Should You Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them?

There can't be any harm in wearing a new pair of pants or a clean shirt right off the rack, right? Well, according to emerging studies some clothes fresh off the rack aren't as fresh as you'd expect.

Donald Belsito, a professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center, says that dyes and formaldehyde residue can cause skin irritation and serious allergic reactions in others. Unfortunately, that's not all.

"I have seen cases of lice that were possibly transmitted from trying on in the store, and there are certain infectious diseases that can be passed on through clothing," he explained. "The other infestation I've seen from clothing is scabies."

The doctor says that there are many places your clothes have been before they land in your closet. From the original manufacturer and eventually into the hands of those shipping and stocking, your clothes have come in contact with different elements.

The verdict stands: wash your new clothing before wearing them. Watch the full story that appeared on the Today Show below.