Allergies to synthetics are typical for people with sensitive skin. Moreover, even purchasing products entirely made of cotton will not save them from a negative reaction to the composition of the fabric, since many materials are processed in different ways during production. chemicals. This process is driven by necessity: this is the only way to increase the strength of the product, increase its service life and achieve long-lasting shade.

Reasons

The reasons for the development of an allergic reaction to items of clothing are associated with several factors:

Mechanical.

Synthetic clothing can cause allergies due to its constituents.

Synthetics, due to their composition, do not allow most of the moisture through, resulting from the natural process of sweating. In other words, the skin in this case “does not breathe.” And due to the fact that the glands of an adult and a child contain large number salts, they further increase irritation.

As a result, constant rubbing of the armpits and other areas with synthetics leads to redness and itching.

Chemical.

If mechanical reasons have not been identified, but the symptoms of the pathology continue to appear, then you should pay attention to the composition of the tissue. Often, allergies to synthetics are caused by chemicals contained in clothing items. These usually include:

dyes. The presence of such substances is indicated by colored water after washing;

abundance of chemicals. If the manufacturer does not comply with the relevant standards, then such things make themselves felt pungent odor oil.

In this case, an allergic reaction to synthetic fabric leads to very serious complications, sometimes even death. Therefore, it is recommended that before putting on a new item, you wash it first.

Psychological.

An allergic reaction as a set of certain consequences sometimes manifests itself in psychological reasons. It becomes a consequence of various programs, conversations on the street and the like, after hearing enough of which an overly suspicious person, as they say, invents a problem for himself. In other words, it finds a disease where there is none, and at this moment the brain, responding to the owner’s demands, “forces” the body to change, which is why red rashes appear on the skin and so on.

Whichever of the above reasons leads to the development of allergies, you must first consult a specialist. Only he can deliver correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Especially if the question concerns the child’s health, because many drugs themselves cause the development of various pathologies and irreversible changes in the body.

Symptoms

An allergy to synthetics manifests itself in the form of skin redness and itching. It is also accompanied by the appearance of peeling and various rashes.

Most often, an allergy to fabric manifests itself in the form of redness that occurs on:

• groin area;

Symptoms: spots on the skin.

Often a similar reaction to items of clothing occurs in a child, since the child’s skin is soft. Symptoms appear completely differently for each person. It all depends on individual characteristics body, diet, immune system and many other factors.

For the first time, a tissue allergy can appear at any age, be it in a newborn child or an elderly person. Moreover, in the first case, it occurs more often, since, in addition to delicate skin, infants do not control their own movements, so redness occurs due to mechanical friction.

Treatment

Symptoms: redness on the skin.

Treatment of any pathology begins with determining the nature of its course. That is, the doctor determines whether it is chronic or not. But in any case, the beginning will be to limit any contact with the root cause of the disease.

Subsequently, the specialist, after carrying out diagnostic measures, during which it was determined that the patient is allergic to synthetics, prescribes a course of treatment. This usually includes taking antihistamines, which relieve skin itching and redness. Also, symptoms that appear on the code can be easily cured through the use of appropriate creams.

Among folk remedies, a decoction based on chamomile with the addition of mint stands out. After preparing the infusion, it is used to create baths, thanks to which all symptoms disappear and the allergic reaction disappears. You can also use an infusion of bay leaves, which is usually used as a lotion to help reduce the manifestations of allergies in places where they are localized on the body. A decoction of chamomile and string is suitable for treating rashes.

Prevention

To avoid the development of a chronic form of pathology, it is recommended to consult a doctor at its first signs. However, this will not help if you do not follow certain preventive measures aimed at the preventive elimination of the disease. Accordingly, it is necessary to stop wearing things made from synthetic materials and give preference to cotton or linen clothing.

First of all, this circumstance applies to those items that are constantly in contact with bare skin: underwear, T-shirts, and so on. Allergy to fabric is a fairly common disease in children, so the choice of clothes, sheets and everything that the child will often come into contact with must meet the above conditions. The same goes for maternity clothes. The reaction of the latter’s body to such things can be unpredictable, even serious complications, since the immune system of women during this period is weakened.

Active development of industry and decline in the level of health of the nation under the influence of negative external factors lead to an increase in the number of people with allergies. Today, increased susceptibility of the body is diagnosed even in those who have not previously experienced similar problems. Increasingly, therapists and dermatologists give their patients a disappointing preliminary diagnosis - “allergy to synthetics.” If confirmed, the course is carried out therapeutic measures. Even after their completion, the patient must not forget about his peculiarity; he must constantly be careful.

The list of the most popular synthetic fabrics includes acrylic, polyester, elastane, viscose, lycra or acetate. Refusal to wear things made from these artificial materials does not always give the desired result. Modern natural fabrics partly consist of industrial additives - their fibers are often treated with chemicals in order to increase the practicality of the fabric. If you are predisposed to an allergy to synthetics, special attention should be paid to purchasing new products and the body’s reaction to them.

Reasons

Manifestations of allergies are the result of a failure of internal processes. In the case of matter, most often they turn out to be a consequence of the influence of a strong external stimulus on the body, but sometimes the cause of the pathological reaction lies in the person himself.

Factors that trigger the development of an allergic response may be:

• Mechanical. The result of close contact of artificial matter with the skin. Synthetics do not absorb moisture well, so the sweat released by the human body lingers on the surface of the body. Wet epidermis rubs faster with fabric, and metabolic products released with sweat increase irritation. Such a reaction cannot be considered an allergy, because the symptoms are not relieved by taking antihistamines. Characteristic changes in the blood in this case occur only against the background of damage to significant areas of the body.
• Chemical. Symptoms appear in response to reagents used during fabric production. This reaction often occurs in newborn children, even if they purchase items made from 100% cotton or linen. Natural fibers are often additionally treated with chemicals, which results in irritation marks. Particular danger for people with sensitive skin They represent products of bright colors.
• Psychological. Hypochondriacs and people who react sharply to any information about diseases can instill in themselves the idea that they have an allergy. The result will be the appearance of exactly the symptoms they expect. Despite the absence of the stimulus, the body reacts as if it were present. Taking antihistamines acts as a placebo and may produce the desired effect. Also, increased sensitivity of the epidermis is caused by stress, overwork, physical or emotional exhaustion.

Identifying the cause of the allergy and eliminating it is the first step to getting rid of the problem.

Even if the irritant is obvious and after eliminating contact with it the condition has returned to normal, it is better to contact a specialist and undergo full diagnostics. This will make sure you are intolerant to a specific allergen and identify possible additional negative factors, which is important for carrying out effective prevention relapses.

Symptoms

In the case of a negative response of the body to synthetics, the clinical picture often develops gradually. A person may not even suspect that he has an intolerance to some fabric if he wears unsuitable things for a short time or rarely.

Symptoms of an allergy to synthetics can be different:

Some people notice their symptoms, but due to their mild severity, do not pay much attention to them. However, ignoring signs of increased reactivity of the body is fraught with the development of serious complications.

Possible complications

Allergies to clothing or bedding in a child or adult not only cause significant discomfort, but also pose a danger. Complications can develop even if the symptoms of the disease are minimal at the beginning.

Anaphylactic shock

An emergency condition characterized by collapse against the background sharp decline blood pressure, without timely professional help can lead to death. With such an allergy, it is extremely rare, but the potential cannot be ignored. Anaphylaxis is especially dangerous for young children, so you should try to ensure that their skin and mucous membranes do not come into contact with artificial or brightly colored tissues. Pathological processes develop rapidly and quickly lead to malfunction of internal organs. If an allergy sufferer shows signs of confusion, severe vomiting or fainting, you must urgently call an ambulance.

Quincke's edema

Severe, usually limited to a certain area, swelling of the skin and mucous membranes develops within minutes after contact with the allergen. A negative reaction is not necessarily observed in response to the first encounter with a stimulus. She may be the result of it long-term exposure. Danger emergency condition consists of a significant increase in tissue volume in some areas; the process can take hours or even days. The swollen biomass begins to put pressure on internal organs or blocks the access of oxygen to the lungs, which can lead to fatal in the absence of timely resuscitation measures.

Purulent skin lesions

Allergic rash, often occurring as a result of a reaction to synthetics, is an entry point for infection. Firstly, patients, especially children, scratch it, thereby violating the integrity of the skin and introducing microbes into the formed wounds. Secondly, the affected areas continue to be rubbed by clothing, and sweat gets into the scratches and cracks. The result is inflammatory process, which festers and affects an increasingly larger area. Even with timely assistance, the result of such a complication may be deterioration. general condition patient, scars and cicatrices in problem areas.

Diagnostics

To confirm a preliminary diagnosis based on examination and questioning of the patient, it is necessary to do a skin test and donate blood for immunoglobulins. Biomaterial assessment is carried out in acute period diseases when it is possible to track the immune system’s reaction to the action of an allergen. Tests are carried out after the elimination of the symptoms of the pathology and can take the form of one of three approaches.

Skin tests

This diagnostic option is accessible and informative. Even in the case of increased reactivity of the body in response to the action of an allergen, it does not pose a danger. A solution containing traces of a potential irritant is applied to the skin of the test subject. With the application option, all you have to do is wait 20 minutes and evaluate the result. The scarification type of test involves the additional application of shallow scratches to human skin treated with a solution. The most aggressive test is the prick test, during which punctures are made in the patient’s tissues with special thin needles.

People's blood contains special cells - immunoglobulins E, the level of which can be used to suspect an allergy. In biomaterial healthy person they are present in small quantities. Against the background of the development of a pathological immune response, their volume increases noticeably.

Normal levels of immunoglobulin E depending on age:

• 0 – 2 years: not higher than 64 mIU/ml;
• 2 years – 18 years: not higher than 150 mIU/ml;
• Over 18 years old: no higher than 110-120 mIU/ml.

Based on the values ​​of the obtained numbers, the allergist can not only confirm the presence of problems, but also determine the type of irritant. Under the influence of a number of external or internal factors, the initial data may change, but only slightly.

Treatment

Therapeutic measures for allergies are prescribed by an allergist. Commonly practiced integrated approach. The list of manipulations depends on the cause of the pathology, the type and degree of its severity, the age and individual characteristics of the patient. The duration of the course is also set by the professional. Don't give up further implementation prescribed procedures in case of weakening or complete disappearance of symptoms.

Elimination therapy

Treatment of allergies to synthetics begins with eliminating the patient’s contact with the irritant.

If possible, it is recommended to avoid wearing not only the product or type of fabric that causes a negative response, but also artificial materials in general. At a minimum, you should make sure that potentially hazardous items do not come into contact with your skin. Using underwear made from natural fibers that have not been subjected to additional processing can eliminate many problems. New items must be washed before wearing so that they no longer pose a danger to allergy sufferers.

Drug treatment

Allergy symptoms are relieved with antihistamines. Additionally, it may be necessary to take or externally use auxiliary medications. Only if you treat the disease comprehensively can you count on a quick and lasting effect from therapy.

If you are allergic to synthetics, the following medications can be used:

Traditional medicine methods

Often, allergists and dermatologists recommend to their patients the use of traditional medicine to combat manifestations of pathological reactivity of the body. Before starting such therapy, you must obtain permission from the attending physician to use a specific technique.

The following procedures have proven themselves to be effective in the treatment of artificial tissues:

The listed approaches are effective, but this does not mean that you can limit yourself to them. Traditional medicine should only be used as aid. It does not replace the need for mandatory traditional manipulations.

Ways to prevent relapse

After recovery, a person with an allergic status should not relax. Unpleasant symptoms may return upon next contact with an irritant or in case of increased reactivity of the body. To minimize the likelihood of the influence of these two factors, you need to learn a few simple rules for preventing relapses of allergies.

To reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease, you need to:

• Reduce the likelihood of contact with an allergen. Bed and underwear should be made from natural materials. You should refuse to wear synthetics or make an exception only for outerwear. Underwear and socks should be changed daily. It is undesirable for bright items to come into contact with the skin.
• Be careful when buying new things.
• Allergy sufferers are not suitable for items marked “Chlorine Bleached.” This is an aggressive reagent that can trigger an immune response.
• Items that do not require ironing are usually treated with formaldehyde, which is dangerous when hypersensitivity to chemicals. The fabric of products that can be washed in a machine is impregnated with artificial resins and also poses a danger to allergy sufferers.
• Engage in strengthening immune defense body. They will help with this vitamin complexes, hardening measures, taking enterosorbents.
• Forget about bad habits. Smoking and alcohol abuse increase the body's reactivity, which increases the risk of developing or exacerbating allergies.

Synthetic materials are widely used in the production of curtains, upholstery, carpets, tablecloths and other household items. When purchasing the listed products, you should also be careful, because you have to constantly come into contact with them.

The phenomenon of allergy to synthetics is a relatively new type of reaction. human body. Serious illnesses, caused by various allergens - external and internal irritants - today are no longer as harmless manifestations as they were several centuries ago.

For example, in the time of Hippocrates, allergies could appear in a small category of people when eating certain foods, and in Ancient Rome The famous doctor Galen noted the appearance of a runny nose caused by the smell of roses. However, these were isolated cases, and the real scope of the epidemic began only with the development technical progress, introduction of hazardous production, creation of food substitutes and flavor enhancers for food products, synthetic materials, fabrics, artificial fur and items household chemicals.

As analysts note, allergies are a disease directly related to the development of civilization. Environmental issues gradually cause new manifestations of allergies in not a small number of people, which is caused by a violation of the natural metabolic process in the environment of living organisms.

Humanity began to seriously think about solving this problem, looking for ways to neutralize and protect against harmful effects and allergization, attracting not only international environmental services, but also entire medical associations.

Allergy to synthetic fabrics

In addition to allergic reactions to food and household chemicals, recent years Allergies to synthetic clothing and shoes have become widespread. In this case, the situation is further aggravated by the fact that specialists have learned to produce fabrics not from pure natural fibers, but to create synthetic materials through chemical experiments.

The list of them is quite large, and every year the range of clothes made from them increases, since they are much cheaper than natural ones. In particular, these include the following:

• viscose;
• microfiber;
• acrylic;
• fleece;
• polyamide;
• Polartek;
• membrane;
• elastane, polyester and so on.

Moreover, with regard to aesthetic qualities, synthetics are quite attractive in appearance and have a high percentage of strength. Such fabrics are made on the basis of polymers in specialized workshops, and modern markets and the stores are filled with just such clothes. In addition, bedding sets, towels and underwear are made from synthetics. And everything would be fine if people did not react to such products.

It is worth noting that synthetics still create some inconveniences and discomfort when worn: they do not allow air to pass through well enough, are difficult to wash, do not absorb moisture very well, become electrified, and last a long time. bad smell and ultimately causes allergies.

The body begins to develop blisters or rashes, itching, redness and swelling. As a result of the use of synthetics, serious symptoms may begin to develop. Therefore, when making a purchase, you must always pay attention to the composition of the fabric. And if the thing doesn’t fit, then, sad as it may be, it’s better not to wear it. If you are allergic to the fabric from your bed linen, it is better to change it to a natural set.

Contact dermatitis

One of the diseases that appeared against the background of the use of synthetics is contact dermatitis. Usually, at first, the disease makes itself felt through mechanical impact on the skin at the seams and bends of clothing, in the area of ​​the collar and folds. Much depends on the quality of the material, the structure of the fiber itself and the time of wear. With this disease, allergies manifest themselves at a slow pace.

The main symptoms of the disease are the appearance of irritation in certain areas of the skin that are exposed to direct contact with the allergen. Moreover, manifestations can appear even some time after wearing synthetic clothing or using inappropriate underwear. Characteristic features is redness of the skin, the appearance of bubbles filled with a transparent liquid composition, the presence of swelling in the contact area and itching. Bubbles should not be touched to avoid infection. Gradually, as they disappear, ulcers appear instead, and when the inflammation process subsides, crusts remain on the skin for some time.

Treatment of contact dermatitis is carried out through local application of special ointments and creams. For example, such as Advantan, Elidel, Zyrtec, Erius and Lokoid. Apply medicinal products It is recommended twice a day, while the course itself lasts two weeks. For more severe lesions, the use of special diet therapy is recommended, and corticosteroid drugs are prescribed for oral use.

Allergic dermatitis

Another characteristic disease is, which occurs in the form of a peculiar reaction of the body to the effects of synthetics and other possible irritants. Like contact dermatitis, this type pathology develops slowly.

In order for the first signs of the disease to appear, direct interaction with the allergen must be quite long. In this case, it is not antibodies that take part in the reaction, but immune cells, mostly lymphocytes. Clinical picture characterized by symptoms reminiscent of the development of eczema. Large red spots appear on the affected areas of the skin, after which small bubbles form in their place, which begin to become wet, and subsequently noticeable defects remain on the surface of the epidermis. Crusts and scales appear.

The lesions are initially those places that had contact with synthetic fabric. Each allergy gradually begins to affect not a separate area, but the entire body as a whole, affecting organs even from the inside. External manifestations are only evidence of the presence of allergic dermatitis. And of course, the indisputable fact is that it is desirable to stop the disease at the very beginning of its development.

Clarifying the diagnosis of this disease for specialists it is not particularly difficult. Direct questioning of patients and careful visual inspection help with this. skin lesions. Allergic dermatitis has quite characteristic specific manifestations, A modern methods In addition, they allow you to confirm the diagnosis using special ones. This technique makes it possible not only to verify correct diagnosis, but also to specify the direct source - the allergen. The essence of the procedure is that a small scratch and the substance that is supposed to be the irritant are applied to the skin with a needle. After some time, at the site of the test, if there is a source, a slight inflammation appears in the form of a spot and swelling. The main condition for conducting the test is complete absence other skin diseases.

Summing up

Treatment of this disease, like any other allergy to synthetics, especially in an advanced stage, is not an easy process. First, you should completely avoid clothing made from a certain material.

It is best to use natural fabrics such as linen and cotton.

Regarding wool sweaters, then they are capable of causing negative effects to no less extent. Therefore, they should be worn over cotton shirts. Further symptoms are relieved with antihistamines medicines, which are produced in the form of drops and are prescribed for oral administration. There are also a number of drying antiallergic agents in the form of ointments and gels.

Allergy today is one of the dangerous diseases fraught with serious pathological consequences. Therefore, its neutralization is necessary measure. And the sooner treatment is started, the better.

Allergy to synthetics occurs in people with hypersensitivity to external irritants and causes psychological and physical discomfort to the patient.

Clinical picture

WHAT DOCTORS SAY ABOUT EFFECTIVE METHODS OF TREATING ALLERGIES

Vice-President of the Association of Children's Allergists and Immunologists of Russia. Pediatrician, allergist-immunologist. Smolkin Yuri Solomonovich

Practical medical experience: more than 30 years

According to the latest WHO data, it is allergic reactions in the human body that lead to the occurrence of most fatal diseases. And it all starts with the fact that a person has an itchy nose, sneezing, runny nose, red spots on the skin, and in some cases, suffocation. 7 million people die every year due to allergies , and the scale of the damage is such that the allergic enzyme is present in almost every person. Unfortunately, in Russia and the CIS countries, pharmaceutical corporations sell expensive medications that only relieve symptoms, thereby hooking people on one drug or another. This is why in these countries there is such a high percentage of diseases and so many people suffer from “non-working” drugs.

Synthetic materials are considered strong allergens, as a result of which the allergy sufferer feels the symptoms of dermatitis - red itchy spots, swelling of the skin and other signs of allergy.

Often, an allergic reaction occurs in the décolleté, bikini area, stomach, back, and legs. If treatment is not timely, the allergy may develop into chronic form, which is fraught with complications.

Reference! Women are more likely than men to be allergic to synthetics, since the skin of female representatives is more sensitive, and there are more synthetic items in the wardrobe of the fair sex. Cotton fabric is softer and does not have allergenic properties, but sometimes cotton causes allergies when textiles are treated with chemicals.

Causes of allergies to synthetics

Experts identify 3 reasons that contribute to the development of an allergic reaction to synthetic products.

Mechanical

Allergies are caused by textiles that retain moisture during sweating. During sweating, the body gets rid of excess salts, which, when wearing synthetic clothing, interact with the skin and cause irritation in the form of redness, swelling, itching and burning sensations on the skin.

Moreover, an immune response occurs if coarse threads, woolen materials, and pile were used in sewing clothes. Usually after stopping contact with the allergen allergic symptoms passes.

Attention! How younger child, the more susceptible the baby is to synthetic materials. Therefore, it is recommended for newborns and infants to buy cotton clothing that is breathable.

Chemical

If clothing has good breathability, but allergy symptoms increase, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the chemical composition of the material.

To improve quality and give it a marketable appearance, manufacturers add dyes to synthetics that have a pungent odor and, in some cases, even leave marks on the skin due to bright and unnatural colors.

Contact with the epidermis and odors lead not only to contact dermatitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and allergic cough, but also cause the development of rapid allergies with Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock.

Important! People prone to allergies should wash and iron synthetic clothing thoroughly before first use. If symptoms persist, synthetic material should be discarded.

Psychological

It happens that a person perceives synthetics as a harmful material, as a result of which a fear of using synthetic and polymer products develops. Under the influence of self-hypnosis, a person perceives a pimple, the slightest redness and mild itching as an allergy and panics.

Interesting! IN similar situations even pure cotton leads to a mental reaction, so a person suffering from a phobia needs to consult a psychologist, and in severe cases, a psychotherapist.

Symptoms of an allergy to synthetics

Most often, allergies due to the use of synthetic materials lead to contact dermatitis with the following symptoms:

1. Redness of the skin at the site of contact with the allergen;
2. Feeling of intense itching;
3. Peeling;
4. Formation of ulcers.

This is important! When scratching, an infection can get into the erosive formations, which leads to inflammation of the skin. Therefore, do not scratch the rash, but consult a doctor to prescribe treatment.

In addition to skin allergies, immune responses to synthetics are expressed by the following symptoms:

• runny nose with mucous discharge from the nose, dry congestion;
• conjunctivitis with lacrimation, photophobia.

Complicated symptoms threaten anaphylaxis with symptoms of hypertension, attacks of nausea, tachycardia, dizziness, and suffocation. At the first sign of immediate allergy, take antihistamine and call ambulance.

Traditional medicines

Means traditional healers will not get rid of allergies completely, but will help reduce symptoms and alleviate the condition:

• decoctions of mint and chamomile soothe the skin, reduce itching and burning. To do this, make ice cubes from the broth and lubricate the skin when severe attacks itching;
• Chamomile decoction with the addition of a string will help with allergy symptoms with skin rashes. Wash affected skin areas 3 times a day;
• Baths, lotions and compresses made from a decoction of bay leaves with a string are effective.

Prevention

Allergies to synthetics are easier to manage than immune responses due to food consumption. To do this, it is necessary to exclude contact with the allergen, that is, refuse to wear synthetics - give preference to clothing made from plant materials - linen, cotton.

To reduce the likelihood of allergies, choose bedding, carefully reading the composition of the textiles.

New items are first washed using an additional rinse cycle, only after which the product can be used.

Pay special attention to babies: buy cotton undershirts, rompers, diapers for newborns and infants - those things that come into contact with the skin.

If it is determined that the baby is allergic, regular consultations with a specialist are necessary to monitor the condition. To boost your immunity, don’t neglect breastfeeding, after all mother's milk- the key to a healthy immune system.

Video

The vast majority of clothing sold in stores is made from synthetic materials with the addition of certain chemical solutions and dyes.

Even if a product is listed as 100% cotton, this does not guarantee that the natural fiber has not been treated with chemicals during the manufacturing process of the finished product.

After all, it is through the use of non-natural substances that clothes acquire a rich and stable shade, and the strength and elasticity of the material increases.

On the back of the coin are acute allergic reactions caused by synthetic things. With constant and close contact with artificial fabric, sensitive skin may experience irritation.

The 5 most “favorite” areas of the body where itchy allergic rashes most often appear:

neck (collar contact area and décolleté area); hands (especially wrists);

stomach; groin area; legs (especially shins).

In critical cases, blisters and spots caused by intolerance to synthetics cover up to 100% of the skin. Synthetic fibers and areas with excessive sweating- armpits, skin folds, bottom part breasts (in women).

An allergic reaction to fabric is not always limited to dermatitis. Often severe itching and red spots are accompanied by peeling, bouts of runny nose, excessive tearing (due to irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes), suffocation, and can even lead to anaphylactic shock.

What is the fabric made of?

The composition of artificial matter includes synthetic fibers, which irritate the mucous membranes and skin.

The most common types of threads used when sewing synthetic clothing:

polyester- elastic and soft, but not hygroscopic material; acetate- fiber reproduced from cellulose acetate, pliable, capable of maintaining its shape for a long time; elastane- flexible and resistant to external influences material capable of returning to its original state after stretching presentation; acrylic- one of the products of the oil industry; durable and resistant, but poorly permeable to air and highly electrified; lycra- strong, dense and at the same time very elastic fiber; widely used in the production of products that fit tightly to the body; viscose - artificial material, the properties of which are as close as possible to the properties of natural fabrics; It is made from wood cellulose and has good hygroscopicity.

The moderate use of each of these fabrics in the production of clothing is completely justified. And allergies to synthetics most often arise not from the materials themselves, but from chemical products, which are actively used for dyeing, fixing color, increasing wear resistance, protecting against moths and other treatments.

Causes of allergies to synthetics

Several factors can trigger the body’s negative reaction to synthetic material. It happens that the root cause of allergies is not artificial clothing, but the person himself. But first things first.
And so, the causes of allergic rashes.

Mechanical

The artificial fabric itself acts as an irritant due to its low hygroscopicity, which contributes to moisture retention.

When a person sweats, synthetic fabric not only retains droplets of liquid in the fibers, but also does not allow the material to “breathe”, and the necessary natural air exchange does not occur. Moisture does not have the opportunity to evaporate. And due to the excess salt in the waste released from the sweat glands, irritation only intensifies.

Photo: Rubbing with a cloth in the armpit area

The body can also react to lint, barbed threads, wool, and seams. Intense friction gives rise to inflammation of the skin, leading to redness of the affected areas and itching.

When, after removing a synthetic product, the skin calms down and similar manifestations don't worry - it's a sign of an allergy to the fabric.

Chemical

If everything is in order with hygroscopicity and other features of matter, but the symptoms, nevertheless, continue to bother you, the reason for this must be sought deeper.

Namely - in chemical composition, which was used in fabric processing to improve quality and presentation:

all kinds of dyes that sometimes color the water so intensely when washing a product; chemicals which, if not complied with accepted standards give themselves away with a strong smell of oil.

All this can lead a person with sensitive skin to a serious allergic reaction, including poisoning and irreversible consequences. Therefore, before wearing synthetics, the product must be washed thoroughly.

If after removing clothes and hygiene procedures the symptoms of irritation weaken, you will have to get rid of synthetic things.

Psychological

Often, the manifestation of allergies should not be blamed on synthetics, but on the person himself. Having watched enough “useful” programs about the inevitable harm of artificial matter, people develop a subconscious fear of irritation.

Many people have serious phobias regarding skin rashes in the form of red dots, blisters and small swellings. Self-hypnosis does serious things.

This may seem fantastic to some, but often even relatively harmless synthetic clothing may cause severe allergies especially impressionable people.

To understand whether this is truly a reaction to the fabric or just a psychological mania, contact a competent specialist for examinations and tests for skin sensitivity to synthetics.

Diagnostics

But it happens the other way around - a person does not see allergies point-blank, not to mention manias and phobias. It’s just that an allergy to artificial clothing does not always manifest itself as severe itching and profuse dermatitis.

Sometimes these can be rare spots that itch slightly.

Occasionally a person sneezes, perceiving this as dust getting on the nasal mucous membranes or a minor cold. Everything would be fine, but if diagnosed untimely, the disease can develop from a temporary stage into a chronic one.

How to identify clothing allergies

To independently diagnose the body’s negative reaction to clothing, it is enough to check and compare how the skin responds to contact with synthetic fabric.

Particular attention should be paid to hypersensitive areas of the body (neck, stomach, knees, wrists).

Do you feel tingling, itching, discomfort, does your skin turn red and become blotchy? In this case, there is only one way out - the complete exclusion of synthetics from the wardrobe.

If it's absolutely new thing, try washing the product thoroughly and check the skin reaction again.
When the body reacts equally sharply to all things made of artificial fibers, this is a sign of a mechanical factor.

Allergies to certain items of clothing are typical due to chemical irritation. This means that such tissue has been treated with a substance (or several at once), upon contact with which the skin finds itself in unnatural conditions. normal functioning conditions.

What to do if you are allergic to fabric

What to do if synthetics, as it turns out, are an unacceptable material for the skin? How to correctly approach the treatment of allergies in an infant? And what to do if the disease manifests itself during pregnancy?

Baby

Clothes for a newborn baby should, in principle, not contain artificial fibers, since the baby's skin is incredibly sensitive. And the reaction to chemicals and rough material can be too unpredictable, from rashes to anaphylactic shock.

First of all, you need to get rid of synthetic products.

Why not check every artificial slider for a negative reaction? If it turns out that your baby is susceptible to synthetics, from now on look in stores only for things made from natural fibers.

Be sure to contact a specialist who will give valuable recommendations and prescribe treatment that is most appropriate for the child’s age and condition.

A child's wardrobe should consist entirely of things that are safe for health. Avoid too bright, saturated shades - this is a sign of an excessive amount of dyes. Atypical and unpleasant pungent odor should also be a reason for suspicion.

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During pregnancy

While a woman is preparing for the birth of a child, she needs to take care not only of her health. If expectant mother suffers from allergies to synthetic fabrics; during pregnancy it is better to be especially prudent.

First you need to eliminate the cause that causes the negative reaction.

This means that for all 9 months, clothing adjacent to the body (underwear, shirts, turtlenecks) should not contain synthetics.

It is necessary to notify the doctor early on so that he can prescribe medications and give general recommendations for safe wearing of synthetics.

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Treatment

The success and rate of treatment of this type of non-food allergy depend on the stage of its development (temporary or chronic).

The first step towards getting rid of a disease is eliminating the causes.

That is, keeping the use of synthetics to a minimum, wearing only over natural fabrics, or completely eliminating the irritant. How to treat further - with medications or folk remedies, everyone decides for themselves.

Drugs

Ideally, treatment is prescribed by an allergist or dermatology specialist.

And to combat allergies on your own, you need to arm yourself with antihistamines.

For example, Desloratadine or Loratadine are good for complex exacerbations illness. And the elimination of mild rashes can be entrusted to such drugs as Fenistil, Cetrin.

Folk remedies

Common herbs:

a frozen decoction of chamomile and mint will help quickly relieve irritation and eliminate severe itching; infusion on bay leaf can be used as a bath or to make lotions. A decoction of the same composition helps no worse than an infusion; A decoction can also be prepared from a mixture of herbs and chamomile. Wipe the areas of skin affected by an allergic rash with the strained liquid.

Find out how it manifests itself

allergy to rice

What is an atopic allergy? Read here.

Can a baby be allergic to cheese, and how does it manifest itself? Read here.

Preventive measures

To prevent irritation from turning into chronic stage, it is necessary not only to successfully treat, but also to prevent possible relapses. If you do not want to provoke new attacks of allergies to synthetic materials, give preference to cotton or linen items, as well as clothes made of silk.

First of all, this should be underwear and all products that have direct contact with the skin.

For washing, use only powders with a hypoallergenic composition.

An allergy to synthetics is not the most common type of negative reaction to an irritant. The symptoms of this disease are easily preventable and treatable, and provoking factors can be excluded at any time.

Choose clothes not only by beauty, but also by smell and color. Unnaturally saturated colors can cause allergic reaction, as well as foreign odors.

Clothing made from synthetic fibers usually costs much less than natural items. Therefore, not everyone can afford to fill their entire wardrobe with cotton and silk outfits.

And I also want to wear bright clothes. To ensure that the variety in the closet does not lead to monotony in the body's reaction, replace at least the underwear that is adjacent to the body with natural material.