Allergic to bra

[Catherine145]

I recently bought a Victoria Secret padded demi bra.  I am also dieting so when my top began to itch I originally associated it with the fact that everything was shrinking.  I spoke with my sister and she told me that she had the same reaction to thier bras.  Is it possible that I am allergic the bra?  The entire breast itches not just the area around the band....what ingredient in the padding would cause this reaction?  I was curious since it seems that several brand are copying their materials.  

[Topaz111]

This is not an answer, but I am not sure how to just leave a comment.     Last year I wore an old padded bra that I hadn't worn for a while.    In the middle of the day I started to have very strange feelings INSIDE my chest.   I was a bit scared, as my heart started racing and I felt  a bit dizzy.    Then in the following days, I did not wear it and  just decided to get rid of it.....didn't quite make the connection, but when I went to the dr,. I kind of made a joke that maybe what I felt was from my bra.   Symptoms went away, but the  dr. sent me to a cardiologist!  Was fine up until  last month when I bought a new padded Soma bra.     On the day that I first wore it, it was a hot day.   I had the SAME EXACT reaction this time as I had last year!   I am now sure that my reaction was caused by this bra.  When I searched for content, I knew that this was the case!!!!  Not sure what to do now.   I am going to try and take it back and explain my allergic reaction.    See if the company cares.

[Zelpha856]

see if you can find relief by purchasing cotton bras. They work really well for me.

[Dimentionaldame]

I have had s rash on my lower back for years and was told it was contact dermatitis. I went to a new dermatologist and he biopsied it because he suspected Mycosis Fungoides. It's a cutaneous lymphoma and is rare. The biopsy came back inconclusive which us what usually happens in early stage. Now I have a rash on my breasts and I'm concerned. Please see a Dr and have it biopsied as the rash shows up in places were sun doesn't get to cause it doesn't like uv light. I'm thankful my dermatologist had training to recognise them is condition and will have to wait and see with further biopsies. Mist Dr arnt familiar with this disease and blood it off as contact fermatitis.

[jltdubs]

I bought two JCP Ambrielle bras last week, wore one, and within hours developed a rash around my ribcage. The rash has spread to my back and abdomen. At first it didn't itch, but it sure does now! I pegged the bra almost instantly and began my search online to find if this has happened to anyone else. I am ticked off that this problem still exists.

[malibumermaid]

OMG. I have been suffering with a body rash for almost a year and done allergy testing, seen 4 dermatologists and allergists, and still trying to figure out why I'm still having reactions after cutting out what I'm supposedly allergic to. Finally it dawned on me that what is a constant in my life are bras, undies, shapewear, and gym attire, all made with similar materials -- spandex, lycra, etc.  I was tested for formaldehyde and it was negative.  I know that rubber accelerates are also something many are allergic to.

[dfoixylady]

Gail101, I wore a Vanity Fair bra for about 4-5 hrs and got a bad allergic reaction, are you still willing to do a test on the bra?  Please let me know, thank  you!

[JillLancaster]

have you found any relief with any new bras?

[Zelpha856]

cotton bras brings some relief for me as I'm allergic to elastic.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Hello Zelpha856.  Thanks for your input!  Do you get your bras somewhere special or just watch the fabric label?

[JillLancaster]

I have experienced contact dermatitis for nearly 3 years.  It is driving me crazy.  Lately though, it has been significantly worse.

I wear SOMA bras, have crowns and have an allergy to chromium.  THe rash is worst around the under wire area and on my shoulders.

HELP, this stuff is driving me crazy!  I've already tried every cortizone, anti-itch cream and take antihistimine daily.

[Jenyfwr]

Hi,
I have recently bought a 2 sizes bigger bra from Asda and have had the most horric red rash that looks like a burn all over and beneathmy breasts, actually in a bra shape. It itched it burned and spread rapidly, it actually started with just an inccesant itch that I ignored until this broke out. Doctors had no clue, but put me on antifungal cream...no good...tried antibiotics, which seemed to work, but at the same time I had been braless for 4 days, so it could have been that...I am going to see a dermatologist next week, I'm no doctor, but I think it is contact dermatitis, mainly because the rash was bra shaped, obvious really. It is going now, but been braless for over a week, I am scared of it coming back, but I wil try an old bra....I cut open the bra, to find foam rubber in it! And mad in Sri Lanka

[GmaJean]

I have broken out from Barely There bras and the cup is made from polyurethane. This must be like the formaldehyde in the others. I can't believe this is still going on for this many years and the manufacturers don't fix the issue.

[Lisalovesthebeach]

I just realized that my Vanity Fair bra is the culprit for my breast rash and searched the internet to see if anyone else had experienced this - WOW!  I really can't believe that this has been going on since 2008 and involves many different brands.  My bra was made in Indonesia.  The tag says that the cups are 78% nylon and 22% spandex.  Additional searching turned up many hits linking fabrics to formaldehyde.  

Has anyone found a brand that is natural and doesn't cause this problem?  I am a 38DD and it is difficult to find a bra with support that doesn't have spandex.

[kdly]

I recently purchased two Calvin Klein strapless bras, both gave me massive red itchy raised welts on the area where there is a clear rubber. Not sure whether this is caused by the bra rubbing against my skin all day, or whether its because I'm allergic to something in that material.
Never had an issue with the rubber in other bras, all I know is, I've going to stay over from CK bras for a while, and I should stay away from VS bras judging from the comments above!

[weijia]

I like to wear cotton bra, which made me feel very comfortable. I think the less modification will bring more comfort. Although I only 75A, but I firmly believe that the most simple is the best.PS, I am a Chinese girl.

[toxicbras15]

The companies that make these bras need to be held accountable for poisoning our bodies. Keep telling everyone you know that toxic chemicals are impregnated into our bras and it migrates through our skin. This is serious business and is completely ignored by the industry and by government.

[eXtexan]

I went to the doctor with this "rash".  I was skeptical when he said it was an allergic reaction to something in my bras because I haven't bought a new bra in about a year.  I had alternated between various Lane Bryant bras.  Reading your comments, I believe him now since many said that the bras that they were wearing were not new.  I am trying cortisone cream (OTC) and taking Benedryl to see if it helps.  I go without a bra when I am at home alone to see if it will help.  Does anyone have any new information or advice?

[Sharon_KC]

I was able to find underwire bras with no padding that are not causing any skin reaction.  I have worn them for several months with no problem at all.   I sure wish I could wear bras with a little bit of padding for discretion, but I won't risk buying any more.

In one of my conversations with a representative at Barely There, she recommended that if I wanted padding to get ones with fiberfill rather than foam padding as they have not had problems reported with that.  They are hard to find and the only one of those that I found did not fit me at all.  

Makes me angry that the manufacturers know that the foam padding is toxic to many of us but they continue to use it.

[Sharon_KC]

I did not get responses to any of the letters I wrote.  Disappointing.  I sure was hoping that one of the news networks or Dr. Oz might look into this.  Without a way for all of us who are having a problem to band together and show how many women this is affecting, nothing will change.  

Please spread the word as much as you can.  It may seem embarrassing, but it is so important.  Facebook, Twitter, writing letters, etc.  Maybe eventually someone will see how many women this is hurting and help bring about a change.  

Any other suggestions?

[toxicbras15]

We should certainly have laws which prohibit unsafe toxic chemicals from being impregnated into our intimate clothing. Because that's exactly what these companies are doing. It happened to me with a Warner's bra. They absolutely refuse to take any responsibility for poisoning our bodies. These chemicals seep through the skin and get into our bloodstreams. They know this and continue to do it.

[SUBLIMEGIRLL]

OMG!!  I have been to my dr. then a dermatologist and an allergist... and no one could tell me the problem just "dermatitis"  I had to be put on prednisone for so long that it had lowered my immune system so much that my ear got a bad infection and my eardrum actually ruptured.  I now know like the last commenter it was due to my bra from Walmart.  The bra that caused the issues for me was not from VS so I think they are putting chemicals in our bras in several of the big stores.  What can we do except quit buying them!!  I went through so much over a stupid bra it's absoultley outrageous these big companies care more about the bottom line profit than the consumers!

[toxicbras15]

Good Luck to you. I'm sure you will let us know if you hear from anyone. I have permanent chemical burns on the skin under my bra. I have tried for 2 years to get someone at Warner's to take responsibility for putting these toxic chemicals in our intimate clothing. But they just stonewall and say it is not the fault of the bra.

[oldrat]

I bought a 3-pack of Fruit Of The Loom racer back sports bras from Walmart last week. Never having broken out before, I thought nothing of it when I just detached the tags and put one of the bras on without washing. After just a few days, the entire undersides of my breasts and the band area across the front of my rib cage has broken out into a very dark red rash. Some areas are like prickly bumps, other areas are dark patches. The itching is intense, as bad as any poison oak/ivy that I have ever had years ago. As I write this, I am dying to scratch it. It wakes me at all hours of the night. My breasts look like they are being eaten up by some form of chemical (although there are no open wounds or oozing .. yet). I have had this intense rash for several days now. I've put anti-fungal cream on it, calamine lotion on it and now I am attempting to use A&D diaper rash ointment. Nothing seems to bring down the intensity of the itch or the redness. So I will try and wait it out as long as possible and see if it gets better over the next few weeks. As long as it does not spread or develop any severe symptoms, The only thing I can think of is that the sports bra fabric had something in it that I developed an allergic reaction to (it is hot where I live and I was sweating a good bit during the time I wore them). This itch is driving me nuts! I've never endured anything like this before nor do I know of any other women in my family who have experienced it. It's scary going through something like this alone .. and the mere sight of these dark red patches all under my breasts doesn't make the situation any easier to cope with :(

[Sharon_KC]

I have written another letter.  This one went to Toni Gerber Hope, Health Director, Good Housekeeping Magazine, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019.

I am trying to be optimistic that someone will help us!

[Sharon_KC]

I am still writing letters and hope that all of you will please do the same.  Today I wrote to The Doctors, 5555 Melrose Ave., Mae West Building, Second Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90038.

Hopefully we can get someone's attention at NBC, ABC, Dr. Oz or The Doctors.

[catlady1959]

First of all I can't believe this thread has been going on since 2008! I also can't believe with all of these posts nothing has changed in all of these years!

I am just now getting these horrible rashes, but not from new bras! These are all bras that are a couple of years old. None of them the same manufacturer. None have underwires. A couple of weeks ago I got this rash. It is horrible. I knew immediately it was my bra becasuse it was only on my breast where the cup touches. I have not changed my detergent, soap, shampoo you name it. I have tried the 3 different bras.After I go braless for a week or so and the rash clears up, then just a couple of hours of wearing ,and the rash is back worse then ever! It wakes me when I'm sleeping. Sometimes in public I have to go to the restroom so I can scratch my breasts! I'm in such misery.

How can this go on for so many years and nothing be done! I have obviously taken a while to build up an intolerence to whatever is in the bras. You can get away with no bra and layer clothes in the winter, but not easy in the summer.

I agree, we need to write letters, but Dr. Oz would be great because his voice is heard by so many!

[Sharon_KC]

In my last post the website did not allow the e-mail address for Dr. Oz to be displayed.  This is the address if you replace "at" with the @ sign:

viewerfeedback "at" zoco.com

[Sharon_KC]

I have written several letters to try to bring about a change and ask that you do the same.  If they hear from several people it will help get their attention. I wrote to Lester Holt, Andrea Canning and Hoda Kotb and NBC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112; Robin Roberts, ABC News, 47 West 66th St., New York, NY 10023;  e-mailed Dr. Oz at ***@****.  I brought to their attention that this is happening with many brands so seems to be industry wide and asked that they help investigate, give women a place to report the problem so we can see just how wide-spread this is, and then to help bring about a change to get safe bras back on the market.

I also wrote a letter to Richard A. Noll, Chairman and CEO, Hanesbrands, Inc., 1000 East Hanes Mill Road, Winston Salem, NC 27105, since Barely There has been my favorite brand for many years but is one of the brands that is now causing the skin reaction.  Hanes also manufactures Bali, Hanes ad Playtex bras.  I explained the problem and asked that he be a leader and produce safe bras.

Please take the time to send letters.  If you have an suggestions of people or organizations we can contact to help the cause, please let me know.