Why does wool itch

Why are we telling you about microns? Well, when it comes to how soft a fiber is to wear, size matters. And in this case, the smaller the better. Smaller, or finer, fibers such as merino feel more comfortable because they bend when they touch your skin.

Traditional wool fibers are thicker and stay rigid against your skin, which causes the ends to irritate the sensitive nerve endings in your dermis. Coarse fibers literally prick your skin, which is why they feel - literally - prickly. See what we did there? So, if you have sensitive skin, merino could be soft enough for you to wear.

We work closely with our merino growers, who hand-pick only the finest fibers for us. The fleece of a single merino sheep will have fibers that cover a variety of widths. But only the superfine ones make it into icebreaker clothing. We're a bit biased, of course. Merino wool has a fiber thickness of typically microns, nearly half that of traditional wool. Thus, the thinner fibers feel more soft and luxurious on your skin, reducing irritation.

On top of that, thinner fibers provide more elasticity and coiling, moving more with your body instead of against it. This makes it more difficult for loose threads to pop out and unwanted chafing to occur. Basically, Merino possesses all the benefits of traditional wool without the associated itchiness.

Suppose you recently purchased new Merino wool clothing, and after wearing it, your skin still feels irritated. In that case, there may be a few factors at play.

As Merino is a much sought-after fabric, many companies online will use this as a marketing term when their clothing is not actually Merino. Be sure to read other user reviews and do your due diligence into the company actually selling the apparel. Many times, if the price point seems too good to be true, it probably is. Suppose you have questions or concerns about a specific Merino wool apparel company.

In that case, you can head over to our company profiles page. If your desired company is not on that page, send us an e-mail. Aside from the Merino wool fabric itself, the seam construction and overall fit can play a role in apparel itchiness.

The seams and threads may rub and cause chafing, and the overall fit may be too tight or too loose for your body, thus creating a non-uniform drape. The best way to combat these non-fabric itchiness issues is to do your research before purchasing Merino wool clothing. I was one of several hundred Civil War re-enactors participating in the Champion Hill battle near Jackson, Mississippi. The thick wool uniform was like wearing a sweatsuit. In addition, it was itchy. Well, some people are, but in other cases, the wool itches for different reasons.

When it comes to winter wear, wool is my go-to choice. Since wool fibers resist piling, snagging, and breaking, wool garments typically outlast synthetic sweaters. My wool sweater has served me well. When it comes to homesteading or anything related to natural fibers, I consult my sister, Karla Moore.

She is a homesteader type, and cleans, cards, and spins wool from sheared fleece. Then she knits it into custom, artisan hats, mittens, scarfs etc. Wear a base layer: I generally wear a long-sleeved polypropylene undershirt under everything in the winter.

The polypropylene wicks away moisture from your skin and keeps you dry. But a better choice, for me, is to wear a merino wool long-sleeved wool under shirt, because it seems to breath better. A cotton tee shirt is a bad choice — cotton absorbs and holds moisture, leaving you cold and clammy. Choose hot water cleaned wool: This can be tough to find, unless you know the maker.

According to Karla, the initial cleaning may determine if the sweater ends up being itchy or not. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to get the fleece clean.

They all use fine wool which is much less rough than course wool. Although it tends to be a bit pricey. Some people just never seem to get used to wool fabrics. The itch just never seems to go away. Just wear synthetic layers NO Cotton underneath the wool to prevent itching. Hikers have been asking the same question for decades. I'm constantly asked that question and the answer is Throughout the years, I've heard the same question asked over and over again.

Is a pair of burly boots really Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy. Skip to content. How to Tell if You Have a Wool Allergy Obviously, you can go to a doctor to find out if you have an allergy, but who has time for that. Turn your itchy shirt, sweater, longjohns, socks, etc inside out and let them soak in cold water.