Help: Silicon coated Elastane in bras

Around three weeks ago I bought a pair of Marks & Spenser's T-shirt bras in balconet style. They can also be worn strapless and the band of the bra that goes under the arms & back has a thin strip of silicon coated elastane that grips the skin helping the bra stay in place when worn strapless. I have worn a bra with this kind of coating earlier as well - in a Indian brand called Enamour without any incident.
But on the very first day of wearing the M&S one, I got an allergic reaction by the end of the day - angry red welts all along the areas where the silicon coated strip touched the skin. To be honest there is a tag on the bra that says that some users may experience discomfort due to the silicon. Since it hadn't happened to me earlier I disregarded it. Since then I have worn the bras 2-3 more times and each time I get a rash.
I really like how the bras fit me otherwise. I am not sure the store will exchange or refund my purchase as the store policies in India tend to be very customer - unfriendly, plus I have cut off the tags from the bras coz I wore them.
I was hoping for advice from fellow forum members on if they have experienced this & what could be causing it? Should I just consider these bras a lost cause & dump them?
TIA!

10 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

There was a post about this issue on Busts 4 Justice, a bra review blog I follow. Not the M&S version, a Wonderbra version:
http://busts4justice.com/2014/.....wonderful/
Apparently the experience you've had is not that rare. They seem to have changed the formulation of the silicone and a lot of people are having allergic reactions.

Jeanie

That's rather disturbing that so many are having a bad reaction. Makes you wonder what's in the stuff. I would try to store first and if they give you a hard time call the manufacturer. Once I called the manufacturer because the plastic adjusters broke on one of my bras. They promptly sent me new plastic adjusters and were very apologetic. The manufacturers want your business and the good ones will want to fix the problem.

Glory

That is terrible! I hope it heals quickly. I agree with Jeanie about calling the store first and seeing about a return. Given the number of problems associated with the silicone it should not be a problem.

Active Member

Laura: Thanks for the link. I'm having the same issue. I am wondering if I should go back to M&S and talk to them
Jeanie & Glory: Yes, I think I will at least go back to M&S and talk to them. Hopefully they will hear me out.

Joy

If you have to keep the bra, I wonder if covering the silicon with moleskin or even adhesive tape from a first aide kit would help. I hope that they will let you return or exchange.

Gaylene

I'd say you have nothing to lose by taking the bras back and asking for a refund, or at least a store credit. I'd go in with attitude that you've got a problem and need their help to resolve it. If that doesn't work, I'd contact the head office of Marks and Spencer and ask to speak to someone about a defective product you've purchased.

I've found that being nice, asking for help to resolve the problem, and being persistent usually works out in my favor. If nothing else, you gain experience in being pleasantly assertive, a good life skill.

Joy: Yes, if they don't take it back I will have to try it with fashion tape. Thanks for the tip!
Gaylene: Thank you for the advice, I agree with you, I could do with being assertive as I generally oscillate between passive & aggressive behavior. I plan to go there next weekend as the store is a little far from home.

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