Rash-No-More: How To Choose The Right Underwear For Sensitive Skin

Taking care of sensitive skin is very important. When choosing which clothes to purchase, we often think about whether or not it will cause excess itching or in extreme cases a rash. The same goes for underwear. We wear it every day so it is very important to think about the type of material you prefer to wear, the particular style that works best for your skin and body type and how you are washing your delicates and the detergents you are using to do so.

In this blog post, we will share a few quick tips on how to choose underwear that prioritize your skin health down there. We will also share top stories from our customers who have sensitive skin.

What to Look for In Underwear for Sensitive Skin

Material Choice

One issue that those with sensitive skin might run into is textile dermatitis. This kind of rash is an indication that the person could be allergic to the fabric, dyes, chemicals and preservatives used in the processing or creation of a garment. It can be extremely painful and can lead to a breakout.

Save yourself a lot of time and trouble by choosing to wear breathable fabrics, which include organic cotton, lyocell, modal, and bamboo.

If you’re mindful of the material you pick for your underwear, it can create a calm and dry environment for your vagina, especially for those of you suffering with skin sensitivity. Avoid synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. They create non-breathable underwear which can lead to skin irritation, rashes and bacteria growth in the fibers next to your skin. 

Organic cotton underwear is a great choice when it comes to protecting your skin from recurring rashes and irritation as it is a breathable, sweat-absorbent material. Since there can be harmful chemicals in cotton, we recommend Certified Organic or OEKO-Tex Certified Cotton. 

However, if you have super-sensitive skin, we recommend trying fabrics such as TENCEL™ or smartcel™ sensitive. 

Compared to polyester, synthetics, and even cotton, there is less available moisture formed on the surface of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers for bacteria to grow. Consequently, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers provide a less favorable environment for bacterial growth.

smartcel™ sensitive is an innovative fiber permanently embedded with zinc oxide. Zinc oxide possesses antibacterial and odor-reducing properties to protect the garment and ensure long-lasting performance.

Check out our previous blog post on the benefits of TENCEL™ Modal for more info.

For people struggling with eczema, rashes and skin darkening, check out another, eczema-focused brand using the same zinc technology we do! 

What our customers are saying...

What’s the best style of underwear for sensitive skin?

This really depends on the individual. Generally full-coverage styles like mid-briefs may provide move coverage around the gusset/inner thighs that can avoid rubbing/chafing around your most sensitive areas.

Briefs tend to offer more coverage than cheekies or thongs. So if your main concern is to protect the sensitive areas of your skin from outerwear, we recommend these styles. 

If you hate wearing underwear but still need protection, a thong may be your ideal choice. Not everyone finds this style of underwear comfortable. But if you choose a thong, make sure it fits correctly, it's made with organic fabrics and has a full coverage lining, to ensure ultimate protection of your vagina and the surrounding areas, like Huha's best seller, Mineral thong. 

You should also pay special attention to the inside of the underwear to ensure there aren't any harsh seams with threads that can abrade the skin.

Consider replacing your underwear every 6 months to 1 year

This might seem a bit excessive, especially for something that gets washed so regularly. But according to the Good Housekeeping Institute, even clean underwear can contain up to 10,000 living bacteria.

We understand that throwing out your underwear every year isn’t the eco-friendliest option, but if you are prone to sensitive skin or bacterial problems, such as yeast infections, we highly recommend updating your underwear drawers frequently and looking for an option to recycle your used ones.

If you find that you can relate to these problems, it helps both you and the environment if you choose sustainable and biodegradable fibers such as bamboo and TENCEL™. 

To read more about choosing the right underwear, not just for sensitive skin, but for general women's health and vagina health, check out this blog post.