Dr. Peter Gott healthy living Fabric cause of skin rash?

Q: You recently published a letter from someone who wrote about a skin rash. The person had tried various creams, lotions and had been to several dermatologists for treatment and medication, with little or no help.

I am an 83-year-old male. About 20 years ago, I had this same problem. My wife suggested that I stop wearing clothes that had polyester, wool or acrylic. I began wearing only cotton underclothes, shirts, sweaters, etc. The rash cleared up within weeks, and I have not had it since. If I do wear a sweater and sit in a chair covered with polyester for any length of time, I can feel the itching coming on.

I enjoy your column very much and read it every morning. I have found many helpful tidbits of information and now sleep with soap under my sheets every night to prevent my leg cramps.

A: This is yet another cause of skin rash that is commonly overlooked. Most physicians think of detergents and soaps but not the actual fabrics as being skin irritants.

Wool is a natural material that is known for causing itchy skin and rashes owing to its coarse nature. Both polyester and acrylic fabrics are synthetic and are relatively smooth on the skin. Cotton is both natural and easy on the skin. In fact, cotton has made a huge comeback, as more and more people are interested in easy-to-care-for, comfortable, sturdy fabrics.

Thanks for writing to share your story. I hope it will help others suffering from persistent skin rashes that fail to respond to treatment. I'm also glad the soap reduced your leg cramps.