The media frenzy after a woman was hospitalised for wearing skinny jeans has seen a fervent increase of interest in the medical dangers of certain fashion trends. But the health hazards of wearing tight clothing are not a recent discovery. The harmful consequences of being on trend can be traced back over many centuries, most notably the Chinese tradition of foot binding, where lifelong pain was the price of beauty.
This recent case of skinny jeans resulting in compartment syndrome may be construed as a rare occurrence. Yet the physical consequences of these five other trends will certainly leave a memorable mark, not just in the history of fashion but also that of medical research.
1. Jeggings
These high heels are characterised by a thin metal heel. They entered the fashion market during the 1950’s, when women were celebrating their femininity and renewed freedom in the post-War period. Similar to the corset, the stiletto pushes the body into an unnatural position, veering between restriction and oppression and its tendency to be associated with pain. Podiatrists continually berate the high heel for the significant damage it can cause to the wearer. The height of this style not only impacts posture and gait; research proves it can alter the structure of muscles and tendons.
5. Cosmetic surgery
Celebrity culture and our desire for a more perfect self image has seen a significant growth in the trends for cosmetic surgery. This growth has been fuelled by the increasing ease of accessibility for different surgical procedures and treatments. On a par with clothing and accessories, cosmetic surgery seems to have fallen prey to fashion’s cycle of seasonal trends, with surgeons even predicting the next key looks to go for.
The media is awash with articles that show the dangers of cosmetic procedures, from bursting breast implants through to botox, which may permanently paralyse facial muscles. Yet despite these warnings, the rather dramatic and life-changing quest for “perfect” beauty persists.
Fashion trends are more usually associated with fun and frivolity, and notably a limited lifespan. But these examples demonstrate how the pendulum of fashion can swing dramatically between agony and ecstasy. So trendsetters take heed: in some cases, fashion really can be bad for your health.
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
