If you are about to start a job in the medical field or are beginning a medical training program, then you likely need to purchase your first set of official medical scrubs. However, before you choose just any set of medical scrubs you find online or inside of a local medical supply store, you should learn about the wide variety of scrubs available today and how they differ. 

Read on to learn about three main options you have when selecting your first set of medical scrubs and the advantages of each choice. 

Scrub Fabric 

Medical scrubs can be made from several fabrics, including cotton, polyester, spandex, rayon, or a blend of these fabrics. However, cotton and polyester-blend scrubs are most common. 

Cotton scrubs are cool, breathable, comfortable, and durable. However, since cotton is not a wrinkle-resistant fabric, you may find that you have to iron your cotton scrubs every day before you put them on and that they easily develop wrinkles throughout the day. 

Polyester fabric has natural antimicrobial properties, so viruses and bacteria are unlikely to survive on polyester scrubs for a long period of time. In addition, polyester is less prone to wrinkle development than cotton is. However, since scrubs made from 100-percent polyester would be uncomfortable and not very durable, scrubs made from polyester blends that also include cotton and/or spandex fibers are more common than those made from polyester alone. 

Scrub Pants Style

Scrub pants are available in a wide variety of styles. While traditional scrub pants have a relatively loose fit and a drawstring waist, there are various additional modern scrub pants styles on the market today that differ from traditional scrub pants greatly. 

Jogger scrub pants are extremely popular today because they have an elastic waistband and elastic ankles. Many women and men find the elastic waist more comfortable than a tight drawstring, and elastic ankles make stepping on the bottoms of too-long scrub pants a thing of the past. 

Additional modern scrub pants styles include slim fit, or skinny, medical scrub pants, cargo-style pants, and yoga-style scrub pants. 

Scrub Shirt Type

While the classic scrub shirt has a relatively loose fit and a V neckline, many other scrub shirt styles are available. Just a few of these styles include square neck, mock wrap, empire waist scrub shirts, and even T-shirt–style scrub shirts. 

Scrub shirts are also available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. However, before you choose a scrub shirt in a pattern or color you enjoy, make sure you learn the dress code of your medical facility or training program, because many of these facilities and programs require employees or students to wear scrubs that match those of fellow employees or students. 

Now you that you understand your medical scrub material and style options, choose a set made from a fabric that suits your personal needs with a style that you feel comfortable, yet confident in.