Unhealthy Fashion Trends: When Fashion Is Bad For You

If you’re into fashion, you may have a good idea what the hippest trends are. But what you may not know is some fashion trends could be bad for your health.

The Skinny On Skinny Jeans

Jeans seem always to be in style. Whether you dress them up with a nice top or wear them with your coolest t-shirt, jeans seem to be a fashion staple that stands the test of time. But one thing that does change is the style of jeans. From bell bottoms to mom jeans, there have been all kinds of denim trends. 

According to a report published in the June 2015 issue of Journal of Neurology, Neuroscience and Psychiatry, skinny jeans may lead to leg swelling and nerve damage in some circumstances.

The journal article goes on to tell the story of a woman who was wearing skinny jeans and later developed compartment syndrome. The woman reported she was wearing skinny jeans and spent a large part of her day squatting while she was helping a relative clean out cupboards. The woman’s legs became painful, and she had trouble feeling her feet. She required medical care including IV medications due to muscle damage.

So what is a fashionista supposed to do?  Should you ditch your skinny jeans for good? There does not appear to be a lot of skinny jean research and cases, such as the above are not too common. But it does seem to make sense that if your clothing is tight and restricts blood flow, it is probably not the best choice.

Corsets And Shapewear Undergarments  

Years ago, corsets were a fashion staple. A corset cinched your waistline and the smaller it made you look, the better. Although corsets are the not norm on a day to day basis for most people, there is another fashion trend that is somewhat similar.

Shapewear undergarments are becoming more and more popular with both men and women. Shapewear includes different types of compression garments that are worn to smooth out the lumps and bump you don’t want to be noticed. There is a big market for garments that flatten, squish and squeeze you to make you look slimmer.   

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While they may make you look good in your dress, these undergarments are not so good for your health. Wearing garments, such as corsets or shapewear may squeeze your nerves and internal organs. For example, shapewear that puts a lot of pressure on your abdominal area is also squeezing your internal organs, which can lead to stomach pain and may push stomach acid up and lead to reflux.

Fashion Accessories That Can Leave You Hurting 

Fashion accessories are a great way to show your personal styles while complimenting your outfit.  If you chose accessories that clash or make a fashion accessory forepaw, it might be a no-no for your reputation. But some fashion accessories may do more than hurt your image, they have the potential to hurt your health.

High Heels And Feet Problems  

Who doesn’t like a nice pair of shoes to go with their outfit? High heels have long been a fashion accessory to make your legs look long and sexy. But not so fast. If you’re wearing high heels, especially stilettos, it can leave your feet begging for mercy.  

According to the American Osteopathic Association, wearing high heels is one of the biggest causes of foot problems in women. Most women know wearing heels can sometimes leave you with sore feet. But heels can also cause several types of foot problems including bunions, ingrown toenails and plantar fasciitis.

But it may not just be your feet that can be affected. When your weight is distributed differently, it can place additional stress on your back and knees, which can lead to pain.

While wearing a pair of pumps to a special event, probably won’t cause any long-term issues, frequently wearing high heels may be something to reconsider. If you do decide to wear heels, experts recommend alternating your shoe choice, wearing soft insoles and making sure your shoes are the right size.   

The Risks Of Ear Stretching And Body Piercings

Having your ears pierced has been a popular rite of passage for tween girls for decades. Pierced ears were a pretty cool accessory for many kids.  But piercings have evolved throughout the years to involve more than a single piercing in the earlobe. Piercing has become popular with males and females. In addition to the ears, piercing other body parts, such as the tongue, navel, cheek, nose and genital area is also popular.

Although piercings can be done safely, it’s important to understand there are risks associated with it. For instance, infection is a possibility, especially if you’re attempting to pierce yourself. There is also a risk of skin tearing, and damaging the underlying nerves is also a possibility.

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A couple of piercings is probably not going to cause a lot of problems. Just be sure sterile technique is used. But you may want to think carefully about the risks of having certain areas pierced, such as your cheek or doing ear gauging. You may have to live with your decision for the long haul.  For example, ear gauging is often permanent. Once you stretch the ear lobe significantly, it may not go back to normal without being surgically repaired. Be sure your fashion trend will still be trendy ten years from now.