How to Deal with an Allergy to Wool
Does your skin become irritated when you wear wool? While you may think it’s an allergy to wool, it’s more likely to be wool sensitivity. Here’s what you can do about it.
Wool is the perfect fabric for warm, soft sweaters or a snug, winter coat unless, of course, your skin itches like crazy when you wear it! While many people assume this symptom indicates an allergy to wool, this isn’t usually the case. In fact a true allergy to wool is very uncommon and what most people experience when their skin becomes irritated from wearing wool is wool sensitivity rather than an allergy. Nevertheless the irritation is very real and it can make it difficult to wear some of the season’s most popular fashions.
If true allergy to wool fabric is so uncommon, why does your skin become itchy and irritated when you wear it? It appears that people who develop skin irritation when they wear wool are reacting to the coarseness of the wool fiber rather than anything inherent to the wool itself. People who have certain types of skin problems such as eczema, which makes their skin more sensitive, commonly experience wool sensitivity. Wearing a coarsely textured wool sweater with its long, prickly fibers can activate nerve fibers on the skin and cause itch and even pain, while you may be able to wear a soft, very finely woven wool fabric without any problems.
One of the best ways to determine if you have a true allergy to wool is to try wearing an item made of very soft, finely woven wool. If you don’t experience irritation with this type of wool fabric, you most likely have wool sensitivity rather than a true allergy to wool.
What can you do if you have wool sensitivity and still want to wear wool? Shopping for fine grades of wool without any prickly fibers to irritate the skin can make a difference for some people. Many people who experience itching and skin irritation when wearing coarse wool sweaters can wear soft cashmere sweaters without a problem. Unfortunately, these finer wools come with a higher price tag, but may be worth the extra money. Don’t assume because some wool sweaters irritate your skin that you can’t wear any type of wool at all.
Another option if you have wool sensitivity is to buy wool that’s lined with another, non-irritating fabric such as cotton or silk. This is relatively easy to find when shopping for pants and skirts, but may be more of a challenge for sweaters. For sweaters, try wearing a shirt underneath made of a non-irritating fabric. Avoid wearing turtle neck sweaters since the thinner skin in the neck area can be especially sensitive to coarse, prickly fibers.
The bottom line? Don’t give up on wool if you have wool sensitivity. With a little experimentation, you may be able to wear those chic wool fashions after all.
Liked it
