Is it possible not to wear a bra at home. When you need a bra

Did you know that the first prototypes of such a common item of women's wardrobe as a bra appeared in the days of Ancient Egypt? Then the inhabitants of this hot region tightened their breasts with special ribbons - a small bust was in fashion at that time, and this was emphasized in every possible way. Later, such ribbons were also used, more precisely, by Greek women, as well as by residents of Ancient Rome - in their wardrobe, strophy belts most closely approached modern forms of underwear. Of course, such clothes for the chest were not at all similar to modern types of bras, but they performed the same functions. But what exactly were these functions, and why do you need a bra at all - let's talk about this later in our article.

In its modern form, the bra replaced heavy and uncomfortable corsets in the 19th century at the suggestion of the Frenchwoman Hermine Cadol, who adhered to the ideas of the German school of feminine hygiene. True, the main function is to cover the chest - both the bra and the hard corset are similar to each other. The requirement that women's mammary glands be hidden from view under dress and underwear has come from the Middle Ages and has firmly nestled in the foundations of European culture right up to modern times. After all, even now a woman with a bare chest on the streets of the city will cause confusion and condemnation of others. So the main reason why women wear a bra lies, first of all, in the cultural tradition that prohibits openly showing their own charms.

But besides the cultural aspect, there are other reasons why almost every woman in the world wears a bra. For example, the purpose of wearing it may be medical, or rather, hygienic. Why do you need a bra from this point of view? First of all - to maintain the chest. With constant walking without this item of underwear, an excessive and uneven load is placed on the mammary glands, and their constant mobility can provoke stagnation in the lower lobes, worsen blood supply and, as a result, cause mastopathy and malignant neoplasms. It is this reason why girls need a bra that is today the most significant of all. True, not all are equally beneficial to health. For example, models without straps cannot provide the necessary support for the chest, and from a hygienic point of view, they are absolutely useless. You should also choose the right types of bras, based on the size of the bust.
For owners of large sizes, bras with narrow straps will not benefit in this regard - they simply cannot support a sufficiently heavy bust.

Well, you should not ignore in this article one more motive why you need a bra - this time it's aesthetic. As the classics rightly noted, complete nudity is less attractive to the eye than partial nudity. That is why beautiful lingerie has long become powerful in the arsenal of every seductress. Made of expensive lace, decorated with ribbons, stones, embroidery, lingerie items, chosen with taste and to the place, in themselves can give an exhaustive answer to the question of why a bra is needed.

A woman and a bra is a seemingly traditional combination. We are accustomed to the idea that this piece of clothing is an essential attribute of women's daily "outfit". Young girls tend to get a bra as soon as possible, not only for reasons of beauty and the desire for adulthood - they are sure that "without a bra, the chest will sag." Adult women are guided by approximately the same thoughts, plus a long-term habit becomes an important factor. Is it possible not to wear a bra and why have some modern scientists started talking about its dangers?

Why wear a bra?

The history of wearing bras goes back centuries. Already in ancient Egypt, women used simple versions of "bras": a strip tied under the breast to support it, and a strip attached to the chest to hide curvaceous. In fashion then was a small, neat chest. Items that remotely resembled modern bras existed until the appearance in 1500 of the first corsets that lifted the chest and formed a “correct” silhouette. The idea of ​​a corset with two separate cups appeared only at the end of the 19th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century a bra in its modern sense was created as a separate piece of women's clothing.

Thus, the desire to hide the breast or visually change its shape in women has always existed. This is an aesthetic (and, of course, important!) Aspect. In addition, it is really difficult for women with very large breasts to do without support - in this case, we can talk about the medical justification for wearing a bra.

However, the bra is also in the wardrobe of those girls and women whose breasts are compact and beautifully shaped. Do these ladies need a bra? Women are convinced that without a bra, their breasts will quickly lose their beauty, because in this way they will be more subject to gravity and, accordingly, sagging. Surprisingly, this is just a stereotype.

Bra harm

Wearing a bra not only visually changes a woman's figure, but also directly affects her health, especially with prolonged daily use. What is the harm of bras (primarily, models with "underwire")?

1. Discomfort

Many women do not even notice that wearing a bra causes a little, but discomfort. Habit, as they say, is second nature. And yet, if, after removing the bra, you notice depressed traces of the straps or prints of "bones" under the breast on the skin, know that this is already a sign of trouble. A feeling of tightness and tightness also suggests that your bra has a bad effect on the chest. A particularly serious mistake is made by women who deliberately choose a smaller bra. It seems to them that this way the chest will look more seductive. However, it must be understood that in addition to discomfort, the result of such a choice can be a deterioration in blood circulation and lymph flow, pain in the neck, shoulders and back, and even numbness and tingling of the hands.

1. Poor circulation and lymph flow

Without a bra, most women feel not fit and beautiful enough. Someone even at home tries to be "on top" without taking off their bra.

What happens during long-term daily wearing of this garment? The bra redistributes the weight of the female breast between the cups, connecting them with a ribbon and straps. He lifts his chest and squeezes it. These processes are not physiological, since there are a large number of lymph nodes and vessels in the chest area, especially in the armpits. Daily pressure on these zones, as well as an increase in temperature in them, can lead to malfunctions of the lymphatic system and the whole body.

A proven fact: the rejection of a bra often leads to an improvement in breast mastopathy.

1. Increased chance of breast cancer

American scientists openly talk about the connection between wearing a bra and breast cancer. According to them, women who wear a bra around the clock, even during sleep, have a risk of developing breast cancer 125 times higher than those who completely refuse this item of clothing, and 113 times higher than women who wear a bra for about 12 hours a day.

Studies on the influence of the bra on the formation of malignant tumors were inspired by observations of women from different cultural groups. Women in Africa and Asia rarely get breast cancer. But in North America and Europe, the disease is "violent" ... Of course, the geographical selectivity of cancer can be attributed to heredity, differences in nutrition, stress, late motherhood and refusal to breastfeed. But the fact that, for example, Japanese women who come to the United States and begin to dress according to local customs (of course, wearing a bra that is unusual for Asia) become susceptible to breast cancer in the same way as American women, makes one wonder.

According to the assumptions of the researchers, the bra, due to the inevitable squeezing of the breast and areas around it, prevents the normal outflow of lymph, which in turn leads to the deposition of toxins in the breast. Underwired models and bras that don't fit make things worse.

In fairness, we note that there is another category of scientists (in particular, these are representatives of the Blokhin Scientific Center, which studies issues of oncology), who are convinced that a properly selected bra cannot increase the risk of developing malignant breast tumors.

In addition to the squeezing effect, a bra creates another risk factor for breast cancer: it increases core body temperature and reduces the production of melatonin, a powerful antioxidant hormone. The function of this hormone is to strengthen immunity, slow down the aging process and the growth of cancer cells, and improve the quality of sleep.

Are there any benefits to wearing a bra?

It is foolish to deny that some women really need a bra. First of all, this applies to the owners of large and heavy breasts. Without a bra, they experience discomfort and even pain. Of course, in this case, it is impossible to refuse this wardrobe item.

Another situation where wearing a bra is beneficial is after breast surgery. But after the time specified by the doctor, the meaning of using a bra is lost.

The benefits of a bra for girls and women with small breasts are perhaps only psychological. The modern standard of beauty dictates its own rules: elastic, “high”, erect breasts of medium or even large size. Hence the popularity of various "push-ups" on the bones with foam, gel and silicone liners. Is it worth putting your breasts at risk for the sake of matching the image from glossy magazines, you decide ...

We can also say about the protective function of bras with thick, in particular, foam cups. A woman who is pushed in the chest in public transport will be protected to some extent thanks to a layer of foam rubber.

Another point that speaks in favor of bras is wearing it during breastfeeding. However, the justification here will not be “support and prevention of sagging”, which has set the teeth on edge, but convenience for a woman. In a bra, it is convenient to use liners that hide the flow of milk.

As for the more "decent" look of a woman in a bra, it's unclear if this can be attributed to its benefits. Rather, it is worth calling it the advantage of a bra. Although the accuracy and decency of appearance (if the woman’s breasts are not very large) is quite achievable without a bra under the clothes.

Should I wear a bra?

There is no single answer to this question. The exceptions are medical indications for wearing a bra: a very large breast size and the postoperative period. As for other "indications", let's consider them in more detail:

Breast support . There is no scientific evidence for the benefits of wearing a bra. On the contrary, there are studies confirming the negative impact of bras on the elasticity and firmness of the female breast. In particular, Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon (University of Franche-Comté, Besancon, France) studied the effect of a bra on the breasts of 103 female volunteers for 15 years. To assess the condition of the chest, a calibrator was used, a device that allows you to measure the distance between the two sides of an object. As it turned out, women who did not wear a bra had firmer breasts and fewer stretch marks. And the use of a bra, on the contrary, led to sagging breasts and sagging skin. Professor Rouillon believes that unnatural support of the ligaments can lead to their gradual weakening, and as a result, a deterioration in the appearance of the breast. Of course, this study would be incorrect to apply to absolutely all women. However, in many ways, it dispels the myth about the benefits of a bra to support the female breast. By the way, once women were assured that without corsets their abdominal muscles would weaken ...

The weakening of the breast skin and its gradual sagging somehow occur with age. This is due to hormonal changes in a woman's body, pregnancy, and simply with gradual aging. Women should remember that the main function of the mammary glands is still not their compliance with fashionable standards, but feeding the child.

Uncomfortable without a bra . It must be understood that such statements are most often caused only by habit, and not by real discomfort. If your breasts are not too large (up to size 3), the absence of a bra cannot cause you reasonable discomfort. And the discomfort caused by a bra, you simply do not notice.

Walking without a bra is indecent . The morality of a woman is completely unrelated to the presence of a bra under her clothes. Although, of course, for some girls, the lack of underwear is really dictated by the desire to attract male attention. The "decency" of appearance depends on the goals and needs of the woman. It is quite possible to dress neatly and elegantly, including for work, even without a bra. Probably every woman feels the edge of decency.

All women must wear a bra . Of course it isn't. Each girl and woman herself must decide how to dress and what kind of underwear to wear. This is your health and your own body. No one says that the bra should be completely abandoned! But you don’t need to get involved in wearing it (especially wear it around the clock) and irresponsibly approach the choice of this delicate wardrobe item is also not necessary.

A bra is necessary during sports / during pregnancy / nursing mothers . Sports confuse many women, because active jumping, running and other exercises cause breasts to sway. However, worries about her health are groundless - active movements contribute to good blood flow and lymph outflow from the mammary glands. Therefore, from a health point of view, there is no need for a sports bra. And if you feel that you still need it, choose a model that will not tighten your chest. There is also no medical reason to wear a bra during pregnancy or lactation. If you are more comfortable in a bra, keep in mind that you do not need to wear it around the clock - let your chest rest. It has been proven that lactostasis in nursing mothers can be triggered by prolonged wearing of a pressure bra.

So, what should women do - wear a bra or not? It depends on your individual characteristics and habits. For women with very large breasts and women who have been wearing a bra for many years, it makes no sense to refuse it with horror, having learned about the clamping of blood vessels and the theoretical connection between wearing a bra and the risk of breast cancer. The main thing is to listen to your body and its needs; it is imperative to give the breast a rest from underwear whenever possible. Do not wear a bra at home and especially during sleep. Take the choice of a bra as seriously as possible: it should ideally fit you in size, in no case should you press or press. It is advisable to choose models from natural materials - cotton, silk; with seamless cups (this is an important point for women with mastopathy). You can not use bras of dubious production, because. in their manufacture, low-quality dyes are often used, which are quickly washed off with sweating and can be absorbed by the skin.

May your breasts be beautiful and healthy!

Many women are used to wearing a bra without even thinking why. In modern society, it is considered that this is a thing that is difficult to do without. Interestingly, wearing this piece of clothing is not a necessity for most women, it is done mainly for aesthetic reasons.

The history of the bra

In ancient history, there are references to a strip of cloth tied under the breast to support it, as well as a strip of cloth tied around the breast to hide it. These attributes of women's clothing, resembling a bra, date back to the 15th century. Since the 1500s, corsets have appeared, the main function of which was to shape and lift the chest up.

In the late 19th century, a bra was developed with two separate cups attached to the corset. And only at the beginning of the 20th century was the modern bra invented, which was a separate item of women's wardrobe.

Today there is a large selection of bra models, which has evolved from the category of underwear into the category of sexy clothing for women.

Harm from a bra or benefit?

It depends, first of all, on the size of the breast, and secondly, on the habit of the woman. Ladies with very large and heavy breasts usually need to wear bras for support, otherwise they feel pain and discomfort. Women with small and medium breasts feel a little awkward without a bra. However, this is more of a psychological problem and a matter of habit.

The fact is that most women are so used to a bra that they don’t even notice a slight discomfort from it. Have you ever listened to how it feels when you put on a bra? Was there a slight feeling of lack of freedom, tightness? And after removing the bra, you may have noticed small indented marks on the skin from the straps or under the breasts? If you have at least one positive answer, know that your chest is trying to tell you something!

Why are you wearing a bra?

Because the chest needs support

There is no medical reason to wear a bra. Breasts were beautiful before the invention of bras. It's like a myth that women need corsets to support their abdominal muscles. Your breasts are supported by ligaments that can atrophy from constant unnatural support from your bra.

Because it's "indecent" not to wear a bra

Morality is not really related to what type of underwear you wear.

Because everyone wears a bra

The society we live in has a great influence on us and it's not easy to do things differently than most people. But now you know that wearing a bra is optional. You can reduce, minimize the time of wearing this item of underwear. Women who stopped wearing a bra reduced their risk of breast cancer!

I need a bra because of the "dress code" at work

Try wearing a vest or another alternative to a bra. A good jacket made from stretchy material will give some support to your chest so it doesn't 'swing'. And don't worry if you absolutely have to wear a bra for a while, because many women wear one all the time.

Because I hate the thought of sagging breasts.

Analyze where this idea came from in your head? The media constantly bombards us with images of the "perfect" breasts that we all have in adolescence. It is important to understand that any breast is ideal, because it can perform its most important function - feeding the baby.

Breast sagging is a completely normal process. Since under the influence of gravity and gravitational forces, the ligaments of the chest are weakened, the skin is stretched. Also, the idea that breasts will sag if we don't "properly support them" with a bra is a myth. There is no research to prove that a bra prevents breasts from sagging.

Breasts bouncing up and down when I exercise

Exercise does not cause any harm to your mammary glands, and chest movements help lymph outflow. If necessary, choose a bra that is not too tight around the bust.

I am breastfeeding and need to wear a bra

Nursing mothers (or pregnant women) are advised to buy a special bra. There is no medical need to wear bras during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Of course, bras are a convenient way to cover up leaking breast milk. Be careful, though, because wearing a bra while breastfeeding can lead to breast engorgement or pain.

So what to do, wear or not?

The choice is always yours. Obviously, most women are used to wearing a bra and feel uncomfortable in public without one. A bra will not cause much harm to breast health if you follow simple guidelines and allow breast freedom at a time that is convenient for you, when you can afford it - at home and when you sleep. Remember to choose the right bra for yourself. It should not leave marks on the shoulders or under the chest, tighten your chest. Don't sacrifice breast health for fashion.

A bra is a fairly familiar element of the wardrobe for all women. Many girls wear it almost constantly and take it off only before going to bed. The bra helps to support the chest so that it does not sway when walking and active. But is it mandatory to wear it at home?

Today there is a huge selection of this kind of underwear: sports, gley, strappy and without, helping to increase the size of the chest, which makes it undoubtedly more attractive. Women and girls can no longer imagine their lives without it, and often the refusal to wear a bra leads to a very negative reaction from the society, which is sure that it is not aesthetically pleasing.

Perhaps this is just an outdated stereotype that is long overdue to be broken? Is it really comfortable, and is it necessary to wear a bra all the time? Today, when the number of breast diseases and, in particular, breast cancer has increased dramatically, this issue is very relevant. Let's try to understand all these issues.

Should I wear a bra at home?

There are different points of view on this matter. Someone is convinced that the constant wearing of a bra helps to maintain the shape of the breast, while others claim that it is very harmful and leads to various diseases. The opinion of doctors on this matter is rather contradictory.

Owners of a small and neat chest can do without it at all, but owners of magnificent forms cannot do without this part of the wardrobe. After all, a properly selected bra helps to reduce the load on the ligaments of the chest and back.

It is also quite difficult for lactating women to do without this part of the women's wardrobe. Today, there are special models for them, designed taking into account the fact that the breast should be in constant access and at the same time well supported. They are made only from natural and breathable fabrics.

Doctors recommend not wearing a bra for more than 12 hours and, of course, in no case should you sleep in it, especially during lactation, as the outflow of lymph is disturbed and this leads to a very unpleasant complication called mastitis. In lactating women, the chances of developing this disease are already great, and in this situation they increase tenfold.

Scientists from the USA are sure that women who use this element of the wardrobe even for no more than 12 hours are 10 times more at risk of breast cancer, they came to the conclusion that wearing a bra is not at all necessary and does not help the breast in any way, but more interferes with it. They give a number of recommendations that will help women stay healthy and beautiful:

1. Avoid sleeping in a bra without fail.
2. Do not wear tight and lifting models, as they lead to stagnation of the lymph.
3. It is worth giving preference to underwear made from natural materials. The greenhouse effect is created by models made of nylon.
4. Strapless options injure the lymph nodes because their sides cut into the body due to the heavy load on them.

Domestic doctors are sure that properly selected underwear cannot cause a serious illness, but, on the contrary, will only protect the chest from traumatic injury. They are sure that episodic wearing it outside the home (at work, school, and so on) can in no way harm health.

How to choose the right bra?

1. First you need to correctly determine the size, consultants in the lingerie store can help with this. It is also very easy to do it yourself at home, for this you need a centimeter tape.
2. The cup should be comfortable and cover the chest completely, but in no case put pressure on it.
3. The straps and belt should not cut into the body and hinder the movement of the chest. You should not experience breathing difficulties, if they arise, then, therefore, the size is chosen incorrectly and wearing such underwear, just the same, will lead to undesirable consequences.
4. Overweight women should pay attention to models made of dense material with wide straps, this will help to keep large breasts.
5. Bras in dark colors should be purchased only from trusted manufacturers, as low-quality dye can be very dangerous to health.

It should be remembered that comfortable underwear does not leave marks and dents on the skin, does not cause inconvenience and discomfort, does not cause pain and does not hinder movement.

Whether or not to wear a bra should be decided by each woman herself, based on her feelings. It will not harm if you choose the right model, give your breasts a rest, do not wear it at home, if possible.

Following all the tips given above, the fair sex will be able to remain beautiful, and most importantly, healthy.

Video on the topic of the article

With age, the female breast loses elasticity, forcing even those who, in principle, do not like bras, still wear them. But a woman of any age wants to have a beautiful silhouette with the help of a good bra. The only question is not to pay too much for it - after all, not all bras are equally useful.

So that the straps do not pinch the nerve

Fact known to every woman: breasts look taller and firmer if the bra is slightly too small. But this is where the problems begin, leading to real health troubles.

A tight bra, if worn regularly and long enough, can injure the spine and internal organs, as well as disrupt blood circulation. The representatives of the weaker sex are especially affected because of the straps that cut into the body. Even very curvaceous women should not allow them to leave deep red marks on the skin. Their presence is an indicator that the straps are pinching the superficial nerve passing in the shoulder.

And then we wonder why the fingers go numb, and the hands themselves. In advanced cases, they may partially lose sensitivity, which is not easy to restore. Other symptoms of a too tight bra are headaches, neck and chest pain. But the worst thing is that a tight bra provokes mastopathy and even the development of cancer. Women with large breasts are especially at risk.

Wherein you can’t sleep even in the most comfortable bra or just stay in bed for a long time without taking it off. This disrupts the circulation of blood and lymph, since the bra of a lying lady squeezes the body more strongly.

Which models are better to refuse

The risk of mastopathy and cancer arises when wearing bras with underwire, digging into the body under the breast. The reason is the violation of the lymphatic outflow and the associated insufficient excretion of toxic and carcinogenic substances from the body. Underwired bra can be worn for no more than an hour a day, but it is better to completely abandon such models if your size is higher than the third.

You should not constantly wear push-up bras that visually raise the chest high, as tissues and lymph glands suffer from strong compression.

Strapless bras are not allowed, because they load the outer sides of the mammary glands where the lymph nodes are located.

The best bra

Medically sports bra is the best. It is sewn from elastic fabric, with wide straps, so it provides good support for the chest. Its sidewalls are also wide, not digging into the body. There are only two conditions.

Firstly, This bra can't be taken a size too small.- it will not better support the chest, only flatten it. Secondly, the correct, ideal bra should be made of breathable material so as not to create a compress for the mammary glands. Of course, a stunning silhouette with such a bra is impossible, but if you choose the right style for a dress or blouse, the look will be quite attractive.

When a bra is contraindicated

An artificial heart pacemaker was implanted;

Diagnosed with cancer;

Diagnosed with hypertension above the third degree and malignant hypertension.

Women in these groups should wear a bra as little as possible, in exceptional cases. Wherein you can replace your regular bra with sports or alternative clothing- for example, put on an elastic tight T-shirt under a jumper, shirt or even a blouse, choose such a dress style so that the chest is hidden by loose folds, flounces or a dense printed pattern. There are a lot of options, the main thing is the desire to use fantasy and at the same time not feel deprived. After all, the meaning of life is not at all in luxurious satin cups with straps, no matter what the television advertising claims.

Wrong decision

Some ladies, having read about the dangers of wearing bras, draw too general conclusions - and decide to completely abandon this detail of clothing. Wrong decision!

Refusal of a bra is appropriate only at a young age and provided that the chest is small, and outerwear - made of dense fabric. In women after 50, the breasts are often large, and even stretched after a child was fed at one time, or even several.

First of all, it is the risk of injury. Breasts not covered by a tight bra can suffer from being hit by a bag on a crowded bus, from being elbowed in the crowd, and the woman herself often touches people and objects with an extensive bust. And the skin on the chest is especially delicate, painful hematomas and abrasions easily form on it.

By itself, a large and heavy bust without support is a risk of sprain, which causes the chest to sag more and more. In addition, in sagging breasts without a bra, blood circulation worsens, and there it is not far from congestion in tissues and blood vessels. And again, as a result, all the same unpleasant guests - mastopathy and breast cancer.

So it's important to judiciously alternate wearing properly fitted bras with temporarily ditching them and replacing them with elastic supportive underwear.

Right choice

So, which bra do you prefer:

With fairly wide shoulder straps. Bras should not dig into the skin even a millimeter, which happens even with bras in size, but with an unsuccessful design or style that does not fit your body;

With a comfortable side part. It should fit snugly, not hang out, but also not cut into the body, while the skin should not hang down from under the fabric;

Soft, flexible bones. Hard bones are not suitable even in comfortable style bras, otherwise they will invariably dig into the body;

With a slight lift. A good, harmless bra should not raise the chest more than 90 degrees in relation to the surface of the chest;

With a full cup. Bra cups are half or non-traditional in shape, from which part of the breast falls out, creating discomfort to the body;

With the correct position of the straps. On the back, the straps of a buttoned bra should not converge at the base. Only when they are parallel to each other, the chest is provided with good support - with the correct distribution of its weight and without squeezing;

Soft, calm colors. Too bright or very dark bras, with a multi-colored pattern or appliqué, may contain a toxic dye, which enters the body when the fabric fits tightly to the chest;

Properly sized. This can sometimes be tricky given that bra sizes often change with age;

From quality material. The chest in a tight bra often sweats, so it is important that the material is hygroscopic: it allows air to pass through and absorbs moisture well. Ideally, it is better to choose a bra equipped with additional terry cotton pads;