Allergic to elastic?

shrink
shrink Member Posts: 936
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
Allergic to elastic?
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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2008

    I just purchased 4 mastectomy bras (Almost U) and protheses.  I wore the bra home and started itching in front where the elastic crosses my rib cage.  Anyone else have this?

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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited March 2008

    Maybe it's got a bit of latex in it.

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2008

    I had an allergy to elastic several decades ago (itching and hives), and had to end up wearing a cotton camisole *underneath* all my underwear. As Rose suggests, I think it may have been due to latex in the elastic.





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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2008

    Spandex is listed in the fabric content.  Is that the same as Latex?  Thanks, Ladies.

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited March 2008
    Well, if this website is true (and it claims to be written by an analytical chemist), technically no, but it also says there is no garment that is 100% Spandex. Good to read the entire section.



    "Spandex is made from several chemicals that are known sensitizers.
    How do you tell if a spandex garment contains latex? According to one manufacturer, the more sheer a garment is, the less likely it will have latex. Latex threads make a much heavier garment and can’t be woven in the very fine sheer configurations that characterize spandex garments. "

    http://www.latexallergyresources.org/ResourceManual/section9/fabric_allergies.cfm
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  • roseg
    roseg Member Posts: 3,133
    edited March 2008

    I think I'd either be thinking about returning the unworn ones, or washing to one you wore and then seeing if it still bothers you.

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2008

    I think I'll wash it.  There is a wide, thick area of elastic across the front and on part of the straps.  That's where it itches. My old bras all had wire in front and silky straps. I guess my skin must be sensitive in a way to something new. I finished radiation a month ago and maybe it's too soon to wear something tight.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited March 2008

    Gee, learn something new every day.  I didn't know that about spandex and latex. 

    shrink, I hope that the washing does the trick.  Otherwise, at least for the one that you've already used and can't return, could you try lining the band and the strap?  I get all sorts of strange itches and pains around my reconstructed breast and I've had to do that a few times.  

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