Wool and itchyness

[potterycat]

I'm aware that many people can't tolerate wool - me included. But today I bought a very nice coat which is 30% wool and I thought that with a scarf between said coat and my neck, I'd be OK with it.

However, it seems that even just being around the coat makes me itch! What I don't know is, is this just my imagination or does it somehow lose fibres which float about and settle on me and irritate? Does anybody (a) understand what I'm getting at, and (b) have the same reaction?!

Would be interested to know if it's just all in my mind

Don't know what the cause is but my sister is the same, she can't bear wool near her!

I'm okay as long as it's not touching my skin or is in a very low mix (5% wool). Havent had the "floating fibres" issue sorry

Absolutely know what you mean. No idea if it's psychological or not, but I definitely feel itchy wearing anything woollen even if it's not touching my skin. Makes me itchy just thinking about it!

I have a wool skirt from Boden which is fully lined and I wear with opaque tights. I still itch!!

Me too. I can't wear any wool these days.

There’s home treatment for woollens, involving hair conditioner.

Not sure it would fix your exceptional case though.

I'm the same, unfortunately.

Ooh yes I am the same, so annoying I want to love wool and wear gorgeous handknitted jumpers. But I'm itching just thinking about them.

Me too, I can tolerate scarves and gloves with wool, although they feel a bit scratchy, but not clothes thst touch the rest of my body.

My mum is the same, her childhood was blighted by a woolly vest.

No wool for me. I’ve made some expensive mistakes. Not sure about fibres being airborne.

Mohair is not wool, but very warm. Love my mohair socks in winter.

I'm the same, luckily I managed to find a brilliantly soft warm very long and very wide scarf from ASOS last year which keeps me lovely and warm and is not wool. No idea what it's made from but it's perfect.

Even acrylic scarves make me itch. I can wear cashmere

I used to not be able to tolerate wool but now I seem to be ok. I never wear it directly next to my skin anyway. I get eczema and am pretty sure I'm allergic to lanolin too (a sheep product).

her childhood was blighted by a woolly vest
{grin}
Could be worked into a "misery memoir".

I'm the same - altohugh i never used to have a problem until I developed psoriasis 7 years ago.

I totally understand the 'floating fibres' thing - these almost invisible fibres seem to be attracted to my eyelashes, then seem to cling and irritate the hell out of me!
I

I can't wear wool as it's itchy. I'm also allergic to bedpanthen because it contains lanolin.

It's great to see that I'm not wholly imagining it!

I'll just have to completely avoid all wool from now on. I tried a lovely cashmere jumper a few weeks ago (as cashmere is non itchy, apparently ) and within a few seconds my skin was screaming for it to be removed!

I've long said my life would be easier if I could wear wool, as so many jumpers etc are all or part wool, and it's very difficult to find cotton knitwear these days.

actually, its not onlywool that does it to me - any remotely 'hairy' synthetic fibre does it too! But if its not hairy its fine...

Lambswool does it for me - jumpers are unbearable, merino is better and cashmere is fine. Never had it with wool coats which is lucky as my school blazer was wool and now wear a duffle coat.

Is it a fluffy coat?

I'm the same, I can't wear wool at all, even with something underneath.