Bra Fitting: Nia, Sensitive Skin

I was pleased to hear back from "Nia," a reader who had been in touch with me before about her difficulties finding a bra that didn't irritate her skin. This post includes quotes from her about her experience, but Nia is a pseudonym at her request. The post where I originally spoke about her is linked at 4 Personal Bra Stories: The Size and Fit of Our Lives.

Nia's responses are quoted directly, with her permission.

I tried several of the bras you had recommended for sensitive skin. One of them, I still couldn't wear because it was too tight and rubbed against me in back.

I asked Nia if it was the hooks on that bra that were rubbing against her, and she said she hadn't bought anything with hooks. So, I then asked if it could have been because the size was wrong and it was too tight.

She replied that it didn't feel too tight, but that she did still have irritated skin after wearing it, which she could tell because she had hives in the band area after wearing it. I responded to this by saying that skin like hers can react to almost anything, and that the problem was likely ingredients on the bra that her skin had trouble with.

I then asked what size the bra came in, and what size she ordered. Her response was:

It came in Small, Medium, and Large. I ordered the Small, like the size chart said.

Nia measures as a 32B, according to that size chart. But, her actual measurements are: 28" ribcage, and 32" full bust. This puts her at a 28DD or 30D for her most accurate size. Some size charts would put her in a size medium, while others would say she needs a small.

There are also size charts that measure differently for D cups or larger, saying that this means Nia should be in a medium. But, given that she measures only 32" at her fullest bust, that can be a difficult thing to tell in bras without wires. Nia, with her sensitive skin, naturally ordered a bralette with no wires, because that's the only thing she can wear that is comfortable.

Nia and I are still on the same search for a bra that won't cause her to break out in hives. I think she needs 100% organic cotton, which is what I said she should still keep trying. I feel for her that this is such a struggle, and that there is not a definite solution.