What materials are best for atopic dermatitis?
Like with the sports you play or the make-up you might wear, you may find that some clothing materials work much better for you than others. Trying to identify certain fabrics that don’t irritate your skin may reduce the number of flares you experience4. We have created a brief guide below to give you an introduction to different types of material that could potentially be kind to your skin and therefore, what you may/may not want to wear. Please note, materials that may be good for most could affect you differently so the below should simply be taken as a guide.
Cotton:
A light, breathable material, cotton is a popular material, especially because it is good at absorbing moisture4. Have you tried having a pair of cotton gloves to hand if you’re doing housework? These gloves will protect your hands from irritation from any day-to-day tasks5.
Silk:
Like cotton, silk is a natural material that creates minimal friction whilst also keeping your body temperature stable. As a result, this will reduce sweating and consequent moisture loss which leads to dry skin4.
Merino Wool:
A particularly good material in the colder winter months, merino wool is different from normal wool as it has very fine fibres that are much smoother. It is soft and will retain heat which will reduce irritation unlike normal wool which is much coarser6.
Viscose:
In most cases, synthetic materials should try and be avoided as chemically produced fibres tend to irritate the skin4. Viscose however may be a slight exception. It is a semi-synthetic material that is made from a combination of natural tree-fibres and chemicals and is a great alternative to silk7.
Knowing what works well for you or your child’s skin may take some experimentation however, the above guide will hopefully act as a good starting point to reduce irritation. After all, if you’re wearing something every day, you want to feel comfortable!
