12 Womens Fashion Hazards to Avoid

Womens Fashion Hazard 1:

Shoddy Shoes

Your feet carry the weight of your entire body, yet chances are you rarely give them the care they deserve. Shoes that are too tight, too loose or too high can subject you to corns, calluses, blisters, ingrown toenails and ankle pain.

"Slingbacks, for example, are a potential disaster," says podiatric specialist Michael Kinchington. "The foot is barely maintained by the strap. It just slides around on the back of the shoe, exerting great force on the heel. This also causes the foot to throw forward onto the toes."

Remedy:

• Choose "feet-friendly" shoes. The more coverage the shoe and its heel provide, the more stability they will offer the foot.

• Keep heel height moderate - 2.5cm is ideal. Any higher spells trouble.

• Don't buy shoes in the morning; buy them at the end of the day when your foot is slightly swollen to ensure a good fit.

Womens Fashion Hazard 2:

Brutal Bras

Do you constantly suffer headaches? Are you continuously begging your partner to give you back massages because your shoulders and neck cause you persistent pain? Before you blame stress, check your

lingerie drawer. "If a woman has fairly heavy breasts and the strap of her bra is too thin, it can cut right into her shoulder muscles," says chiropractor Lawrence WMtman. "Over time, this can cause irrita­tion of neck and shoulder nerves, and even tingling or numbness down the arm."

English research also suggests poorly designed bras restrict the diaphragm, which can exacerbate irritable bowel syndrome and cause constipation.

Remedy:

• Buy bras with adequate cup coverage to properly support the breasts.

• Avoid   shoestring   straps.   Opt   for thicker, more supportive straps, then adjust them so they're not so taut.

• Choose a bra with good support or you may develop sagging.

Womens Fashion Hazard 3:

Sky-high Stilettos

Most women don't realize that when they're teetering around on 15cm stilettos, they're really causing their calf muscles to shorten. "These muscles tighten up -that's why from behind, the legs look so defined and appealing," says Whitman.

"At the same time, the shoes tilt your pelvis forward, causing the back to arch unnaturally. The result is irritation, followed by inflammation and in severe cases, can lead to pinching of the nerves."

Remedy:

• Wear stilettos only on special occasions.

• If you must wear them   during   the day, alternate them with a pair of flat shoes.

Womens Fashion Hazard 4:

Dangerous Duds

Figure-hugging pedal pushers, slim-cut trousers and body-sculpting stockings may make you look trim, but if they're too tight they'll cut you in half, and you'll need a crane to lower yourself into a chair!

"Poor ventilation from these garments can lead to a number of health problems, from skin rashes and vulval irritation, to vaginal infections such as thrush and even cystitis," says Dr John Gullotta. "Some women who wear tight clothing around their abdomen also get into the habit of holding in their stomach, which may lead to pain and tummy bloating."

Remedy:

• Ditch trousers that have the "ouch" fac­tor, especially around the crotch.

• Alternate your trousers with skirts and dresses, so the lower half of your body gets some "breathing space".

Womens Fashion Hazard 5:

Menacing Minis

Next time you slip into a miniskirt on a nippy day, think twice, warns new research from Germany. Women who regularly wore short skirts and coats in the colder months in temperate countries, grew a thicker layer of fat on their legs and thighs as their bodies compensated for exposure to the elements.

Remedy:

• Take your Mum's advice and wear warm trousers when it's freezing outside.

• If you simply must wear a short skirt, wear thick opaque tights.

Womens Fashion Hazard 6:

Lethal Lenses

"Super-dark lenses don't necessarily pro­vide better protection for your eyes," says optometrist Damon Ezekiel. "It's better to wear glasses with a lighter tint because really dark glasses make it hard to see."

The size and snugness of your specs is also important, says fellow optometrist Christine Craigie. "The frame should reach up to the top of your brow to stop harmful UV light coming in from above," she says.

Remedy:

• Wear sunglasses that offer 99 percent protection from UV rays.

• Choose wraparounds, or glasses with large, snug-fitting frames.

Womens Fashion Hazard 7:

High Hairdos

On the likes of Madonna and Liv Tyler, tight ponytails and buns look fresh and chic. But "pulling your hair back too tightly or even wearing constrictive hats can cause the same feeling as a tension headache," says neurologist David Burke. "To relieve the pain, the person eventually has to let their hair down."

Remedy:

• Opt for a loose ponytail secured at the neck, not the scalp or a loose plait that distributes the weight of your hair evenly.
• Use scrunchies instead of elastic bands, as they don't pull hair as tightly.

Womens Fashion Hazard 8:

Jinxed Jewellery

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but watch out for the gold surrounding them. "If you have an allergy to gold, silver or cheaper metals like copper, some jewellery can cause rashes and welts on the areas of skin it touches," says dermatolo­gist Raelene Jackson.

Remedy:

• Before showering, take off all your jewellery to avoid damp skin under your rings or earrings, which can cause peeling.

• Buy clearly labeled jewellery so you know if it has the metal you're allergic to.

Womens Fashion Hazard 9:

Lacy Lingerie

Lacy, shiny knickers may make you feel like a sex kitten, but at what cost?

"Fabrics such as nylon, which don't breathe, can be problematic," says Dr Edith Weisberg. "By keeping the vagina warm and moist, they make it easier for fungal infections to grow."

Remedy:

• Save your black lacy look for special occasions. During the day, wear loose cotton-gussetted underwear.

• At night, sleep without knickers to give your genital area time out to "breathe".

• In cases of infection, wash your under­pants in water which is heated to at least 70° Celsius, to kill bacteria that can sometimes survive in cold water.

Womens Fashion Hazard 10:

Botchy Bags

If your handbag is crammed with your make-up kit, Discman, diary and every­thing but the kitchen sink, then listen up. "An overloaded bag can strain your back and shoulders, causing headaches and upper back pains," says chiropractor Whitman.

Remedy:

• Buy a handbag in a light fabric rather than heavy leather.

• Shorter straps are better, since a long strap lets the bag move more, irritating muscles in the neck and back. Wider straps will also allow the weight of the bag to be more evenly distributed.

•  Cut down on what you carry around.

Womens Fashion Hazard 11:

Winter Wear

Your cold-weather wardrobe can also pose health problems.

"Cold weather can constrict blood vessels and cause chilblains - tender, itchy lumps on the fingertips, toes and ears," says dermatologist Dr David Wong.

"Really tight gloves can further restrict the blood flow and exacerbate chilblains. Wet gloves make it worse."

Remedy:

• Wear woollen rather than cotton gloves as they keep you warmer, and make sure your gloves are dry and not too tight.

• Sheepskin-lined gloves trap warm air inside and provide excellent protection.

Womens Fashion Hazard 10:

Crease Proof Clothes

Think wash-and-wear clothes are greatest thing since fire was discovered? "Most crease-resistant fabric is treated with formaldehyde, which was originally developed as a nerve poison," says envi­ronmental health specialist William Vayda. "Clothes that require dry-cleaning also end up being coated with organic solvent residue. And any chemical which comes into contact with the skin can cause rashes and irritation."

Remedy:

• Wash all your garments several times before wearing them.

• Buy fabrics that don't need dry cleaning and choose unpatterned materials as they involve less processing.