Is it possible to be allergic to your bra?

[Carrotsandcelery]

That just about says it all.

I was having dreadful trouble with my previous bras so got refitted a few days ago in Bravissimo.

I was very careful to choose a bra that didn't rub anywhere etc (the fitter saw the sores on my skin and was very careful to help me choose something appropriate.)

These new bras are not as sore but become more uncomfortable daily.

The area troubling me is the area under the arms where the band meets my rib cage and the area where the end of the underwiring meets my skin.

These areas are red and becoming more and more inflamed.

Has anyone had this? Is it an allergy? What bras can I wear that won't do this to me?

could it be your washing powder?

Did you wash it before wearing?

I didn't wash it before wearing - I walked out of the shop in it as it was such a relief compared to the others I had been wearing.

So washing them will help and if not changing washing powder might help.

Thank you ladies.

Dh was suggesting antihistamines and someone else was suggesting them for sun sensitive skin (which I am also struggling with) so I will try them as well.

I wonder about latex? Sorry, not much help but it doesn't sound right.

Can you ask in the shop?

Mine have been itching lately but that's just the hot weather.

Mine were sore before the hot weather or I would have just put it down to that.

I know it is a tiny problem on the scale of things but dh was shocked by the state of my skin (and he has raging exczema so it takes a bit to shock him)

It's miserable, I've been there - this is a common area of irritation for ladies, it could be because heat collects where the skin folds, so talcum powder might help once the wounds have healed.
You might have an allergy to the fabric of the bras you've bought.
Allergic reactions to elastic are common.
If you are having a problem, it's probably not a good idea to be wearing underwired bras until the problem has been resolved as they are rigid and inflexible. There is no way the fitter should have sold you underwired bras with the problem you are having and you cannot be sure of the quality of training she has received (Bravissimo is essentially a fashion brand).

M&S has a wide range of very nice/pretty bras which are soft and made of 100% cotton (minimising the likelihood of an allergic reaction) and maybe you could try a couple of these until you are feeling better. I have always found that M&S staff (the mature ones) really know what they're talking about with bras, they usually have lots of experience and good training.
It may well be that your new Bravissimo bras will be fine once your skin has healed, but clearly the existing irritation will be aggravated by anything touching it.

Are you able to go bra-less when you are at home to give the skin some space to heal? You may have to sacrifice the look temporarily to get your skin back to health.
You are better off identifying and removing the source of the problem than taking pills to treat the symptoms.
It sounds as though the new bras are too tight - could you be experiencing some unnoticed weight gain? The underwire should not be hurting your skin - that would suggest either the wrong cup size or wrong cup shape (or both).
There are also bras which are longer in the body and don't sit in that area - if you see what I mean.
I hope this helps - I used to own a ladies boutique.

Thanks penneekins that is very helpful.

I hope to go shopping in the next 2 days so I will try to find some 100%cotton bras with no wiring. I am very well endowed so I couldn't be seen in public without a bra but I have been trying to braless when at home to give it a break.

I am allergic to elastoplast and many, many other random things so it would not surprise me if I was allergic to the elastic in the bras. I am having a very stressful time just now too and that always makes me more allergic if that makes sense.

You poor thing C&C that's no fun at all, allergies and stress, not a good combination. Perspiration will not help either so in this warm weather, try to keep any skin areas dry as best you can, talc may help (but not on broken skin). You could try putting a barrier of cotton handkerchiefs between your skin and the bra bits that are irritating.
Just make sure that if you have more bras fitted, you ask for the senior fitter, and don't accept anyone else. As you are generously endowed, you need help from a professional fitter with proper skills and experience. Let me know how you get on. Hope you're feeling better.

maybe there is latex in stretchy bits of bra or it maybe a weat rash

Not sure about adequate support (being on the pea-sized range myself) but what about cotton sports bras, can you wear those?

I've had this problem a lot in the past and its normally just ill fitting bras. Seem fine in the shop, get them home and they're agony (underwires sticking into armpits etc)! Not easy to find comfortable bras in larger sizes but since I discovered the M & S ones I haven't shopped anywhere else for them. They've lasted very well too and half the price I used to pay.