Ok I think I figured it out. After nearly a year of skin issues. Yes this started almost a year ago I think I have uncovered the mystery. I think I am allergic to lycra, elastane and possibly spandex. We have removed I think nearly every possible food allergy option from our diet with our recent eating changes and while it went away for awhile the itching is back. I remember it started almost a year ago because I am due for my yearly check up and it was last year at my doctors appointment when I tried to review it with my doctor mentioning it at the beginning of my appointment that I had some dry skin and itching on my chest. She said we would look at it although once I got in that paper gown that opens in the front (I mean really…) I forgot and apparently she did too. Now almost a year later its still around with flares of pretty bad and then sometimes periods of good, seemingly healed.
How did I figure it out? I am reading the book Slow Death by Rubber Ducky and I recently decided that I dislike DuPont among other chemical companies. I have been reading about the awful things companies put in our clothes, babies pajamas, mattresses, upholstery, shampoo, etc and I decided to look up bra and skin irritation. It wasn’t long before I found I am not alone. Many other women have had similar battles with thinking they were crazy with embarrassing itching issues. And most of it seems to be related to lycra. Here is the dilemma, not all of my bras say lcyra. Although I think each of them makes me itch. Some of them say elastane (which I believe is related to lycra) and some of them I don’t think even mention spandex, lycra or elastane although from what I have read I don’t think that necessarily means its not in there. And the other bothersome thing is spandex is in almost everything, including most of my jeans and shorts, albeit in small amounts.
For starters I have given up bras. Thank goodness I work from home, right! I just ordered a bra today from Cottonique a website for people like me! And I will definitely review this with my doctor at my next visit. And I think for now I am going to quarantine my clothes with lycra and elastane and I am on the fence about spandex. Perhaps just the items with more than 5% spandex will be quarantined. Elliott has asked that I not just throw everything out until I am sure as the sports bras, work out tops, and pants pile has started a small mountain on our dresser. That is fine with me. I am willing to prove it to him and myself before taking drastic measures and buying all new clothes! Elliott asked I am sure you may be too, but why your leg. Well I think those items also occur in my work pants as well.
If this all cotton garb thing works watch out as I think I will be redefining myself as a full blow hippie, hemp and organic cotton clothing and all. I just don’t see another option. Although Elliott does, he daringly asked if it was perhaps all in my head. Yes it possibly is. Although I wore a bra for 4 hours the other day to go to a meeting and the itching was almost immediate. Yes this was after my discovery so yes I have possibly decided that my bras make me itch. So I am going to ask my doctor if there is a skin test they can do so I can be sure. Although based on some preliminary research I am not sure if there is. All of posts come up about latex allergies and I am unclear at this point if spandex and latex are linked. I don’t think they are. At any rate. I am feeling good about this discovery. My leg is looking better and my chest is recovering, just in time to celebrate project bikini!
