All You Need to Know About Polyester Allergy and the Allergen

Polyester is a synthetic fibre made from plastic and petroleum. It is used in clothing, bedding and many everyday items. You will find it almost everywhere.

It is cheap to make, strong and lightweight. It also dries fast and does not wrinkle easily. That is why it is popular for school uniforms, sportswear and household fabrics.

But with how common it is, polyester can be hard to avoid. For some people, touching polyester can cause a skin reaction. It may cause burning, stinging, redness, rash or dry patches. These symptoms are rare but can be painful.

This guide explains what polyester allergy is. It covers the symptoms, what causes them, how to treat it and how to prevent flare-ups.

What is Polyester Allergy? 

Let's talk about what an allergy is. Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to substances like dust, pollen, food, or fabrics such as polyester. These substances are known as allergens and can trigger reactions such as skin irritation, respiratory issues, digestive problems, and eye irritation. 

In this case, we’ll focus on fabric allergies. Fabric allergies are common, with polyester being one of the main culprits. When people experience symptoms after contact with polyester fibre, it is called 'polyester allergy'. 

There are two types of polyester allergy.

1. Allergic Contact Dermatitis can be defined as an allergic reaction that occurs when skin comes into contact with polyester or a substance in it, activating an immune response that results in a rash. The response often contains an itchy, red, and blistered reaction.  Symptoms typically worsen 24 to 48 hours after contact and may take 14 to 28 days to heal, even with treatment. Once your skin reacts, wash it off sooner to prevent it from worsening. 
2. The second form of allergy is Irritant Contact Dermatitis. This allergy is more painful, stinging, or burning than itchy. This allergy occurs when an allergen damages the skin where it touches, due to the harsh chemicals in it, rather than an immune response. The longer your skin is in contact with polyester or a substance within it, the more severe the reaction will be.

Common Polyester Items That May Trigger a Reaction

According to the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, contact dermatitis affects only 15% to 20% of people. Polyester allergies fall into this group. They are not very common but still worth paying attention to.

Polyester is used in many everyday items. If you have sensitive skin, it helps to know what might cause a flare-up. Items that often come into contact with skin include:

• Clothing
• Clothing accessories
• Bedding
• Towels and swimwear
• Bags and backpacks
• Household items

Where Polyester Can Cause Skin Reactions

Once you know what contains polyester, think about where it touches your skin. Allergic reactions can show up anywhere but are more common in areas with pressure or sweat. These include:

• Elbows and knees
• Armpits and groin
• Back of the neck and lower back
• Hands and wrists
• Back and buttocks

These spots are more likely to become itchy, red, or irritated if you're allergic. Watch for changes after wearing certain fabrics.

Symptoms of a Polyester Allergy

How do you know that you suffer from polyester allergy symptoms? To check if you're suffering from symptoms of a polyester allergy, visit a dermatologist for testing to confirm the type of allergy. If you want to check by yourself, the symptoms can include:

• Itching. A sensation of itching on the skin where it comes into direct contact with an allergen. 
• Redness. The skin becomes red at the point of contact.
• Swelling. The area of skin around the contact point swells.
• Dryness. The skin becomes dry and flaky.
• Rash: Red patches appear on the skin.
• Blisters. Small fluid-filled blisters develop on the exposed area.
• Burning or Stinging Sensation. A sensation of burning or stinging on the exposed skin.
• Peeling Skin. The skin starts to peel after inflammation.

The symptoms will vary based on your skin conditions. The more sensitive your skin is, the more severe the symptoms will be.

What Triggers the Polyester Symptoms? 

Allergy to polyester occurs not solely because of the polyester fabric. Research from International Immunopharmacology found that textiles always use well-established dye procedures. The downside of dye use is that it can penetrate the skin and cause allergies.

The most commonly used colouring agents are azo dyes. These agents are very powerful, easy to use for colouring fabric, and cheap. However, this agent contains paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical substance that induces toxicity, resulting in contact dermatitis or eye conditions like chemosis or even permanent blindness.

How Do You Know that You Are Allergic to Polyester?

Visiting the dermatologist or allergist to take an allergy test is the best way to know whether you have a fabric allergy or not. Why is it important? Back to the research, certain skin reactions can trigger the immune system, leading to the production of cytokines.

When your skin reacts to an allergen like polyester, it can trigger the immune system to release cytokines. These are chemical messengers that tell your body to start an inflammatory response. A small amount helps heal damage, but too many can overwhelm healthy tissue.

This can make your rash worse, spread the inflammation, and slow down healing. In more serious cases, high cytokine levels can enter the bloodstream and trigger symptoms beyond the skin. This may cause fever, fatigue, joint pain, or even affect organs like the liver and kidneys. If this response is left unchecked, it can lead to severe reactions like anaphylaxis or long-term immune system stress.

The allergy test used to diagnose contact dermatitis is a patch test. A patch test is used to find out if you have contact dermatitis. In this test, small amounts of chemicals that could cause allergies are placed on your skin under a piece of paper tape.

The tape is stuck to your back, and after 48 hours, the patches are removed. The doctor will check your skin at the 48-hour mark, and then again after 72 to 96 hours, to see how your skin reacts. This test helps identify which chemicals you're allergic to, so you can avoid them in the future.

How to Treat A Polyester Allergy? 

If you really can't avoid direct contact with polyester, and it causes allergic reactions, you need to treat the allergy as soon as possible before it worsens. You can follow home remedies and medication based on the advice from the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology

Home Remedies

Once you find your skin's reaction to polyester, do this: 

• Compress with cold water, typically around 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) for the acute symptoms. 
• Bath with oat for oozing lesions. 
• Wash your hands with mild soap and moisturiser, both should be without dyes or perfumes. 
• Wearing special socks that protect your feet can help.
• Always wash your skin right away to stop the rash from getting worse.

Using Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medication

If the home remedies don't work, you can use over-the-counter medication. Make sure to consult with your dermatologist. Here is the list of medications based on the skin condition. 

1. Topical Steroids. It reduces inflammation and controls rashes quickly by decreasing swelling, redness, and itching.
2. Antihistamines. It can relieve itching caused by allergic reactions, helping to manage symptoms like skin irritation and swelling.
3. Topical Immunomodulators. It reduces inflammation without thinning the skin, especially for sensitive areas like the face and skin folds.
4. Topical Antibiotics. Used to treat secondary bacterial infections that may occur when the skin is scratched or damaged from contact dermatitis.
5. Systemic Steroids. Used to reduce severe inflammation and swelling, especially when the rash covers large areas of the body.
6. Phototherapy. Used to treat persistent rashes by applying ultraviolet (UV) light to the skin to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

If you keep having skin reactions and the symptoms persist, go to the healthcare provider and talk to a doctor or allergy specialist to get the right treatment.

The Prevention of Polyester Allergic Reaction

The best way to prevent an allergy is to avoid wearing polyester clothing. That's super simple! However, if you can't avoid it, here is a list that you can do.

1. Choose Natural Fibres. Wear clothes made from natural fibres like cotton, wool, or linen, which are gentler on sensitive skin.
2. Check Clothing Labels. Always check the labels on clothes to make sure they don’t contain polyester or other materials that might trigger an allergy.
3. Use Skin Protection. If you need to wear polyester, try using protective creams or gloves to reduce skin contact.
4. Wash New Clothes Before Wearing. Wash new polyester clothes before wearing them to remove any chemicals or dyes that could cause allergic reactions.
5. Use Gentle Laundry Detergents.  Choose mild detergents without strong smells or harsh chemicals, which can irritate sensitive skin. The Lucent Globe Laundry Sheet is perfect. These plant-based sheets are free from harsh chemicals such as bleaches, phosphates, optical brighteners, dyes, and excess water. They provide strong stain-fighting power while being gentle on both the skin and the environment.

Alternatives to Polyester You Can Use to Prevent Allergy

If polyester is the culprit of your skin allergy or even makes you sneeze, it’s a sign that you should consider choosing fabric alternatives to polyester. Here are the alternatives. 

• Cotton
• Linen
• Bamboo Fabric
• Hemp
• Silk
• Tencel (Lyocell)
• Wool
• Organic Cotton

Polyester is everywhere, from clothes to bedding and household goods. For most people, it's harmless. But if you have sensitive skin or a history of allergies, it may be a hidden trigger.

If you notice any reaction, act early. Rinse your skin, switch to natural fibres, and speak to a doctor if symptoms persist. Simple changes can make a big difference to your skin and overall comfort.

Could It Be Your Laundry Detergent?

If your skin still reacts after avoiding polyester, your laundry detergent might be the cause. Some detergents contain dyes, perfumes or harsh cleaning agents that can irritate the skin.

These reactions often show up where clothes fit close to the body. Common spots include the waist, underarms, wrists and behind the knees. You might notice red patches, dry skin, swelling or a stinging itch. In some cases, the reaction gets worse each time you wear freshly washed clothes.

It is worth checking if your detergent is part of the problem. Read more about laundry detergent allergy symptoms and causes or see how to treat the reaction and fix your wash routine.