Is it bad to wear a bra to bed? Does sleeping with a bra on affect the shape and overall health of our breasts? Here’s what you need to know.
What can you read in this article?
- Is it bad to wear a bra to bed?
- True or false: sleeping with a bra on can cause breast cancer
- Myths about sleeping with a bra on
Most of us learned that sleeping with a bra on is a no-no as early as puberty. Some say it causes breasts to sag, while some favor sleeping with a bra on because they believe it keeps their breasts shapely and perky. Some even claim that sleeping with a bra on can cause breast cancer.
So which is true? Should you or shouldn’t you take your bra off before bed? Let’s discuss it one by one, shall we?
Fact or myth: Sleeping with a bra on can help keep breasts from dropping
Is it bad to wear a bra to bed?
MYTH. For starters, it is important to accept that breast sagging will happen to all women. Some of the factors that affect the shape of our breasts are the following:
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Age
As we age, our skin loses its natural elasticity which causes it to look saggy or wrinkled. This affects different areas of the body, including the breasts. So breast sagging is as inevitable as the future lines and wrinkles that will appear as we age.
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Gravity
The size of your breasts can also affect its tendency to sag. Gravity has something to do with it, what with pulling the breasts down. It has also been observed that bigger breasts are more likely to sag than smaller ones.
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Hormones
If you’ve used oral contraceptives before, have you noticed that your breasts become bigger when you’re on the pill? It also changes in size during pregnancy and even after menopause.
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Others
Fluctuating weight, breastfeeding, vigorous activities, or exercise may also contribute to the sagging of the breasts.
Should you or shouldn’t you take your bra off before bed?
As mentioned earlier, over time, gravity’s downward pull causes breasts to sag, more so when they are larger in size.
When you lie down to sleep on your back or on your tummy, the opposite happens. Most sleeping positions push breast tissue and mass backward, so sleeping with a bra on is unnecessary, if you want to maintain your breast’s perkiness. Just remember that if you decide to keep your bra on at bedtime, make sure it is the kind with soft cups or bralettes.
Is it bad to wear a bra to bed?
However, there are health factors to consider if you choose to keep your bra on before bed.
Fact or myth: Sleeping with a bra on can cause breast cancer
MYTH. Researchers found that hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors may increase your risk of breast cancer. It’s also likely that breast cancer is caused by a complex interaction of your genetic makeup and your environment.
According to the website Cancer Council, there has been no credible link between wearing a bra to bed, or not wearing a bra to bed and having breast cancer. There have been claims of underwire bras causing breast cancer by obstructing the lymph flow, but there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.
However, it is possible that sleeping with a bra on can affect the health of your breasts. The habit of sleeping with a bra on can compress breast tissue and constrict blood flow to your vessels and muscles. This can also impede the lymph nodes around your breast and armpit, which are responsible for flushing out toxins from your body.
Image from Shutterstock
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Take it off and let your pair breathe!
If your bra has an underwire, it could also cause discomfort and keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Restlessness can cause stress and not being able to sleep can make you moody and unproductive all day. What’s more, if the wire or hooks of your bra straps are too constricting, they could cause darkening of certain areas, or what is known as hyperpigmentation.
Image from Shutterstock
We still sweat in our sleep so moisture can collect when you keep your bra on. Over time, it increases the risk of breast fungus, or an itchy fungal rash, particularly under the breast folds.
If you’re worried about sagging, a good-fitting bra is also key to holding those babies up. You also want to have yourself measured for the right size of bra to make sure that it supports your breasts and fights gravity in a comfortable way. You may also want a supportive bra when you exercise to reduce pain, soreness and discomfort while working out.
So there is no fixed rule against sleeping with a bra on. It is ultimately up to you. What’s important is that you know the health risks and you know what measures to take against them if you decide to make this a nightly habit.
Source:
Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, WebMD
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