Best bra for people with sensory issues or sensitive skin

March 3, 2018 7:41 PM

My skin has recently become quite sensitive and almost every bra I used to like is now unbearably itchy and pokey. I'm looking for recommendations from other similarly sensitive people.

Since I had kids I'm just way less able to put up with bras. The only ones I can still wear are the Bravado Buttercup, which is a nursing bra. I'm not super stoked about wearing nursing bras for the rest of my natural life so I was hoping to get some recommendations. It's been my experience that a lot of the time, bras seem to feel fine in the fitting room but after a wash or two they start getting itchy and pokey.

I usually wear a 32 or 34 and a B or C cup so I don't need any hard-to-find sizes. Yes, I'm sure it's not an issue of wearing the wrong size bra. I prefer a lightly padded cup and no underwire. It seems like a lot of folks with sensory issues prefer sports-type bras or camisoles or things like that but I really do want a regular old structured bra, I swear! I just want it to never be itchy, even a tiny bit.

If you're someone who finds literally 99% of bras unbearably itchy but you've found some you can wear, I want to hear from you.

posted by potrzebie to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (18 answers total)

Here's one option, which I know is a sports-bra kind of style and it also has underwire but it is really incredible how seamless and adjustable it is: Nature Yogi. Also at Zappos here. The thing that might be an issue is the extra length on the straps in back but I still thought it might be worth suggesting. It's been my go-to for any 12+ hour international flight or similar situation.
posted by belau at 8:03 PM on March 3, 2018

I have this issue and really like ThirdLove's bras--their sizing is fantastic, as well. (Unfortunately I'm not sure if my skin is as sensitive as yours. I find bras only itchy if they feature any sort of regular cotton because that pills quickly.)
posted by flyingfork at 8:27 PM on March 3, 2018

Best answer: I like Uniqlo for this.
posted by bleep at 8:37 PM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

What fabrics have you tried? Something natural and breathable like silk or bamboo or hemp might suit you better than standard bra poly-cotton.
posted by windykites at 8:58 PM on March 3, 2018

I'm of similar size and have sensitive skin. I actually like some of the bras at Gap. The fabric blend is comfortable, and they have ones with no underwire that still have shape to them.
posted by Katie8709 at 9:02 PM on March 3, 2018

Response by poster: The one I like, as mentioned, is a totally non-breathable, totally synthetic bra. Looks like the cup lining is 100% polyester and the rest of the bra is a nylon/spandex blend. Not averse to looking into natural/breathable bras if you have specific recs but it clearly isn't a requirement. Definitely cotton is out because as flyingfork says, I've found it pills quickly.

Katie, do you have a particular model in mind? My experience with Gap bras hasn't been great in the past.
posted by potrzebie at 9:05 PM on March 3, 2018

I'm like you and the Marie Jo L'Aventure Tom heart shaped works for me, it's an underwire but well padded. Pricey but good quality. There is a wireless version that I haven't tried but am considering.
posted by medusa at 10:05 PM on March 3, 2018

I picked up this style from Hanes that hooks in the back like a standard bra - they also have many other wire-free padded types. Good news is the Hanes ones are cheap. My go-to are the bralette style and I have 8 of these. I wear a 30C.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:31 PM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]

Disclaimer: I don't have the same specs for my bras, so I can't personally vouch for these.

But I do spend way too much time in the online bra community (i.e., bloggers and A Bra That Fits on Reddit), and these choices are in your size range and widely available, plus they get a lot of love for being both comfortable and relatively structured:

* Aerie Sunnie Wireless Lightly Lined
* Bali Comfort Revolution
* Calvin Klein Perfectly Fit Wire-Free Contour

posted by virago at 11:52 PM on March 3, 2018

Best answer: I don't have super-sensitive skin (maybe above-average sensitive), but whenever I need to sleep on a long plane ride, there are a certain few bras that I reach for in my drawer. The best one is unfortunately long discontinued, but second-best is this Montelle Wire-Free Bra. All of the standard itchy bits are covered in soft polyester and there are no wires to poke you.

I also have a ton of Natori Feathers bras, and they're definitely the most comfortable lacy bra that I've ever tried (including brands like Marie Jo, Simone Perele, Aubade--which are gorgeous and supportive but not that soft). But even the Feathers is scratchier than my wire-free microfiber bras.
posted by serelliya at 11:55 PM on March 3, 2018

Would this Hanes wirefree bra (style G796) work for you? I found them in stock at Target and I use them as my go-to lounge bra. The band and straps are quite wide and not at all binding and the material is very soft.
posted by kittydelsol at 5:26 AM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I solve a bunch of this issue by using a bra liner. I find bras intolerable without one. IF you can find a bra where the armpit area is ok but the band is not, a bra liner might be the solution.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 5:27 AM on March 4, 2018

Go without a bra. Wear an undershirt instead.
posted by Carol Anne at 6:31 AM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I really really like this (model 855170- it goes by different names but googling that always works). It's the only thing I wear. It's an underwire and might not work for you if your breasts aren't the same shape but it fits me perfectly and I find it very comfortable. Two unique things about the design are that the underwire is on the outside of the cup so it doesn't rub, and the underwires are sort of a deep, symmetrical U-shape (which is unusual in bras and works particularly well for the shape of my breasts.) The material is stretchy but firm and synthetic.

The thing about underwires is that if they're really the right shape for you they can allow a bra to be shaped and supportive while not being so tight and not needing sort of rigid padding (which may or may not actually fit the shape of your breast) that some shaped bras have.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:37 AM on March 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: You might like Uniqlo’s bras - they have a bunch of wireless options, some traditionally bra shaped with padded cups and some camisole style. This one in particular looks like the kind of thing that’ll work well for you. I’m not sure if I’ve tried on that particular model, but the bra-with-cups I have tried on from Uniqlo was super soft and seamless - it didn’t work for me size wise (I’m DD+), but the sizing should be fine for you. I do have one of the crop top style bras and it is, again, very silky soft and seamless and comfy. Very low support though, so it’s an around the house bra for me.

I’m not sure if my skin is as sensitive as yours, but I can’t stand feeling tags (I frequently wear pj tops inside out to avoid feeling them, and have so many holes in the back of my shirts from ripping them out, oops).
posted by insectosaurus at 11:07 AM on March 4, 2018

I sprinkle my bras with this all-natural dusting powder to make them feel good on my skin all day. It especially cuts down on the friction, which I believe is the main cause of sensitivity. I used to sprinkle it on directly but now I use a fluffy powder brush to apply it more evenly and it works better.

Since people mentioned Uniqlo, I have their wireless comfort bra and it's very non-irritating. I am a 32-34 like you and I recommend the XS.
posted by rada at 11:16 AM on March 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I came in to suggest the bali comfort revolution. It's not padded, but it shapes gently, has wide straps that are zero annoying, does not dig on the ribcage like AT ALL and even has a very wide hook and latch system with a small pad of memory foam over it so even those won't itch. I suspect it was developed with people with sensory issues in mind.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:08 PM on March 4, 2018

I have a Warner's wireless bra I bought last month that I loved so much I bought another. I never in a million years thought I (36D) could wear anything that wasn't underwire, but it's supportive and SUPER comfortable. Bought at Target.
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:19 AM on March 5, 2018