Exit
wear wearers to both yeast and
bacterial infections. Dr. Mikhail
says that the most common infection she sees is folliculitis, since
bacteria often gets trapped among
hair follicles and causes red pussfilled bumps. “Usually folliculitis
can be easily treated with topical
antibiotics,” she says. “But recurrent infections may develop antibiotic resistance, meaning they get
harder and harder to treat.”
Dr. Mikhail notes that the risks
are higher in overweight individuals, diabetics and those who
sweat excessively.
LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE MODERATION:
DON’T WEAR THEM TOO OFTEN.
“Everyone I know owns shapewear
— it’s kind of a miracle,” Dr. Erickson admits. “But I think we want
to be mindful to not wear it on a
day-in and day-out basis.” It’s not
a problem if you wear it for an evening or a special occasion, she says,
but it’s not a good idea to wear it
daily and sit in it for hours on end.
If you’re exhibiting any of the
aforementioned symptoms, all
three doctors recommend avoiding shapewear until the issues are
completely resolved.
STYLE
HUFFINGTON
02.02.14
LASTLY, CHOOSING
THE RIGHT FIT IS KEY.
There are so many different types
of shapewear out there. You should
pick the right style, but you also
need to pick the right size, Dr. Erickson says. “You really want to
pick shapewear that actually fits
you,” she explains. “You want it to
do its job, but you don’t want to get
something so small that it’s damaging you.” For example, shapewear
Shapewear couldn’t
do its job if it wasn’t tight.
Unfortunately, this leaves
your stomach, intestine
and colon compressed.”
that goes up to your bra line isn’t a
good idea for those with acid reflux
or heartburn, as that area is particularly sensitive for people predisposed to those conditions.
A good way to tell if your
shapewear fits correctly? “It’s
not cutting in anywhere,” says Dr.
Erickson, who recommends trying
out different brands and materials. “All it really does is smooth
out the rough edges and you can
easily get in and out of it
without a struggle.”