As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues on
worldwide with uncertainty of what the “new normal” will entail, many of us
with breasts are sure of one thing: our boobs are finally free. Yes, after many
years of having them locked up in “boob prison,” working at home and remaining
indoors has allowed us to kick our bras to the curb. The consensus seems to be
that if you’re not going anywhere, then there’s no point in wearing a bra. Just
let those babies breathe and do their thing!
But while the bra-free life is a comfortable one, it does
beg the question: Does shunning my bra affect my body in any way? Short answers
from experts: yes and no. So let’s unwrap that, shall we?
Will not wearing a
bra cause my boobs to sag?
To understand how bras affect our breasts, it’s important to
understand how they were created in the first place. According to
Amsterdam-based clothing company, Hunkemöller, bras can be dated back to 2500
B.C., when women wore a corset-like belt that pushed their bare breasts up. The
first modern bra didn’t arrive until the 1889 World’s Fair when French inventor
Herminie Cadolle decided to cut the corset into two pieces, giving the upper
portion the straps we know today. Then, in 1913, Mary Phelps Jacob came along
and perfected what Cadolle had started, by creating the most-widely used type
of bras we see on the market today. But while these innovations over time were
created to keep breasts in place and create a desired silhouette, nowhere does
it say they were made to prevent sagging. Probably because they were mostly
designed with aesthetics in mind.
As Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics
and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine, told Prevention there’s
no evidence that bras prevent sagging. Nor does the myth of wearing a bra to
bed to keep breasts shapely and perky hold any water either.
Laura Tempesta, bra expert and founder of Bravolution,
echoes this sentiment, recalling an interview with CEO of Platex, John Dixey
for a documentary called, “Bras—The Bare Facts,” where he said, “We have no
evidence that wearing a bra could prevent sagging, because the breast itself is
not a muscle, so keeping it toned up in an impossibility.”
“Lifted breasts are considered attractive in our culture
which is why bra-wearing is a cultural development,” Tempesta tells
HelloGiggles. However, specific types of bras like sports bras were developed
for functionality, support, and comfort during exercise. “There are lots of
scientific studies showing the need to wear a sports bra during athletic
activity.”
One such study by Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr of the
University of Portsmouth found that breasts can bounce up to 21 centimeters
(about eight inches) during exercise. This bouncing results in breast pain in
50% of women, no matter if they’re an A-cup or an FF-cup.
So whether it’s running, yoga, or any other exercise that’s
likely to jostle your breasts, you definitely want to reach for your sports
bra—if only to prevent aches and pains after your workout.
Will not wearing a bra
cause chest muscles to grow?
Although breasts are mostly made up of fatty tissue,
underneath against the chest wall, there are still ligaments and the pectoral
muscle. Because of this, breast size can be affected by the muscles underneath.
According to Reuters, French sports doctor Professor
Jean-Denis Rouillon found that when women ditched their bras, their breasts
developed more muscle tissue. The reason for the more muscle tissue, he
observed, was because bras weaken muscles, basically giving breasts the chance
to be lazy. “The suspension system of the breast degenerates,” Rouillon told
Reuters. However, his 16-year-long study of 330 women between the ages of 18
and 35 doesn’t exactly hold true for women who are middle-aged, plus-size, or
who have had children, so take this tidbit with a grain of salt.
Will not wearing a
bra alleviate physical pain?
For some women, wearing a bra all day can result in back,
neck, or chest pain. A 2000 study published in the U.S. National Library of
Medicine National Institutes of Health found that pressure caused by wearing a
bra can be so acute that it can disrupt your sleep cycle and circadian
rhythm—even if you take off your bra way before bed. “It is essential for the
breasts to rest adequately to stay healthy,” Heidi Lehmann, Master Bra designer
of Vibrant Body Company, tells HelloGiggles.
As Lehmann explains, going braless gives everything from the
mammary glands, to the shoulders, neck, and ribcage, a breather. And,
considering a 2008 study found that 70% of women wear bras that are too small
for them, it only makes sense that pain could result. “If you wear a bra, look
for one that minimally restricts and supports without wires,” says Lehmann. Or,
better yet, stop guessing as to what your bra size is and be fitted by a
professional.
“There is a lot of research out there that says wearing a
bra for prolonged periods of time is not good for you,” Helena Kaylin, founder
of MINDD Bra Company, tells HelloGiggles. “As well as research that speaks to
breast health benefits for not wearing a bra, like improving circulation,
reducing neck pain and for many of us is just more comfortable, especially at
home.”
According to Kaylin, some research has found that bras cause
more back pain than going braless—especially for women with large breasts.
Ultimately, back pain from bras differs from person to
person. But if you’re experiencing back pain and can’t pinpoint it to an
ill-fitting bra, you may want to consider seeing a doctor.
Can going braless
cause skin issues?
For many people with breasts, breast sweat is a real thing.
But if your breasts sweat while wearing a bra, the bra creates a barrier
between the chest and the underneath part of the breast. When we go braless,
that skin against skin combined with sweat can lead to skin irritations like
intertrigo.
“[Intertrigo] arises as a result of two skin surfaces coming
into close contact for a prolonged period of time,” Dr. Erum Ilyas, a
dermatologist and Tory Burch Fellow 2019, tells HelloGiggles. “In the
‘inframammary’ area (under the breasts for both women and men) this fold of
skin builds up heat and humidity that can inflame and start to break down the
skin. This can also lead to a secondary yeast infection as well.”
According to Breast Cancer Now, yeast infections and
intertrigo under the breasts are “very” common and can happen to anyone with
breasts at any time throughout their lives. However, the bigger the breasts the
more likely the rash, simply because there’s more space for moisture to
develop. Also, the longer there is moisture under the breasts, the more likely
someone is to develop irritation.
Although intertrigo can be treated with a topical steroid
prescribed by your doctor or even by just putting a bra back on for a few days
so the skin can dry out, it can still feel uncomfortable and itchy.
For some people, though, having an itch you can’t get to and
maybe some dampness under their breasts is a small price to pay for letting
their breasts be free of “boob prison.” If bras are, at the end of the day, a
cultural preference that has far less to do with aches and pains, then maybe
being bra-free is something worth considering in the long run. Perhaps, it’s
time for us to come out this pandemic swinging—literally—and never go back to
everyday bras again.
(Health.com)
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