Choosing Knickers & Lingerie for Hormonal Skin Changes

Hormonal changes can significantly impact our moods and energy levels as well as our skin. One day it’s fine, and the next it’s dry, itchy, or suddenly sensitive to every seam or strap. Whether you’re going through menopause or navigating perimenopause, these hormonal shifts are entirely normal (but that doesn’t mean they’re easy).

Hot flushes, irritation, dryness: your skin feels it all. Choosing the right lingerie for hormonal skin changes matters. Soft, breathable fabrics can mean the difference between all-day discomfort and a quiet kind of relief.

At JulieMay, we understand the power of gentle clothing. Our collections are crafted with sensitive skin in mind because you deserve comfort that actually cares.

Understanding Hormonal Skin Changes and Your Lingerie Needs

As hormone levels shift, and especially when estrogen levels start to drop, your skin can change in ways you might not expect. It may become thinner, drier, and far more reactive to things that never bothered it before. Suddenly, that once-favourite bra is leaving red marks, or your knickers feel scratchy by midday.

Hot flushes can also make everything feel stifling. Itching, chafing, and vulval dryness only add to the discomfort. According to dermatologists and gynaecologists alike, breathable, moisture-wicking materials like cotton and silk are essential. They help prevent trapped heat, reduce irritation, and keep you feeling fresher for longer.

Take the Sunbleached Floral Brief (with a gorgeous supportive bra to match!), for example. Designed with a romantic floral print using eco-friendly, non-toxic dyes, this brief offers protection against irritation, a flattering low-rise fit, and a smooth, lace-free finish topped with a delicate center bow. Customers recommended removing the lace detailing for a smooth finish, and we heard them! The lace has been removed to create a perfect, delicate plunge bra. It’s beautifully soft, hypoallergenic, and cut for comfort (even in the face of hormone changes).

The Importance of Gentle Materials for Sensitive Skin

When your skin is going through hormonal shifts, the fabric you wear next to it matters more than you might think. You want to avoid irritation, yes, but you also want to create an environment where your skin can breathe, regulate its own temperature, and remain calm throughout the day. That’s why you need to reach for knickers made with natural fibres.

Organic Pima cotton is luxuriously soft, hypoallergenic, and breathable, making it an ideal fabric choice for sensitive or unpredictable skin. Pair that with a 100% silk crotch lining, and you’ve got the perfect blend for wicking away moisture, reducing friction, and keeping things feeling fresh.

JulieMay’s Snowdrop High-Waisted Brief is a great example. There are no scratchy elastics and no irritating seams, just soft Pima cotton bands and a silk gusset that feels cool, clean, and barely there. It’s designed to sit comfortably and move with you, not against you. Plus, our products are Menopause Experts-approved!

For Selina, a member of the JulieMay community who experienced severe vulval sensitivity and soreness after breast cancer and a drop in estrogen, that softness was essential. “Most people don’t have to think about their knickers,” she shared, “but people like me do; it’s the difference between comfort and pain!”

Choosing lingerie for hormonal skin changes is a health decision that says your comfort is worth prioritising (because it is!).

Finding the Right Lingerie Fit Matters

We know that during perimenopause and menopause, your body doesn’t always feel like your own. One day, your usual knickers feel fine, the next, you’re tugging at the waistband or struggling with sudden bloating. Swelling, skin sensitivity, and temperature shifts can all make an ill-fitting garment feel unbearable.

Tight, synthetic underwear can trap heat and moisture, leading to irritation, chafing, or even infections. When your skin is already reactive, it doesn’t take much to tip things over the edge.

Amy, another member of the JulieMay community, recently began experiencing perimenopausal changes and shared how she’s stepping away from restrictive wired bras and embracing soft, forgiving lingerie and knickers. “I’m looking to ditch my old, no-longer-comfortable, wired, irritating-my-skin bras,” she said.

Alongside our Menopause Experts-approved knickers, JulieMay offers bras that support sensitive skin of all types. If you’re looking for truly supportive lingerie that accommodates hormonal skin changes, explore our collection of skin-friendly comfort bras and visit our virtual fitting room to find your perfect fit. 

How Lingerie Can Help Manage Hot Flashes, Sweating, and Skin Irritation

Now, if you’re going through menopause, you know that hot flushes can strike at any moment: during a meeting, spending time with family, or in the middle of the night. For those with already sensitive or thinning skin, that sudden heat and moisture can quickly lead to soreness, rashes, or itching that lingers long after the flush has passed.

Menopause-specific underwear made from breathable and hypoallergenic materials can help reduce heat build-up and support temperature regulation throughout the day. 

Christine shared her story with us, saying, “I have been suffering for years with terrible perimenopause symptoms, but have nearly found the right concoction of treatments to help control my symptoms… it has not been an easy journey. The silk in this underwear is particularly important for women like me due to all the continence, vulval, and thermostat control issues that come along with everything else.” The moisture-wicking linings she’s referring to keep you dry, maintain balance, reduce irritation, and lower the risk of bacterial overgrowth (especially in sensitive areas prone to sweating).

Smart Hygiene Practices for Hormonal Skin Care

When your skin is more sensitive than usual, the way you care for your lingerie matters just as much as what it’s made from. Experts recommend changing knickers daily, or more frequently if you’re experiencing hot flushes or excessive sweating. Use a scent-free, hypoallergenic detergent and skip the fabric softeners, as they can leave behind residues that irritate sensitive skin.

Additionally, we know that synthetic fabrics tend to trap odour, moisture, and bacteria, which only worsens irritation, especially around the vulva. That’s why breathable options made from organic cotton and silk are such a smart choice. They’re durable enough for regular washing and gentle enough for daily wear. In fact, cotton undergarments get softer with each wash!

With hormonal skin changes, pairing good hygiene practices with the right lingerie is a simple way to stay clean, comfortable, and confident in the face of a changing body.

Experience Lingerie for Hormonal Skin Changes That Truly Support You

When you’re experiencing hormonal changes, what matters most is how you feel. Whether you prefer a high-waisted style that gently hugs your tummy or a lighter hipster cut that moves with ease, your preferences are valid. Choosing the right lingerie for hormonal skin changes should help you feel like yourself again. 

JulieMay’s thoughtfully curated collection of organic cotton and silk lingerie can offer you skin-soothing support when you need it most. Browse our skin-friendly lingerie collection and discover how JulieMay can help you feel at home in your skin again.