Why are my bras going this to me (pictures attached)

[BakerBear]

My bras are so uncomfortable! They dig in and make awful marks around me.

I ve been fitted by bravissimo and wear fantasie bras. They are a 34G and I’m a size 18.

They are cutting in and giving me sores. I itch along the redness during the day.

Whenever I mention about having a 36 band instead they always say it’s too big for me. I can turn the bra around on me on the 34s that I have.

Surely bras are not suppose to make this much redness on you?

Sorry, 36F!!! Not sure where my alphabet went there

So a 34G will go to a 36DD
A sister size from a 34G is a 36FF

There isn’t enough support in a 36 after a few washes.

You're either washing them incorrectly, or they're the wrong bra for you. Something that cuts your skin at 34" isn't going to be too big to support you with an extra 2" around the band.

Go to a department store and sort out your own fitting. Bravissimo are buggers for flattering women into buying smaller back sizes and bigger cups.

There isn’t enough support in a 36 after a few washes.

But if you wear it on the widest hooks then surely as the bra stretches you can go to the middle hooks and then the tightest hooks?

Try a bra extender first off, an inexpensive way to see if a larger band size becomes more comfortable.

Never accured to me that it could be the elastic. All bras have elastic in them though? Here are my measurements

42” around the rib cage and 48” around the bust

It could be the elastane that causing an allergic reaction, leading to a fungal infection. I get this too. Make sure you only wear a bra once before washing it, and rinse it well in Dettox laundry liquid to kill off the spores. I also put sudocrem under my boobs every morning, wash myself well once I take my bra off and re apply.

My DM used to get this sort of thing with her chest too. Are the sorest parts/bit with the white under the bust? Try an anti-fungal powder?
For her it was the wires. She switched to wire free bras and the problem went away. HTH.

Might be the polyester nylon mix some bras have soft lining that goes by your skin which helps

Do you hand wash or machine wash? Hand dry?

On a closer look you might have a fungal infection try going to see a nurse for cream to clear it

I'm usually a 28KK and wear a 14 assuming there is some give in the fabric... generally back size is no more than dress plus 20 but can be less if more boob...

If the cup is too small everything will feel tight. Check band tightness with the cups at the back. Should get no more than 2 fingers in the band.

Counter-intuitively I get marks when the back is too big because the bra moves more...

It is possible to get latex free bras, though not a lot of choice and most of the sites seem to be US based, but there are a few UK options

www.amazon.co.uk/Leading-Lady-Womens-Soft-Bra/dp/B00EJCM1YS?tag=mumsnetforum-21

www.suzannecharles.co.uk/bras/naturana-100-cotton-soft-bra.html

www.amazon.co.uk/Cottonique-Hypoallergenic-Closure-Support-Regular/dp/B07666RW2D?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I turn the bra when I put it on and can get my hand down the band when it’s fastened.

Back is too big and cup too small then - have a look at the boob or bust calculator. Or your bra has stretched.

If you're 42 round the rib cage then surely you should be a 42 something??

Surely if you are 42 inches around the ribs then you are a 42 something? I thought that was how it was measured?

Snap FFS!

Just an idea, could you wear a sports bra for a while to let the irritation heal?

Apparently molke bras are amazing. No wires and super comfortable.

I dont think they are pretty but everyone on here raves about them.

Just measured rib cage again and it’s coming up at 40 not 42 as dh measured me

If you haven't already, measure yourself using the boob or bust bra calculator

As well as looking into the allergies could you also look at the bra shapes you're buying?

I'm also a long-time bravissimo customer, and have found over the years that the most comfortable style for me is the balconette. Every time I've tried a full-cup I've had marks, the wire digging in and general uncomfortableness (which doesn't happen with the balconettes). I've learnt from experience that my boobs must be the wrong shape for the full-cups!

That looks so sore!! I hate bras. I don’t wear them, that’s no help to you as you have a large bust, maybe a tank top with built in support?

Surely if you are 42 inches around the ribs then you are a 42 something? I thought that was how it was measured?

I thought this too.

So basically you're wearing a band that is 8 inches smaller than your body!

I had this as bravissimo tried to convince me I'm a 30. I wear a 34 normally. I was fooled by their patter and bought 3 expensive bras only to find after an hour of wear they dug in and left bruises also I had hideous fat rolls under my tops, it looked awful. I now refuse their fitting service and just buy what is comfy