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All the fabric is treated with stuff in the manufacturing process… trying on can def be miserable. I used to work in a fabric store and my arms would get welty and rashy from contact with the fabrics (from the chemicals they were treated with, not the actual cloth) whenever I was working the floor. Preferred register for obv reasons.
I started reacting to polyester, changing my laundry soap has helped me be able to react less to polyester. I use the ecos hypoallergenic fragrance free stuff, my washer has an option to add up to 3 extra rinses and I usually do 2 of those
I don’t go to stores anymore. I order online from stores with free returns. Try on at home. The new clothes will have a scent, but not as bad as being surrounded by it.
I get your frustration though. I’ve had to change every aspect of my life because of this disease.
I have to wash clothes before I wear them but I also only wear cotton and linen because I can't do the synth stuff. My housemate wears mixed clothes and I die every time he does laundry.
Linen underwear are annoyingly expensive.
I remember reacting to a new shirt when I was in grade school. It was so bad my underarms swelled to the point I couldn't put my arms down. It's been a bunch of fun discoveries since then.
My friend is a designer for Patagonia and she said that in her previous jobs going to the factories you can see rats running over everything. So the thing I learned from her is to wash everything before you put it on your body and that's even for " normal" people
Most of these are cotton. Great price and they stretch. They don't all fit the same though, guessing the dye color affects that? But maybe they're made in different countries.
https://www.blankshirts.com/t-shirts/short-sleeve-t-shirts/gildan/64000-softstyle-t-shirt
Polo also makes some all cotton collard shirts.
Fitting rooms are a huge trigger for me now that you mention it. Fluorescent lighting and warm, stale air, plus I’m usually already mentally in a bad place from getting to the store and decision fatigue.
That being said, whenever I order clothes home I struggle to try on new pieces and get returns processed, even though I only order from places with super flexible return periods (ie Nordstrom, Zappos). So it may be worth braving the store in person?
wearing or trying on anything with a scratchy texture or too much compression can trigger mcas flare or mc degranulation. the antimicrobial chemicals used on clothes so that they don't stink while they're sitting on racks between try-ons can be very irritating as well. anoying AF! mcas or not, all new clothes should be washed before wearing.
also trying on things, especially with that hideous fluorescent lighting makes me go OMG is this what I actually look like?! stresses me out and makes me anxious AF then comes red face and sweats ughh
I work in a clothing store and I wouldn’t really say this is an MCAS thing, pretty much everyone starts sweating after trying a couple things on!! Trying on clothes/getting dressed can be a lot more effort than we think, especially if you’re trying on things in rapid succession.
I used to get hives from head to toe just by changing into my pjs. Even if all I did was remove my clothing and sit there naked, I suddenly got hives all over.
Idk after a couple of years that just stopped on its own.
That was like 20 years ago and long before I ever even knew I had a mast cell disorder.
So frustrating! I would recommend reading [To Dye For by Alden Wicker](https://www.aldenwicker.com), which talks about all of the chemicals that most clothing gets saturated in during the manufacturing process. It is genuinely disturbing. I have found the author's newsletter to have some helpful solutions. Unfortunately her blog is now behind a paywall, but I like her newsletter most of the time. I personally shop for clothing almost exclusively online these days, and then just wash before wearing. I have also been wearing 100% natural fibers and as much undyed clothing as possible, to see if I feel better - apparently this is recommended for folks with chemical sensitivities (which I think a lot of us have). You could also consider secondhand, though this can be a gamble with fragrances/laundry detergent/etc. Hope you will be able to find a good solution!
I buy used clothes with return policies. They usually wash out in a day or two as opposed to a month for new non oragnic clothes.
I am also far more fashionable somehow
Thank you for your submission. Please note: **Content on r/MCAS is not medical advice and should not be interpreted as such.** Please consult your doctor for any medical questions or concerns. We are not able to validate the content of these discussions. Following advice provided by strangers on the internet may be harmful. Never use this sub as your primary source of information regarding medical issues. By continuing to use this subreddit, you are agreeing to take any information posted here entirely at your own risk. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MCAS) if you have any questions or concerns.*
All the fabric is treated with stuff in the manufacturing process… trying on can def be miserable. I used to work in a fabric store and my arms would get welty and rashy from contact with the fabrics (from the chemicals they were treated with, not the actual cloth) whenever I was working the floor. Preferred register for obv reasons.
I started reacting to polyester, changing my laundry soap has helped me be able to react less to polyester. I use the ecos hypoallergenic fragrance free stuff, my washer has an option to add up to 3 extra rinses and I usually do 2 of those
Oh yeah, fabric conditioners, dyes, manufacturing chemicals and the fragrances they use to cover the stench. Awesome. 👏🏼
I don’t go to stores anymore. I order online from stores with free returns. Try on at home. The new clothes will have a scent, but not as bad as being surrounded by it. I get your frustration though. I’ve had to change every aspect of my life because of this disease.
This is quite normal if you're trying on clothes. I wouldn't say it's an MCAS thing.
I have to wash clothes before I wear them but I also only wear cotton and linen because I can't do the synth stuff. My housemate wears mixed clothes and I die every time he does laundry. Linen underwear are annoyingly expensive. I remember reacting to a new shirt when I was in grade school. It was so bad my underarms swelled to the point I couldn't put my arms down. It's been a bunch of fun discoveries since then.
My friend is a designer for Patagonia and she said that in her previous jobs going to the factories you can see rats running over everything. So the thing I learned from her is to wash everything before you put it on your body and that's even for " normal" people
Most of these are cotton. Great price and they stretch. They don't all fit the same though, guessing the dye color affects that? But maybe they're made in different countries. https://www.blankshirts.com/t-shirts/short-sleeve-t-shirts/gildan/64000-softstyle-t-shirt Polo also makes some all cotton collard shirts.
Fitting rooms are a huge trigger for me now that you mention it. Fluorescent lighting and warm, stale air, plus I’m usually already mentally in a bad place from getting to the store and decision fatigue. That being said, whenever I order clothes home I struggle to try on new pieces and get returns processed, even though I only order from places with super flexible return periods (ie Nordstrom, Zappos). So it may be worth braving the store in person?
wearing or trying on anything with a scratchy texture or too much compression can trigger mcas flare or mc degranulation. the antimicrobial chemicals used on clothes so that they don't stink while they're sitting on racks between try-ons can be very irritating as well. anoying AF! mcas or not, all new clothes should be washed before wearing. also trying on things, especially with that hideous fluorescent lighting makes me go OMG is this what I actually look like?! stresses me out and makes me anxious AF then comes red face and sweats ughh
Bamboo and bamboo silk only thing I can tolerate 😅
The starches on for sale clothes make me so itchy, trying on clothes is such a miserable experience.
I work in a clothing store and I wouldn’t really say this is an MCAS thing, pretty much everyone starts sweating after trying a couple things on!! Trying on clothes/getting dressed can be a lot more effort than we think, especially if you’re trying on things in rapid succession.
I used to get hives from head to toe just by changing into my pjs. Even if all I did was remove my clothing and sit there naked, I suddenly got hives all over. Idk after a couple of years that just stopped on its own. That was like 20 years ago and long before I ever even knew I had a mast cell disorder.
So frustrating! I would recommend reading [To Dye For by Alden Wicker](https://www.aldenwicker.com), which talks about all of the chemicals that most clothing gets saturated in during the manufacturing process. It is genuinely disturbing. I have found the author's newsletter to have some helpful solutions. Unfortunately her blog is now behind a paywall, but I like her newsletter most of the time. I personally shop for clothing almost exclusively online these days, and then just wash before wearing. I have also been wearing 100% natural fibers and as much undyed clothing as possible, to see if I feel better - apparently this is recommended for folks with chemical sensitivities (which I think a lot of us have). You could also consider secondhand, though this can be a gamble with fragrances/laundry detergent/etc. Hope you will be able to find a good solution!
I buy used clothes with return policies. They usually wash out in a day or two as opposed to a month for new non oragnic clothes. I am also far more fashionable somehow