Lack of Breathability: Polyester doesn't allow your skin to breathe. It traps heat and moisture, creating a sauna-like environment that's perfect for bacteria and fungi to thrive. Skin Irritation: The synthetic fibers can cause itching, redness, and rashes.
When you touch or wear polyester, you're experiencing a material that is smooth to the touch and often both lightweight and durable. Unlike natural fibers like cotton or wool, polyester doesn't breathe as well, which can lead to feeling warm and sometimes less comfortable in hot weather.
Less Breathable: Pure polyester can trap heat and moisture, making it less comfortable in hot and humid conditions compared to natural fibres like cotton.
Cotton fabric is soft, breathable, and ideal for sensitive skin, while polyester fibers are durable, wrinkle-resistant, and dry quickly. For performance and low maintenance care, polyester clothing is a strong choice. For comfort and a natural feel, cotton wins.
There are two main varieties of itchy fabric - wool and polyester. We won't mention cotton as much here, as when it's made and treated well, it tends to be one of the softest materials out there. Wool, polyester and indeed most fabrics tend to be itchy when the fibres are particularly stiff and strong.
Wool feels itchy when fibers exceed 25 microns in diameter—these thicker fibers stimulate nerve endings in the skin. Regular wool ranges from 25-40 microns, while cashmere is only 14-19 microns, too fine to trigger itch receptors.
Wool. As anyone with dry- or itchy-skin issues will tell you, certain fabrics exacerbate the problem. One of the biggest culprits is one that's found in nature—wool (not to be confused with the softer merino wool).
Toxic fabrics like polyester, acrylic, nylon, and acetate are often made with harmful chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. Look for clothing made with natural dyes and minimal processing to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
Fashion brands prefer polyester over natural fibers because it offers cost savings, shorter production cycles, better shelf appearance, and easier blending with spandex and other fibers for fit and feel.
Cotton and bamboo are particularly well-suited for those with sensitive skin, as these fabrics are very soft and can help reduce irritation and inflammation in already sensitive areas. They also naturally regulate your body temperature, so you won't feel too hot or too cold in different climates.
At its core, polyester is a material derived from fossil fuels, making it incredibly unsustainable and harmful. Not only does polyester require fossil fuels in its direct production, but the factories where it is made contaminate the local air with pollutants and emit greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
Types of natural fabrics: sources, properties and uses
Polyester is basically the fast food of fabrics—everywhere, cheap, and often unsatisfying. Sure, it has its uses. It's durable, wrinkle-resistant, and manufacturers love it because it costs next to nothing to produce. But let's be real: it rarely looks refined.
Polyester has a coarse, almost silky feeling to it. Yet it can also feel slippery to touch. It tends to cling to your skin, where it also traps sweat against the skin. This quality makes it the material of choice for sporting teams, but can also make it feel a bit sticky in hot weather.
Best fabrics for hot weather
The answer is yes; polyester can be a stretchy fabric, but the level of stretch depends on several factors. The amount of stretch in a polyester fabric is dependent on the type of material used to make the fabric. Polyester blend fabrics are often stretchier than pure polyester fabrics.
The '30 wears' test
When you're about to buy something new, ask yourself if you'll wear it 30 times or more. The idea is to change the way we approach shopping and owning clothes.
Polyester is going to be sweat wicking. It does not absorb moisture whereas the cotton will. The polyester on the inside is going to be against your skin. It's actually going to draw that out and now it's going to move it from your body to the cotton and now the cotton is going to spread it and cause evaporation.
Inside The Gen Z Closet
From baggy pants to loose-fitting shirts, Gen Z has embraced clothing that allows them to move comfortably and express themselves without focusing on their body shape. Oversized doesn't mean sloppy though; it's a style statement.
The 3-3-3 Rule in Fashion means choosing 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 pairs of shoes that can mix and match easily. These 9 pieces create a “mini wardrobe” that still gives you many outfit choices without feeling boring.
Polyester is often treated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PFAS, phthalates, and formaldehyde. These substances can be absorbed through your skin, especially when mixed with heat, sweat, and friction. Health effects range from skin irritation to hormone disruption.
Natural fibers are your safest bet. Dermatologists consistently recommend 100% cotton as the top choice for sensitive, eczema-prone skin because it's soft, breathable, and absorbent. Other plant-based fabrics like bamboo and linen, plus silk, help regulate moisture and temperature to prevent irritation.
Let's look at some of the softest fabrics in the world and what makes them so special.
Polyester
Sweat gets trapped between your skin and the fabric, and the synthetic fibres actually encourage the growth of odour-causing bacteria. Even after washing, the smell can linger.
Wrapping eczema-affected areas is a great practice. It protects the skin barrier and reduces itch and irritation. By adding wrapping to their eczema management plan, people can see better skin health and a better quality of life.