Q. I have atopic dermatitis and wearing polyester triggers my eczema, what can I do against that?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
It sounds like you might be dealing with a condition known as textile contact dermatitis, which happens when certain fabrics cause an allergic reaction on the skin. Unfortunately, synthetic materials like polyester are common triggers for this type of dermatitis.
One of the most important things for managing textile contact dermatitis (or any eczema) is to avoid potential allergens and other irritants that could worsen your symptoms. Avoiding polyester is an important part of this – but it can be hard to know if a fabric contains polyester or not! Even though some manufacturers may advertise their clothing as being “100% cotton” or “all-natural” fabrics, those labels don’t always mean that there isn’t any polyester present in the fabric. The best way to test this is by carefully looking at the label on clothing: sometimes manufacturers will list all components of a garment in small print and/or using international fabric code abbreviations like PES (polyester). Touching or rubbing up against even a small amount of polyester could trigger an allergic reaction, so it's essential to pay attention to these details when shopping for clothes.
If you find yourself unable to avoid all contact with polyester fabrics, there are some treatments that can help reduce the severity and itching associated with your flares. Topical steroids are often prescribed because they act quickly to help reduce inflammation and relieve itchiness; however it's important that these medications are used only according to your doctor's instructions since extended use can lead to side effects (including thinning skin!). Other topical medications such as antihistamines also have been found helpful for relieving itching associated with eczema flares.
It may take some trial and error before you identify strategies that work best for managing textile contact dermatitis – but research has shown that avoiding irritating substances, wearing comfortable breathable fabrics such as cotton instead of synthetic materials like nylon or rayon, and utilizing moisturizers regularly can make a huge difference in reducing flare ups!