If You Have Sensitive Skin, Try These Underwear Brands (Adults & Kids!)

If you have sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, or a similar condition, the underwear you choose can make things worse. The materials used could potentially cause contact dermatitis, or other details like tags or elastic bands could also cause irritation, itching, and even full-blown rashes.

So if you or someone in your family has trouble finding non-toxic underwear that is truly comfortable and non-irritating, I’ve gathered up the best brands to choose from when looking for underwear for sensitive skin.

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

First, Try to Figure Out the Culprit

If you’re still trying to find out why your underwear is bothering your skin, you might want to check out this article. There are actually various different reasons why your undies could be causing skin irritation, and it can be a frustrating process to figure out what exactly is causing the issue. (Or if it’s a combination of things!)

The good thing is that most of the brands below eliminate all or almost all of the potential irritants, so I hope this guide will help you solve the problem a lot faster!

When Shopping For Hypoallergenic Underwear, Consider Materials, Added Treatments, and Small Details

1. Materials

Although you can technically be allergic to any kind of material, natural and organic fibers like cotton, hemp, and silk tend to be gentler on skin compared to synthetics like polyester or nylon.

Not only are there less (or no) synthetic chemicals used for natural fibers, but they’re also more breathable. This can help prevent irritation and chafing from sweat and decrease the risk of things like yeast infections.

TENCEL is also a good option to look for in underwear for sensitive skin. TENCEL is a semi-synthetic and it has a soft and silky feel to it. It’s silkier than cotton and hemp, but unlike actual silk, it’s vegan. TENCEL also really great at regulating temperature, which again could help with menopause, chafing from sweat, or just general discomfort from being too hot down there. Here is a more comprehensive list of TENCEL underwear brands.

2. Dyes & Treatments

A lot of times, we think about the base fabric materials without considering what’s actually added to those fibers… and there can be a lot of things added to them!

Dyes are one of the most common things to look out for in skin-friendly undies. It might be easiest to just forgo the dyes altogether and instead stick with underwear that is completely unbleached and undyed. This eliminates the need to worry about at least one thing that could be causing you problems. Many of the brands below offer undyed underwear options.

Other things to watch out for include “performance” features like “antimicrobial,” “wrinkle-free,” “shrink-resistant,” or “stain-resistant.” This can mean the underwear has been treated with some sort of chemical… And a lot of times, it’s a toxic chemical that’s been added, like PFAS or formaldehyde.

(Be aware, though, that some natural materials, like hemp, can also have antimicrobial properties. Don’t be afraid to ask the brand more questions about their products if you need to.)

Although third-party certifications are not perfect, they can definitely help make sure your underwear has been verified to reach a certain level of safety. Certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX have rules and limits to the chemicals (or amounts of those chemicals) that can be allowed, including toxicants like azo dyes and heavy metals.

3. Elastics, Seams, & Tags

In addition to safe and healthy materials, you’ll also want to consider the other factors that may be irritating. Think about itchy tags, or elastics that dig into your skin.

Everyone is going to have slightly different needs here, which is why I’ve provided several different options below. But in general, you’ll want to look for drawstring waistbands (which eliminate the need for elastic completely) or wrapped elastics (so that none of it actually touches your skin).

Also look for flatlock seams at the waist and leg openings, which keep things from bunching up or digging into your skin. Tag-free undies can be very helpful as well!

All of these things combined should help decrease rashes, skin irritations, or flare-ups of your eczema, textile dermatitis, psoriasis, or similar condition.

Bamboo Underwear May NOT Be the Best Choice for Sensitive Skin

You may notice that none of the brands I’ve featured below are made with bamboo.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

The first is that I haven’t actually been able to find any bamboo underwear that is both non-toxic and doesn’t include at least a certain amount of synthetic fabric in the composition.

The second reason is that although bamboo is often marketed as an eco-friendly fabric, the reality is not quite so straightforward. As explained in-depth in this article, bamboo fabric, despite being plant-based, actually has to go through an extremely intense manufacturing process, which often utilizes several different toxic chemicals.

In fact, by U.S. law, bamboo fabrics can’t technically even be “organic” because they’ve been so heavily processed.

While it’s not clear if any of these chemicals are actually left in the final product, the chemicals do often get dumped into the air and waterways surrounding the manufacturing facilities. This is why when you do look for bamboo fabrics and other kinds of rayon, you’ll want to look for brands that use a closed-loop process (which means the chemicals don’t get dumped into the ecosystem). Additionally, you’ll want to look for brands like TENCEL that use a different, safer set of chemicals.

Your Laundry Detergent Could Also Be the Culprit…

If you’ve swapped out your underwear but are still experiencing irritation, it could be your laundry detergent.

A lot of conventional detergents contain skin allergens and irritants, and residues can get left on your clothes after washing. I recommend switching to one of these brands to see if it helps.

These Are the Best Hypoallergenic Underwear Brands for Sensitive Skin

We have a lot of different non-toxic underwear brands on The Filtery, including the best organic underwear that’s made in the USA, the best organic boxers and briefs for men, and many more.

However, many of the brands in those articles still use a small amount of elastane for stretch, fit, and durability.

For THIS article, however, I’ve prioritized the brands that have either eliminated synthetics completely or at least have a few options that are completely synthetic-free.

Most of the brands below also carry underwear that goes beyond the use of non-toxic dyes to also offer underwear that’s completely undyed. My picks for the best allergy-friendly underwear also have lots of other sensitive skin details like flatlock seams, no tags, drawstrings and/or cotton-wrapped elastics, and more.

Okay, now let’s get to it! Here our my recommendations for underwear brands to shop from if you have sensitive skin:

Cottonique

Carries: Women’s, Men’s, Kids
Price Range: $23-$51

Cottonique’s entire brand is based on providing allergy-friendly underwear and clothing for folks with sensitive skin, contact dermatitis, eczema, and other skin conditions.

In other words: it’s what they do best.

Their women’s underwear collection includes hypoallergenic thongs and full coverage briefs in several different styles.

For men, they have loose boxer shorts, as well as boxer briefs and regular briefs.

For kids, they have two options: a regular girls’ panty and a boys’ brief.

All of Cottonique’s underwear is made using 100% organic cotton. It’s all free from things like latex, synthetic fabrics, harsh dyes, and chemical treatments. Some of their underwear is completely undyed, while they also have some black, blue, and gray colors that use non-toxic dyes.

Additionally, some of their options have latex-free elastic, while others eliminate elastic completely by using a drawstring instead.

Use the code THEFILTERY10% for 10% off.

JulieMay

Carries: Women’s
Price Range: $25 (on sale) – $43

This UK-based brand is one of the absolute best places to find underwear for women with sensitive skin. Not only is their underwear super soft and comfortable, but they’re also feminine and sexy, so you can actually feel great wearing them.

They also offer a variety of bras and bralettes, including front-fastening, sports bras, and more. Sizes range from 30B – 40G/42DD.

JulieMay uses GOTS certified organic pima cotton and silk for their hypoallergenic underwear. There are no synthetics used at all. They have allergy-friendly elastics, which means no elastics touch your skin. Plus, they’re all tag-less, so you don’t have to worry about tags irritating your skin. JulieMay’s underwear is AllergyUK accredited, too.

They offer low-rise and high-rise briefs in a variety of styles and colors—bright red, lacy black, simple skin tones, and more. Sizes range from 8 to 18.

JulieMay also has various extra sustainable initiatives as well, from tree planting through Eden Reforestation, plastic recycling through Plastic Bank, and more.

My Take: I’ve been wearing JulieMay for a while now and I have to say… They really did find the balance of comfy and sexy! Most of the fabric that’s actually against your skin is super soft—softer than cotton usually feels. (I say most because it depends on the style… As you can see pictured above, there’s a section of the panties that are just lace.)

The bras are lined with that same soft cotton, so even though it looks lacy, it feels more like you’re wearing that go-to, most comfortable set of underwear!

P. S. Make sure you use their sizing chart (with your exact measurements) before placing your purchase!

Use the code THEFILTERY for 15% off your first order.

Q for Quinn

Carries: Women’s, Men’s, Kids
Price Range: $19 – $67 (3-pack)

Q for Quinn is another great option to consider while shopping for eczema-friendly underwear.

For kids, they offer classic briefs, hipster briefs, and boxer briefs. Many of their kids’ options are made of 95% GOTS certified organic cotton + 5% spandex, but they do have some Pure Ryan Boxer Briefs that are made out of 100% cotton and are also completely undyed. These would be suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

In addition to being made with organic cotton and free from harsh chemicals, these undies also come with a covered waistband and flat seams throughout to accommodate seam-sensitive kids. Plus, they are tagless and wedgie-proof!

For women, they have several different styles of underwear that are made out of 100% GOTS organic cotton and azo-free dyes.

They also have 100% organic cotton everyday knit boxers for men.

They do not have any completely dye-free options for adults at this time.

As a bonus, Q for Quinn donates a school meal for every purchase you make.

Oddobody

Carries: Adults, Kids
Price Range: $22-$48

Oddobody’s underwear is made out of 100% organic cotton and is certified by GOTS and Fair Trade International.

For adults, they have thongs, briefs, bikinis, french cuts, tangas, and a unisex woven boxer, and men’s boxers, briefs, and boxer briefs.

For kids, they have bikinis, briefs, and shorts.

They also offer a “first pair guarantee,” which allows you to get an exchange or refund if you try out the undies and don’t like them.

Fig

Carries: Kids & tweens
Price Range: $15 – $81 (for a bundle)

Fig offers briefs, boxer briefs, and camisoles for boys and girls with sensitive skin. Not only are they made out of 100% GOTS organic cotton, but they’re also:

• tag-free
• have flat seams
• have a smooth covered waistband that doesn’t pinch or unravel
• have a double-lined gusset to keep kids cool and dry

Plus, they’ve got fun designs—like sharks or cats. Sizes run from 2-12.

Mightly

Carries: Kids & tweens
Price Range: ~$30 (for a 3-pack)

Mightly is a great brand for organic cotton underwear and clothing for kids and tweens with sensitive skin.

They offer bikini briefs, gender-neutral boxer briefs, biker shorts, sports bras, and training bras. They’re made out of 95% GOTS certified organic cotton and 5% spandex. They’re Fair Trade Certified, too.

They offer undyed as well as a variety of bright solid colors and some patterns. They’ve got flat seams and covered elastic to maximize comfort without any itchy tags or irritating stitching.

AYA

Carries: Women’s, Men’s
Price Range: $11-$30

AYA doesn’t have a ton of options, but they do have a small collection of adult underwear that is completely plastic-free and made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton.

The elastic waistband is made out of natural tree rubber wrapped in cotton. For the finish, they use an OEKO-TEX certified silicone treatment, which provides more durability and anti-pilling features without harsh chemical treatments.

For the dyes, you have some options. The boxer briefs, you can choose between several different low-impact dye colors (which are synthetic, but still GOTS certified) or 100% plant dyes (which are all-natural). The women’s underwear offers these same options, but they also have completely undyed panties as well.

Tomboyx

Carries: Adults
Price Range: $10 (on sale) – $100 (4-pack)

Although Tomboyx’s underwear is not 100% organic, they get an honorable mention because of their inclusive options. Their sizes go up to 6X, and they have a lot of different gender-neutral styles to choose from, including thongs, full coverage briefs, boy shorts, trunks, and more. They also offer a wide range of colors, from your basic black/white/skin tones to playful and colorful patterns.

The two primary types of fabric they use is (conventional) cotton and TENCEL. As I mentioned, TENCEL is a plant-based semi-synthetic fabric that is very soft and silky, making it a great option for sensitive skin. Plus, they’re made with flatlock seams to prevent irritation and chafing. (They do have a small organic cotton collection, too!)

Be aware that they do use small amounts of spandex in most of their pieces (usually 5%). All of the fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified. This means they’re free from a list of toxic chemicals, such as azo dyes.

Even More Brands

Here are a few more brands that might be worth checking out:

• Eczema Company: This is another good option, but it’s a retailer that carries most of the brands I already mentioned above.

• Industry of All Nations: Undyed boxers, bralettes, & briefs made of organic cotton

• KENT: They offer 100% synthetic-free cotton underwear for men & women.

RELATED: The Best Bras for Sensitive Skin

I hope this guide has helped you find YOUR ideal choice of non-toxic underwear that is gentle, comfortable, non-irritating for your sensitive skin.