That skinny jeans can wreak havoc on your health

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That skinny jeans can wreak havoc on your health

Written by Sade Oguntola Tuesday, 03 July 2012

Skinny jeans can be flattering and this fashion fad is everywhere. But health experts have cautioned skinny jeans lovers, saying that wearing tight jeans can affect their nerves, causing numbness, tingling sensation or pain, reports Sade Oguntola.

alt Many people like to look good in the latest fashion. They want to look good and make their legs look long and lean in their skinny jeans.

Skinny jeans are really fabulous. It dates back to the 1950s when icons such as Marylin Monroe and Elvis Presley wore them.

Skinny jeans, like much of fashion, have been cyclical, falling in and out of favour over the years.

The fashion fad of skinny jeans is everywhere; at the shopping arcades, at work, at colleges. Skinny jeans can be flattering. But at the same time, it can also be harmful to health. Squeezing into skinny jeans can pinch a sensitive nerve in the upper thigh, causing a painful, burning or tingling thigh which is medically called meralgia paresthetica.

Along with the nerve pain, skinny jeans also puts one at risk for blood clots, digestive problems, yeast infections and bladder problem—among others.

Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder that causes numbness, pain and tingling in the upper leg muscles, mainly due to tight-and-trendy outfits. Nerves running in the outer part of a thigh get compressed, causing tingling, numbness and pain in the outer part of the thigh.

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported that figure-hugging trousers significantly increased the risk of the condition meralgia paresthetica, compression of the nerve running from the pelvis into the outer thigh.

This results in sensations of tingling, numbness and burning. But women who switched from skinny jeans to looser clothing found that their symptoms disappeared after four to six weeks.

However, Dr Mayowa Owolabi, a consultant neurologist, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, stated that wearing of fitted clothes, including skinny jeans that press on both the skin as well as structures under the skin can be harmful.

According to him, one nerve that tight fitted clothes can infringe on the nerve of the upper thigh, causing meralgia paresthetica.

“This is a form of nerve injury, but it does not completely destroy the nerve. But it gives a lot of discomfort as long as the tight fitted cloth is worn,” Dr Owolabi said.

But “once a person stops wearing a tight fitted material, say skinny jeans, the pain, numbness, or burning sensation resolves.

Of course, initially the affected person might be worried, asking what might be responsible for the numbness, tingling sensation or pain.”

Dr Owolabi assured that the associated sensations with wearing fitted clothes would not complicate any pre existing medical condition or predispose to other medical conditions.

He declared: “Since a sensory nerve is affected, this, however, can cause other problems indirectly. A person, for instance, experiencing persistent discomfort and pain in the outer part of the thigh may be prevented from functioning well or concentrating at work. Such a person might be worried, especially he or she does not realise that the pain was the cause of the discomfort.”

In some severe cases, the pressure put on your legs from wearing skinny jeans can disrupt the flow of blood through your veins and arteries. This can result in blood clots, which in turn can cause tissue damage due to a lack of oxygen delivered to leg tissue.

Skinny jeans leave little room for air and do not breathe as much as other material. The increased humidity against the skin as a result of a lack of air can result in a yeast infection for women who wear skinny jeans.

What is more, wearing skinny jeans with high heels can cause further damage to a woman’s physique, because the high heels cause the pelvis to tilt, putting more pressure on those already stressed-out nerves.

Meanwhile, overweight men who squeeze into tight trousers might aggravate an otherwise silent abdominal hernia. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a researcher said 80 per cent of patients who presented with abdominal pain and heartburn after meals wore trousers at least 3in smaller than their waist.

Can skinny jeans be worn without this having any health implications? Skinny jeans are defined by their skinny leg, but the part that is “skinny” in comparison to other styles of jeans is the area around the thigh. Experts suggested that if one buys a pair of skinny jeans, it should be one’s correct size. It really should not fit any tighter in the thigh area than a pair of boot cut, flare, or straight-leg jeans. Also, skinny jeans with a little more stretch should be considered.

No doubt, a skinny jean is not the only fashion trend that can hurt one’s health. Body slimmers and waist-clinching belts can also be a serious health hazard. If they’re worn too tightly, the compression can cause nerve problems and stomach aches.

Wearing high heels constantly can cause your Achilles tendon to get shorter, which leads to serious walking problems. High heels can cause back pain. It can increase the risk for bunions, numbness and even fractures.

Similarly, flip-flops and boots, because they don’t have proper heels or support for arches or ankles, can lead to plantar fasciitis. This is a severe heel pain that may require anti-inflammatory shots, or even surgery. Shoes with no support can also cause tendinitis, because the tendons in your ankles stretch uncomfortably to help you stay balanced.

Heavy handbags, backpacks or computer bags can cause back pain. Most people always carry heavy items on the same side, which means the muscles on the other side of the body have to strain to maintain an erect posture.

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