Health Risks of Wearing Polyester You Never Knew

When it comes to getting dressed in the morning, most of us don’t stop to consider what our clothes might be doing to our skin or our overall health. We reach for the hoodie that looks best with our joggers or the lived-in leggings. 

And more often than not, those pieces are made of “polyester”.

Polyester is everywhere. It’s in your gym clothes, your party dresses, your go-to travel joggers, even those comfy night pajamas. The reasons are obvious: it’s cheap, durable, and easy to wash. 

However, the thing no one really tells you is that wearing polyester might be messing with your health more than you realize.

Polyester Isn’t Skin-Friendly

The most well-known and evident fact: polyester doesn’t breathe. 

It’s essentially plastic spun into thread, and when you wrap plastic around your body, especially in warmer weather or during a workout, it traps sweat and heat. That hot, damp environment is exactly what bacteria and fungi need to thrive. 

If you’ve ever noticed random breakouts, unexplained rashes, or skin irritation on parts of your body that rarely see sunlight, your synthetic wardrobe might be to blame.

And it isn’t just about sweat. Some people experience contact dermatitis from polyester, especially if the fabric is treated with chemicals like formaldehyde to keep it wrinkle-free or water-resistant. That itch you thought was from dry skin? It could be your shirt.

There’s More Lurking in the Fabric

Polyester isn’t made in a cozy little textile mill. It’s produced using a cocktail of industrial chemicals, and traces of those substances can remain in the fabric even after it hits the shelves. Among them is antimony, a heavy metal used as a catalyst in polyester production. 

Long-term exposure to antimony can cause irritation to the skin and eyes, and in large quantities, it’s toxic.

And then there’s the fact that every time you wash a polyester garment, it sheds microplastics—tiny plastic fibers you can’t see but that flow through your washing machine into the water system, and eventually, back into the food chain. Which means we’re not just wearing polyester; we’re ingesting it too.

Everyone’s Wearing It?

Of course, not everyone can afford to swap out their entire closet for 100 cotton sweatpants and sweatshirt. The goal here isn’t to make you fear your clothes but to help you shop a little smarter.

Look for natural fibers like cotton, hemp, or Tencel when you “can”, especially for your loungewear and quick casual day outs.  They breathe better, tend to be gentler on sensitive skin, don’t shed microplastics in the wash, and in case of ring-spun heavyweight cotton, they can stay almost wrinkle-free as well.

Also, don’t assume natural has to mean old-fashioned or expensive either. There are brands making cotton basics that look just as good on the street as they do on your couch.

For instance, a well-made cotton sweatshirt or a pair of 100% cotton sweatpants—not the saggy, shapeless kind from your college days, but a heavyweight, properly tailored option you can wear with sneakers or boots without looking like you’ve given up on life.

Natural fibers’ breathability makes them ideal for lounging, errands, or travel days, and unlike polyester track pants, they won’t stick to your skin the second you start to sweat. Which also means that you’ll need fewer pairs of athleisure for different occasions and settings. 

Fashion Shouldn't Hurt You

The health angle of fashion gets buried under conversations about trends and aesthetics. We’ll debate high-tops vs. low-tops or if cargo pants are really making a comeback, but rarely stop to ask if our clothes are good for us. 

Sure, you might not develop a polyester allergy overnight, but wearing non-breathable, chemically treated fabrics daily isn’t doing your skin or body any favors in the long run.

More people are waking up to this, which is why you’re seeing a slow but steady return of cotton tees, heavyweight hoodies, and natural fiber pieces in modern cuts. 

These aren’t your grandma’s cardigans either. You can easily dress up or down with clean, minimalist designs. For instance, a silk button-down shirt over organic classic sweatpants can instantly make your outfit ready for a dinner night. Add accessories and heels to add more formality to the look. 

Long and short, your skin is your body’s largest organ. What you put on it matters a lot. Choosing clothes made with your health in mind doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style or your paycheck. It’s about being intentional. 

Pay attention to labels. Know what you’re wearing. Invest in pieces that don’t just look good but are actually good for you. You’d never knowingly eat something full of chemicals you can’t pronounce. Maybe it’s time to stop wearing such stuff as well..