for the skin.

thumbnail — Photo by Khaled Ghareeb on Unsplash

Wrinkle-resistant fabrics: comes with a hazardous chemical

Any fabric, even the non-synthetic one, made to be wrinkle-resistant gets its wrinkle-free properties from a hazardous chemical called formaldehyde. ScienceDaily reported that greener methods are being investigated, but in the meantime, it’s best to stick with natural fabrics. If you really hate ironing, use these simple tips to ditch it for good.

Bamboo: its processing releases toxic chemicals

Bamboo sounds like a green and planet-friendly choice, it’s soft and fluid, but it’s not so skin friendly after all. In its natural state, bamboo is stiff and rough. According to research conducted by sustainable outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, the process to convert bamboo to its softest state (rayon fibre) releases toxic chemicals such as carbon disulfide, sodium hydroxide, and sulfuric acid that are actually reproductive hazards.

Wool: it can irritate and cause flare-ups

If you suffer from dry or itchy skin, wool shouldn't be your first choice unless it’s merino wool. Live Science explains that wearing wool can trigger eczema flare-ups, and a Mayo Clinic doctor, Megan Johnston Flanders, MD, says that the fabric can even irritate problem-less skin.