Does wearing clothes hurt sometimes?

Does wearing clothes hurt sometimes? Is your skin sensitive? Mine is too at times and I'm easily irritated by the fabrics and clothes I wear. Sometimes it's the waistband and where it sits on my body...sometimes it's the fabric...even the tags can become painful and irritating...and the bra? torture! Are you nodding your head too? How do you handle it? Do you get frustrated getting dressed? Me too at times and I'm thankful for my "comfy" clothes.

One of the easiest things we can do for ourselves is to dress comfortably. Even when getting dressed up to go out or dressing for work...your comfort is an important step to help you manage your pain. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your clothes and getting dressed

• when fresh out of the shower or bath...apply cream or lotion to your body...this will help soothe your irritated skin...a light layer of baby oil may help as well but be sure to let it dry before putting on your clothes...re-apply the lotion as needed throughout the day
• choose soft comfortable fabrics like cotton that breathe easily...avoid itchy materials like wool and some acrylic fabrics
  
• purchase clothing at a thrift store...the clothing is already "broken in" and won't be stiff to wear
  
• if you're able...have your clothing sized and tailored to fit you comfortably
• for the ladies....ditch the full pantyhose that squeeze your stomach and try thigh high stay-ups or garter belt...or even try knee highs or dress socks

• try therapeutic socks to decrease the constriction in your legs...diabetic socks or the like are geared towards improving circulation and can be found in department stores as well as pharmacies or home health care stores
• for the ladies...you may want to get rid of your under-wire bras...I know they make the girls look good but they can be very uncomfortable...you may want to try instead a sports bra or bandeau bra...be mindful too of the straps on your bra so they're not digging into your shoulders...one thing you may also want to consider is getting a professional bra fitting done...most women aren't wearing the proper size and that alone will cause you discomfort
• be mindful too of your underwear....the elastics can be constricting and painful...experiment trying low rise underwear or underwear that doesn't have an elastic waist...and guys? you may need to change from the briefs to boxers or something else less constricting for the boys
• when selecting your pants...try something that sits lower on your body and away from your waist... mid and low rise pants are a comfortable option to the regular fit
• avoid elastic waist pants or skirts....the elastic is constricting and often leaves marks on the body...try things with a drawstring instead

Have you ever come home and immediately changed out of your "day clothes" and put on your jogging pants and big comfy sweater? maybe it's your favourite pair of jeans and t-shirt...whatever it is...put it on. Even when at home...our clothing has a lot to do with our personal comfort...so make yourself comfortable.

We can't go through life naked...but we can be mindful of the clothes we wear and the fabrics we choose... choose your comfort.