Why you should always wash new clothes

New clothes should be run through the washing machine before they are worn, a leading doctor has warned.

Chemicals used to give garments a wrinkle-free look on shop mannequins could be responsible for rashes, itches and all manner of allergic reactions, according to a skin expert.

Professor Donald Belsito, a dermatologist at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, says clothes should be washed at least once as soon as you get them home – and warned that fabric can also harbour bugs and insects left by people who have tried items on in the store.

The manufacturers of clothes sold in the UK are not required to disclose the use of anti-wrinkle chemicals on labels.

But tests in New Zealand discovered levels on Chinese-made clothes that were up to 900 times higher than the prescribed safety limit. No testing has been done on similar clothes sold in Britain.

Professor Belsito, a specialist in dermatitis, said formaldehyde resin is a particular culprit.

The colourless gas is applied to some clothes to stop them from wrinkling and reduce the chance of mildew developing.

But it is also linked to skin irritation and allergic reactions, while some scientists even believe it can raise the risk of cancer.

Professor Belsito said dyes can also be a problem. Many synthetic fabrics get their hues from azo-aniline dyes, which can cause a severe skin reaction in those who are allergic.

Professor Belsito said a single wash may still leave some of the dye behind, so advises washing clothes twice if you know you are allergic to the chemical.

Until much of the dye is rinsed out, wearers might notice red, itchy, scaly rashes, he said, ‘especially near the areas where there is friction or sweating, like the waist, neck and thighs and around the armpits'.

Professor Belsito said that clothes can also harbour bugs and insects left by people who have tried on clothes in the store.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he added: ‘I have seen cases of lice that were possibly transmitted from trying on in the store, and there are certain infectious diseases that can be passed on through clothing. 

'Lice can’t last long without a host, but they do tend to attach better to natural fibres than synthetics. 

‘The other infestation I’ve seen from clothing is scabies.’

The doctor advises that all new clothing is washed at least once - with a double rinse before wearing, no matter what the fabric. 

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