Tight petticoats linked to skin cancer, study warns

A recent study has revealed the health risks linked to wearing tightly tied petticoats under sarees, particularly the potential to develop what is now being referred to as "petticoat cancer."

Published in British Medical Journal (BMJ) Case Reports, the study focuses on two cases where prolonged tight waist cords led to chronic skin irritation and non-healing ulcers, which ultimately developed into cancer.

Doctors from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Uttar Pradesh were among the study's contributors, who described how tight waist ties can cause continuous friction and pressure, leading to skin irritation and ulceration.

This constant irritation creates an environment conducive to serious skin issues, sometimes even resulting in skin cancer, according to the report by Press Trust of India (PTI).

One of the study’s participants noted that the findings brought critical attention to the health implications of certain traditional dressing practices, highlighting that it’s the tight waist cord rather than the saree itself that poses a risk.

Case Details: Non-Healing Ulcers and Cancer Risk

The research details two cases where older women experienced non-healing ulcers, attributed to the constant pressure from their tightly tied petticoats.

In the first case, a 70-year-old woman sought medical help for a persistent ulcer on her right side, located between her ribs and hip.

She had been wearing her petticoat with a snug waist cord, which led to significant skin damage and loss of pigmentation around the ulcer.

The second case involved a woman in her late 60s who had an ulcer on her right flank that had persisted for two years. The woman had worn a lugda, a traditional garment similar to a saree, tightly around her waist without an underskirt for decades.

Biopsy results from both women revealed Marjolin ulcers, a type of squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer). For the second woman, the cancer had spread to a lymph node in her groin.

The Health Risks of Tight Clothing on Skin Health

The study’s authors emphasized that constant, localized pressure from tight clothing, especially in the waist area, can lead to skin atrophy, resulting in ulcers that don’t heal easily due to the repeated pressure.

Over time, these chronic, non-healing ulcers can develop malignant changes, leading to cancer. The authors recommend wearing looser clothing and opting for less restrictive waist cords to alleviate pressure on the skin and promote healing.

One of the women reflected on her experience, saying, "I've worn a tightly wrapped Nauvari saree throughout most of my adult life. Six years ago, I noticed a small depigmented area on my right flank, which I initially ignored." Over time, this minor issue escalated into a painful, non-healing ulcer, which was later diagnosed as cancer.

Medical experts suggest that women who regularly wear sarees or similar garments should consider looser underskirts and waist ties to reduce skin pressure, thereby lowering the risk of such conditions.