When you’re shopping for HS-friendly clothes, look for soft, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics. They can perform double duty by preventing friction and pulling sweat away from HS-prone skin.
Great fabric choices for HS include modal (a durable, flexible form of rayon) and lyocell (a more sustainable form of rayon, which also sometimes goes by the brand name Tencel). As a bonus, Tencel fabrics are also less prone to wrinkles than cotton — perfect for packing away in a suitcase.
Another HS-friendly fabric option, similar to lyocell, is bamboo. It tends to feel cool against skin — a soothing advantage when you’re dealing with irritating bumps.
On the other hand, cotton is a fabric you might want to skip if you have HS. As any athlete or outdoorsy type will shout from the mountaintops, cotton can cause friction that leads to dreaded chafing when you’re moving around a lot.
Plus, research shows that cotton can house bacteria, and it is also highly absorbent (meaning it will trap your sweat against your skin, potentially leading to irritation). Not a great combination if you’re trying to protect those HS-prone areas of your body.
The material certainly makes a great choice for drying off after a shower — but aside from your towel, cozy cotton clothing won’t do your HS any favors.
Getting dressed starts with slipping on the right skivvies from your unmentionables drawer. According to the 2021 review, seamless underwear designs can help reduce friction and discomfort on sensitive parts.
For undies, opt for boy short designs or even bicycle shorts that won’t have bands encroaching on your groin. The boxer brief hybrid is a great choice for peeps with a penis (or anyone who prefers that style — no judgment here!).
