As Britain braces for a blistering heatwave, bra owners across the country are being warned—this isn’t just a battle with the thermostat. It’s a battle with your lingerie drawer.
UK-based retailer Pour Moi has raised the red flag on a hidden summer culprit: the unwashed bra. Yes, that humble undergarment may be the reason your chest feels like a warzone of sweat, irritation, and rash.
A Pour Moi global survey of 2,000 women found that most bras are only washed every three weeks—yes, you read that right—despite almost 60% of wearers experiencing breakouts or rashes on their chest and back.
If you’ve typed “rash from bra” into Google recently, you’re not alone. Searches for the term have surged 12% in the last month, and underboob sweat is clearly making its annual comeback.
Lingerie buyer and resident skin saviour at Pour Moi, Emma Woodrow, is on a mission to end the cycle of itch, sweat, and regret. “How often you should wash your bras is a well-debated topic,” she says. “But the truth is, it all comes down to your individual lifestyle factors as well as external factors.”
Chief among those external factors? The sweltering weather. “Increased temperatures lead to more sweating which is easily absorbed by all aspects of the bra,” Woodrow explains. And when that sweat soaks in—well, let’s just say things can get a bit feral under the band.
“It’s hard to avoid the itchiness that comes with underboob sweat and moisture on your back or chest, especially when you’re wearing a bra for prolonged periods—and an unwashed bra can exacerbate this problem,” she adds.
Sweating is your body’s built-in cooling system. The solution isn’t to stop sweating—it’s to stop letting your bra marinate in it. According to Woodrow, here’s what happens if you don’t:
- Rashes and irritation: Friction between sweaty skin and fabric can cause red, angry patches—and sometimes even long-term rashes.
- Breakouts: Dirt, oil, and bacteria thrive in sweaty fabric. If your bra isn’t clean, it’s a bacterial breeding ground pressed against your skin for hours. No wonder nearly two-thirds of women report breakouts.
- Infection risk: Got broken or inflamed skin under your bra band? That’s a perfect storm for infection—especially if you’re still wearing tight or dirty lingerie.
- The smell: Let’s be honest. That musty, sour whiff isn’t exactly seductive. A proper wash using a gentle detergent and some air-drying action (never a tumble dryer, which can wreck the fabric) is essential.
Want to avoid all this? Step one: reach for bras made of natural, breathable fabrics like cotton or soft lace. Step two: make sure your bra fits properly.
“If you’re wearing a bra that’s too tight for you, this can cause additional irritation,” Woodrow explains. “Conversely, a bra that’s too big will cause friction irritation as it’s likely to move around on your body more. Having a bra that fits you correctly, that you can tighten and loosen with the back clasps as needed is vital.”
She also recommends certain bra styles—like push-up or full-support designs—that gently lift the breasts away from the chest, reducing those clammy contact points where sweat likes to pool.
Summer might be a time for bare shoulders and sundresses, but if your bra isn’t clean, comfortable, and breathable, the season could be memorable for all the wrong reasons.
To avoid the itch, break out the detergent—and maybe rethink your rotation. Your skin will thank you.
Check out Pour Moi’s full bra collection here: https://www.pourmoi.co.uk/lingerie/bras/
