Are Your Undergarments Making You sick?: An Expose’ of What Transpires on Bare Skin
Originally published by A Voice For Choice Advocacy on February 20, 2025.
EDITOR’S SUMMARY: Alongside food, water, household products, and cosmetics, the fabrics that touch your skin play a crucial role in your health. Yet, this is another area where Big Chem has left its mark—one that shouldn't be overlooked. Research reveals clear links between fabrics and issues ranging from skin irritation to internal organ disruption. Discover how to make smarter choices and take control of what comes into contact with your body.
By Jennifer Wolff-Gillispie HWP, LC
When choosing bras and underwear, it’s important to consider the potential health risks. After all, how harmful can these small, hidden garments really be? As it turns out—very (more on that in a moment). From a previous article A Voice for Choice Advocacy published on June 22, 2023, “Beyond Fashion: Examining the Impact of Clothing on Your Health,” by Liz Quinn, the significance of clothing exposure is highlighted:
"Considering on average you spend 16 to 24 hours a day in clothing, and your skin is your body’s largest organ, it’s worth taking a closer look at what goes into the fabrics you adorn yourself with.”
This is an important factor when it comes to clothing in general, but the one garment you’re most likely to wear 24 hours a day is your underwear. These pieces, worn closest to your most intimate areas—and sometimes never removed (bras included)—should be made from the safest materials. Unfortunately, most are not. Instead, they’re often manufactured from toxic, synthetic fibers loaded with harmful chemicals. But that’s not the only problem with your underwear. Its design and function may be posing even more health risks than you realize. Take a closer look at what’s in your underwear, and some uncomfortable truths start to emerge. If you're like many people, you might slip into a trusted brand like Hanes for everyday comfort or reach for something sexy from Victoria’s Secret. But these familiar favorites are actually a mix of chemicals and synthetic materials—anything but harmless. Many popular fabrics used in underwear and bras—like polyester, nylon, acrylic, rayon, and spandex—are made from petroleum-based chemicals. To enhance durability, stretch, moisture-wicking properties, or wrinkle resistance, these fibers are often treated with even more chemicals during production. Alarmingly, many of these substances are the last thing you’d want next to your skin.
When synthetic fibers are made, small pellets of plastic are melted and then passed through an extruder to create the “fabric” strands. These fibers are then woven to create a garment that is hardly recognizable as the original plastic it came from. Originally created in the 1930s, synthetics emerged to replace natural fabrics with stronger, lighter, and more affordable versions. Tadashi Yanai, Japan’s most successful businessman, and founder of the world's fourth largest apparel company, “Fast Retailing,” attests to the change: “Our underwear used to just be cotton, but we wanted to see if we could create something out of synthetics.” In 1984, one of the first studies was conducted examining the potential health concerns of synthetic fabrics. According to Dr. John Douillard, from “The Dangers of Synthetic Clothing”:
“...a study evaluated over 24,000 workers in a textile factory that produced synthetic fabrics. Researchers followed them over the course of 14 years and found that the synthetic fabric workers had a higher incidence of colorectal cancer.”
Later, research carried out at the University of Birmingham found a potential reason: When you sweat, your natural body oil allows the plastics in the synthetic material to dissolve and diffuse onto the skin where it is absorbed. Synthetic fabrics are just one part of a larger issue. Additional chemicals are added to create desired fabric qualities. For example, phthalates which are used to soften fabrics have been linked to hormone disruption. According to the Endocrine Society, phthalates are among the estimated 1000 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with the endocrine system. They state:
“It is well established that mixtures of chemicals can act together to generate combined effects, including mixtures of EDCs. In 2019, the EU-funded project EDC-MixRisk concluded, ‘“Current regulations of man-made chemicals systematically underestimate health risks associated with combined exposures to EDCs or potential EDCs … ”’
Man-Made Chemicals: A Familiar Villain
The National Center for Health Research (NCHR) corroborates this by linking phthalates to type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, allergies, asthma, infertility in men and women, early onset puberty in girls under nine (a.k.a. precocious puberty), and cancer. In addition to the harm phthalates can do to children and adults, there is also great concern for a developing fetus that is exposed via its mother. In the article, “What Are Phthalates and How Do They Affect Your Health?” the NCHR warns:
“Phthalate levels during pregnancy have been found to be related to other negative outcomes for infants. For example, a 2014 study of 482 women found that women who had higher levels of phthalate metabolites in their urine were more likely to have a preterm birth. Higher levels of phthalates in a woman’s 3rd trimester have been associated with lower scores on mental and psychomotor development indices when their infant is measured at 6 months old.”
Another common offender is formaldehyde (yes, the same chemical used to embalm the dead). Utilized by the healthcare field due to its disinfectant properties, it is used in the textile industry to reduce wrinkles and maintain the shape of fabric. As far as the safety of formaldehyde, The American Cancer Society has made these three statements:
A sneaky source of contamination are the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, sometimes known as PFCs), which are used to make fabrics water-resistant. While these chemicals keep your underwear dry during unexpected accidents or sweaty days, they are notorious for accumulating in the environment and your body. Marta Venier, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at the University of Indiana in Bloomington agrees:
“The concerning aspect is that these products come into contact with very sensitive parts of our bodies. The risk for dermal absorption is potentially higher, because it’s an area that is more susceptible for absorption.”
Studies have shown that PFAS/PFCs are linked to liver and kidney damage, thyroid disease, behavioral disorders, and cancer. Newly popular “period panties” that are available as a replacement for pads and tampons also contain dangerous PFAS. In fact, one popular period panty brand, “Thinx,” just settled a lawsuit. Synthetic fibers aren’t the only concern in regards to toxic potential. Often your undergarments are dyed in vibrant, alluring colors which are usually cheap, synthetic, water-soluble “Azo” dyes. Statistically, 90% of clothes use chemically-derived dyes. Easily absorbed through your skin in the most delicate areas, they are linked to allergic reactions, endocrine disruption, and are carcinogenic. If you think swapping out your polyester panties for cotton ones will make a huge difference … think again. The type of cotton you buy matters, and makes all the difference in the world. Conventional cotton farming accounts for up to 25% of the world's pesticide use. The heavy spraying of this crop can leave harmful residues on the fibers that end up next to your skin, and in the case of your undies, in extremely sensitive areas. These pesticides and herbicides, such as glyphosate (commercially known as RoundUp), have been controversial due to their links to cancer. In fact, a 2015 ruling by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans," particularly due to its association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
On the flip side, organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and is a far more skin-friendly choice. Studies have shown that switching to organic cotton products can reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, and help protect the Earth’s ecosystem. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic cotton farms use crop rotation and natural pest management to maintain soil health, significantly reducing the chemical burden on the environment—and your skin. And while they once may have been considered “granny panties,” some companies have taken organic cotton underwear to a new level by transforming their designs into something beautiful and alluring—for special occasions and everyday wear. Then there’s bras—the magical garments that promise to support and shape you. But beyond their functional appeal, bras have garnered attention for their potential role in affecting breast health. One of the most discussed issues is whether bras—specifically tight bras or those made from synthetic materials—might contribute to breast cancer. While studies on this topic are ongoing, research suggests that tight bras may interfere with lymphatic drainage, which could theoretically increase the risk of toxins accumulating in your body, especially in lymph-laden breast tissue.
In 1991, researchers Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer published a controversial book called “Dressed to Kill,” in which they argued this theory. The book sparked a wave of skepticism and debate within the medical community, with some researchers dismissing the idea entirely. Currently, more research is needed to prove or disprove a causal link. Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to choose a bra that fits well without restricting circulation or lymphatic flow. If you wear an underwire bra, consider swapping it out for a bra that is less restrictive. You may also forgo a bra altogether and consider wearing an undershirt, camisole, or perhaps nothing at all. Along the same lines, “shapewear” is often a one-piece restrictive suit or separate top and bottom that holds the rolls in your figure you want to tuck in. However alluring, these pieces can put pressure on your bladder giving you the sensation that you need to urinate frequently. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The constant pressure caused by shapewear can lead to nerve compression causing long term pelvic, lower limb, and back pain. Not just an alert for women, men also need to be cognisant of their “whites being too tight.”
Dare to Be Different (for the sake of your health)
Dr. Robert Eisenberg, a urologist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, CA, says tight underwear is directly linked to infertility in men, as they interfere with proper temperature maturation of healthy, viable sperm. It’s important for men and women to let your private parts “breathe.” Synthetic fibers do not encourage this; they retain moisture and heat which is a perfect breeding ground for vaginal yeast and other fungal infections, such as jock itch in men. What can you do to avoid all of these potential dangers while still enjoying comfy undies and bras?
Paul Saladino, M.D., an avid researcher and industry leader on nutrition and lifestyle medicine, shared the following in a 2023 interview, “Stop Making THIS Mistake,” on the topic of underwear:
“There’s controlled trials; these are interventional trials in humans, in dogs, and in other animals that show wearing a polyester sling around your balls … and they also did the same study in women … Decreased sperm counts and affected your hormones negatively, over the course of a few months that the study went on. When they use a cotton sling, the men don’t have any problem with their spermatogenesis or hormones.”
At the end of the day, your choice of underwear and bras should go beyond mere comfort and style—your health deserves equal attention. Choosing wisely can make a notable difference in your health, and therefore, quality of life. In “Organic Cotton - Why Bother?” it is stated clearly:
“Although, there are no USDA (US Dept of Agriculture) approved studies demonstrating that organic cotton has any health benefits over conventional cotton, organic cotton is being widely embraced by holistic practitioners (such as naturopaths), especially for those suffering or recovering from illness. More demonstrable is organic cotton's ability to be worn by people with chemical sensitivities, who are unable to wear conventional cotton because they have allergic reactions to the dyes and chemical traces it contains. This is especially important for babies and children because they have more sensitive skin and are more sensitive to chemicals.”
As you consider what underwear to purchase next, think about this: Your choice of undergarments could be one of the most personal and powerful health decisions you make every day. By choosing organic, toxin-free, breathable, and non-constrictive fabrics, you’re not only putting your health first—you may also be helping to spark a larger movement, one that prioritizes healthy living, and reduces society’s overall toxic load. And the best part? You can enjoy eye-catching designs without sacrificing natural materials—you get both.
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