Style Report: Skintight Jeans Could Harm Your Health
By Nick WeatherheadWednesday, June 3, 2009
Skinny jeans: they are back and don't look to be going away anytime soon. At first I was very much opposed to the trend -- it's so '80s -- but I must admit that it has grown on me in the past year. I personally will never be able to sport the 501 Levi jeans or any other skinny jean because I'm not rail thin and I tend to work out way too much for my legs to squeeze into those life-sucking tight fabrics. But, I will admire those who can wear them flawlessly -- and hopefully be the voice of reason for those who might want re-think venturing out in them (you know who you are).
For those of us who either can't fit into skinny jeans or opt not to wear them, this may work out in our favor. Not only can they result in the eyesore that is the muffin top, but more importantly, it can cause a nerve condition called meralgia paresthetica, which typically occurs with people who are obese, overweight or manual laborers. However, an increasing number of young people are falling victim to it.
According to the Mayo Clinic Web site, meralgia paresthetica is characterized by tingling, numbness and burning pain in the outer part of your thigh. The cause of meralgia paresthetica is compression of the nerve that supplies sensation to the skin surface of your upper leg.
Fortunately for all you hipsters, trendsetters and, um, manual laborers - there is a cure. It's simple: the remedy is to just wear looser pants. Don't squeeze into the tight jeans quite as often. The tingling and burning sensation should subside with no permanent damage done to two of your best assets.
Chiropractic physician Dr. William Madosky explains in an interview with the New York Times: "The key is, you remove the pressure, and the nerve regenerates."
So for all those who had the lighter fluid in hand ready to set blaze to all your skinny jeans, don't get ahead of yourselves. You can still style all summer long when the weather allows it -- just make sure you don't overdo it or your legs might let you know about it.
