Dear women, we get you. Wearing a bra is not as easy as it's said. Most often jumping to adulthood changes a lot with emotional and physical aspects for a woman and wearing a bra is another drudgery most of us hate. Is it really necessary? Does it fuel breast cancer and cause skin irritation? Do your breasts sag if you aren't wearing one? Let’s dissect each aspect and look into the wellness in not wearing a bra and in finding the perfect bra size.
Finding a perfect bra size is almost impossible as each woman is different and each breast is in different sizes too. Wearing one that is too tight can suffocate you while something that's loose fit doesn't support you enough. Sometimes the straps aren’t in ideal size or the underwire doesn't fit you right. It's a whole trauma only we girls understand. While OG stars like Kendal Jenners and Rihanna have been vocal about the discomfort of wearing one and going sans bras replacing it with other alternatives, we are still confused on what not to and what to do with these bras!
A little touch of bra history
Though even from 14th century BC bra-like garments were incorporated in women’s wardrobe to support, enhance, cover or restrain one's breasts but it was not until the 20th-century bras similar to modern-day ones emerged. Mostly the rich found the aid in corsets to do the same but bras now are mini corsets that are used to support a woman's breasts. With the span of time, the garment evolved from its functional value to visual elegance and has been both hated and loved alike by women around the world.
What the researchers state
A 15-year study by Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon from France proved that there is actually no benefit of wearing a bra! His study further stated that the restrictive material of bras prevents tissue from growing and, to our surprise, may actually encourage breasts to sag. So, girls, breasts do sag with age or naturally for breastfeeding moms. It has got nothing to do with bras.
Does it cause breast cancer?
In ‘Dressed to Kill’, a book by Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer helps us in understanding how a woman wearing bras for 12 hours a day has a much higher risk of developing breast cancer than others. Tight bras can restrict your lymph system and result in a build-up of toxins in the breasts. No wonder our body naturally craves to pull that piece of cloth away every time we get back home from work. The hypothesis about bras causing cancer stems, though have no laid down proofs, are seen in women with heavier breasts. Women who choose underwire bras are most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Does this mean you should go completely braless? Well, no!
Picking the ideal size, if not perfect
Of course, there are other alternatives like pasties and tapes but if you have grown up wearing a bra, though you may hate it, you have almost become incapable of putting on an outfit without it inside then we get you. Each dress allows you to explore different kinds of bras- sports bra, backless bra, pushup bras and so many. But all we want is for you to pick any of it in the right size. It is said that 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size. An incorrect size can cause discomfort and aching shoulders, bust and back. Most women pick up a bra that's bigger than their size. If the straps are too loose, adjust them such that you don't feel your chest is heavy. This is almost always due to the shoulder straps not being tightened enough or having lost their elasticity and stretched. For women with large busts, the shoulder straps often are a problem. They cut in and leave dips in the shoulders that remain even when they take off the bra. This can be extremely annoying. Similarly, if your bra is too tight it doesn't cover up the whole area causing double breasts and red marks, which means that it’s too small for you.
Why prefer ‘no bra’
As it's scientifically proven that bras don't aid in uplifting your breasts or not let them sag but cause other problems like back pain, breast cancer and suffocations. It's ideal for one to take off their bra when you are in a comfortable place. It's also recommended to sleep every night wearing no bra. The bra you choose to sleep in shouldn't be too tight or have parts that dig in. An uncomfortable bra might make it hard to sleep or irritate your breasts. Wearing a bra to bed can hinder the free circulation of blood, can produce pigmentation issues, develop marks and spots, may affect the quality of sleep, can trigger a condition called oedema, can generate excessive sweating and can initiate the growth of lumps and cysts in the breasts. So, it's ideal to prefer no bra to bed! Again, if you possess a bigger bust and need your bra’s support to sleep peacefully, pick ones that aren’t too tight and have no hooks or underwire. A sports bra or opting for camisole tops with an inbuilt bra can be your go-to option in this case.
Love, Team She