Whether it’s a pair of skinny jeans or form-fitting clothing, the truth is that what looks nice in the mirror isn’t always the most comfortable.

Tight pants, in many situations, only close by entering the abdomen and trapping the air in, which is obviously not very comfortable. But, beyond comfort, is it possible that wearing highly tight clothing on a daily basis is harmful to the body?

A look back at women’s dress in the past reveals that fashion trends can be highly dangerous at times. Corsets were worn until well into the twentieth century, and their multiple laces to fit them to the body created the illusion of an extremely tiny waist.

The pressure of the corset regularly distorted women’s lungs, stomachs, and intestines, costing them their health. Internally, the corset could potentially shift these organs.

The good news: there are no such health risks to be feared with skinny jeans, shapewear and the like. “The pressure from tight pants is not relevant for the abdominal organs and digestion,” says Ivo Grebe, board member of the Federal Association of German Internists (BDI).

He points out that for digestion to work well, it’s important to be able to move. And he adds that attributing digestion problems solely to tight clothing is a bit shortsighted.

However, very tight clothing can cause other problems, especially because of the pressure it exerts on the body. “A bra that is too tight can cause pain that can be misinterpreted as chest pain or lung pain,” Grebe explains.

Added to this is that very tight clothing limits freedom of movement. Anyone who has ever worn a very tight blouse or dress knows what it is: with this type of clothing, it is practically impossible to breathe deeply and send the air to the abdomen.

“Breathing can flatten if the chest cannot move physiologically,” says German physiotherapist Ute Merz. The possible consequences of this are concentration problems and headaches since the brain no longer receives an optimal supply of oxygen.

According to the physical therapist, tight pants can also cause back strain. This is because it is very difficult to sit up straight if the pants are too tight. A garment like this invites you to curve your back, which favors the appearance of pain in the area later.

Tight clothing can have unwanted side effects for other reasons. After all, it’s anything but airy. Since air cannot circulate, heat builds up under the fabric. And when you sweat in tight clothing, the perspiration that forms on your skin can’t evaporate well to cool your body.

In the worst case, this can cause the body to overheat, which then leads to circulatory problems. This can happen when completing a demanding workout in very tight, non-breathable clothing, for example.

Therefore, it’s best to remove sweaty clothing after playing sports. “Usually, you realize that it’s best to take off your sweaty clothes,” says internist Grebe. The expert adds that in the case of children or people with disabilities, this must be taken especially into account.

The heat generated under tight clothing can also have unwanted effects on the genital area, such as the testicles.

These are not without reason outside the body: in order for them to function optimally, i.e. produce sperm, they need an environment somewhat cooler than that provided by body temperature. Wearing very tight pants where the testicles feel tight can affect sperm production in them, at least temporarily.

Very tight clothing can also favor the appearance of vaginal fungi in the case of women. “In the vagina, there are always fungi from the Candida family, but they are generally controlled by the low PH value in the area,” explains German gynecologist Christian Albring.

“But if the PH value of the vagina increases, or if the skin barrier is no longer intact, they grow uncontrollably,” the expert says. If very tight pants rub against the intimate area, the fungi find a free way to reproduce. This generates great discomfort since the area begins to itch or burn with each step.

Fungi from other parts of the body also like tight clothing. Dermatophytes, for example, are fungi that are always found on the skin, although in smaller numbers. “They like to breed in moist, poorly ventilated areas, especially in the warmer folds of the skin,” says Albring.

These folds can be those that form under the breasts, in the groin or in the abdomen. The disadvantage of tight clothing is that it squeezes these folds so much that these fungi find an ideal environment to multiply there.

The solution: comfortable clothes 

And so? Do you have to throw away everything that fits a lot? Not necessarily. What matters is the dose. If you alternate tighter clothes with looser ones, or if you buy perhaps the next skinny jean a size larger and pay special attention to the signals that the body gives, there is no reason to worry.

It is best to choose clothes in which you feel good. And not only because they look pretty when you look in the mirror, but also because they are comfortable when you wear them.

Image Credit: Getty

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