Allergy to clothing: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

Definition

What is a clothing allergy?

Clothing allergies are one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions. This condition can occur when you use clothing materials, including fabrics, buttons, and other clothing accessories, causing skin irritation.

The skin irritation caused by this clothing material can cause inflammation known as contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis usually causes itching and redness of the skin.

How common is this condition?

Allergies to clothing fabrics or textiles are more common in women than men. This may be because most women wear clothes that are more “fit” and colorful.

However, keep in mind that everyone can experience this allergy, regardless of age and gender.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a clothing allergy?

Allergic reactions due to clothing materials and textiles will usually appear after a few hours or days after wearing clothes that trigger allergies. Basically, the symptoms of this skin allergy are not much different from other types of allergies, namely:

• itchy rash,
• rash on the skin,
• the skin becomes dry, scaly, and peels,
• skin changes that become dark and feel rough,
• swollen and looks like it's burning, as well
• skin feels tight and tight.

In general, the areas of the body that most often cause allergic reactions are the curves of the arms, back, knees and groin area. This means that the places where clothing is most likely to come into contact are at risk of experiencing these signs.

In addition, allergic reactions can also be worsened by friction from the fabric to the skin and added to by sweating in hot and humid environments.

The friction from clothes can sometimes cause a problem called intertrigo. In some cases, the rash can become infected with fungi or bacteria.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience some of the symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately to get the right treatment.

This is done to control bothersome symptoms and prevent the occurrence of a severe allergic reaction, namely anaphylactic shock.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction that require medical attention include:

• difficulty breathing,
• nausea and vomiting,
• difficulty swallowing, as well
• passed out.

Cause

What causes allergies to clothing materials?

The fibers of clothing consist of a wide variety of textiles, ranging from synthetics to combinations of natural and synthetic fibers. Therefore, allergies to clothing can occur due to various things, including:

Nickel (metal) allergy

Nickel is a metal that can cause allergies. Metal allergies do not only occur in jewelry users, but also on clothing buttons.

The nickel that is found in button buttons, shirts, jackets, and belts can be the reason why leather reacts to clothing materials.

Rubber allergy

Apart from nickel, the rubber used to beautify clothes can also irritate the skin. Rubber is generally sewn to the waist and wrists of the shirt. Meanwhile, the rubber in the pants is usually applied to the ankle area.

There are a number of types of rubber that can cause allergic skin reactions, for example black rubber, mercapto compounds, to thiuram rubber.

Formaldehyde allergy

Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that has been linked to many skin allergies, such as itching and skin redness. This chemical compound is also known as formaldehyde which is used to produce durable fabrics.

If you come across wrinkle-free clothing, it is possible that formaldehyde was used in the manufacturing process. This is so that the clothes do not crease quickly.

Allergies due to formaldehyde in clothing can cause a rash and itching on the back, neck, and thighs.

Pigment allergies in clothing dyes

Another cause of clothing allergies that you may not be aware of is the pigment in clothes dyes. For example, disperse blue 106 contains a pigment that is dark blue to give clothes dark blue and green.

The phenylenediamine content in disperse blue 106 is also often used as a hair dye. This means that this type of allergy may be closely related to the appearance of an allergic reaction to hair dye.

Risk factors

What factors increase my risk of developing this allergy?

Anyone can develop an allergic reaction to the fabric of the clothing. However, there are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this allergy, namely:

• atopic dermatitis sufferers,
• have sensitive skin,
• being overweight or obese,
• work in hot and humid environments, such as restaurant kitchens and foundries, as well
• working in the textile industry.

Keep in mind that having no risk factors does not mean you can't experience these allergies. Therefore, you still need to be careful in choosing clothes to avoid allergic reactions.

Medicine and medication

How to treat clothing allergies?

The first step as a way to treat allergies to clothing is not to use clothes that trigger allergies. Generally, allergic reactions will go away within a few days to weeks.

In addition, over-the-counter skin allergy medications, such as low-dose hydrocortisone cream, can be used to help relieve itching and swelling.

If the condition does not improve and gets worse, consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will usually give a higher dose of steroid cream and oral antibiotics if the rash has become infected.

How to diagnose this condition?

Allergy to clothing can usually be diagnosed by undergoing an allergy skin test, which is a patch test (skin patch test).

This testing will usually involve different chemicals because there are many allergens that may be present in the fabric.

Home remedies

What should be done at home to treat allergies to clothing materials?

If you have an allergic reaction to clothing, it's best to avoid any clothing or fabrics that irritate your skin. This may be difficult because most materials are treated with unidentified chemicals.

Here are some ways that might help you prevent allergic skin reactions, namely as follows.

• Wear clothes made from natural fibers, such as cotton and linen.
• Use light colored clothes, as they contain less dye.
• Wear loose clothing when it is hot and humid.
• Avoid labeled clothing non-iron and dirt-repellent.
• Avoid clothes marked "wash separately".

If you have further questions, ask your doctor to find the right solution for you.