Wool has many natural properties that are proven to be beneficial for health, wellness and comfort. These range from UV protection to sound reduction and the absorption of toxic chemicals in living spaces. In between, there is wool’s natural breathability and amazing technical ability to control humidity levels. This is all due to the unique design of the wool fibre.
New research points to the benefits of wool
While many research studies have been developed over the past 40 years, the wool industry is committed to investing continuously into up-to-date scientific research to meet today’s requirements. Recent research has focused on:
· Sleep: Wool can help you get to sleep faster and sleep for longer.
· Moisture management & breathability
· Skin health: Superfine Merino wool can help improve symptoms of eczema/atopic dermatitis. Research results show that wearing superfine Merino wool base layers eases the redness, dryness, and cracking that comes from eczema
· Indoor air quality: Wool can filter out harmful VOCs
· Fire-resistance: wool is naturally flame-resistant, no need for additional chemicals
Overcoming misperceptions
A common misperception about wool is the idea that wool is an allergen. To this end, a study funded by IWTO member Australian Wool Innovation, and conducted by a group of allergists, immunologists and dermatologists from around the world, analysed 100 years of research to assess claims that wool causes allergy. The experts found that skin irritation caused by fabric is due to the presence of coarse fibres (fibres with large diameter) and is not related to fibre type. Skin irritation can be caused by any coarse fibre, including acrylic and nylon.
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy was peer-reviewed and published in the journal Acta Dermato Venereologica. Full text available here.
Learn more about wool and wellness in one of the topics listed here, or discover our Wool & Skin Fact Sheet
