5 Solutions for a Healthier Appearance

Shoes that pinch, elastic the squeezes, facials that burn, you would think we could come up with a lot less painful and lot healthier ways to keep up appearances. We cram our toes into pointy-toed shoes and torture our arches in the highest stilettos. We consider our sacrifices to be worth it in the name of looking good. But do you ever consider the damage these contortions may be doing? Many women think a little suffering in the name of looking good is normal. But what many are unaware of is their health may be the thing that suffers. Take heart. A few easy changes can potentially keep you out of the doctor’s office yet still keep your heels and glowing continence.

Girl Problem #1 My Giant Purse is a Pain in the Neck, But it Looks Good

There are muscles that connect your shoulder to your neck, called the trapezius, and the levator scapulae, which elevates the shoulder blade. They are important, we like them, so we need to treat them kindly. These muscles strain with the effort to hold your bag. This action often causes headaches and is even known to cause a tear in the muscle. Heavy purses pull muscles that go up to the base of your skull. Stress these muscles for 5 to 10 years and you can be left with far reaching and painful consequences. That big bag you have hanging from your shoulder and stuffed with treasures can leave you a few surprises of its own: pinched nerves, numbness, back pain, arthritis of the neck. By this time a fanny pack will look real enticing.

Solution

Try letting your bicep do some of the work. Place the strap of your purse on your bicep, and must I state the obvious, bend your arm. If this idea is just to gouache and you simply must carry that bag on you shoulders, try these simple tips: Every 10 minutes, switch shoulders with your purse. Every hour, set the thing down and do some shoulder rolls. Roll backwards 5 or 6 times, and then forward the same number of times. (But really, how many consecutive hours do you lug your purse around?). If you experience soreness, sooth the damaged area for 15 minutes with an ice pack. Oh and here’s another simple tip: clean some of the collection from your purse, that’ll more than likely lighten the load.

Girl Problem #2 Squeezing into Spandex

Body shapers, compression garments, girdles, we have been testing the bounds of constriction for generations. But here’s what it’s taught us. Constrictive garments can cause varicose veins. So while you are trying to hide the cottage cheese wherever it is on your body, you are inviting the more threatening lumpy veins to come sooner than you think. The problem is that your leg veins aren’t strong enough to overcome the stranglehold of body slimmers. The force that hides the bulges also restricts circulation. That causes the blood to pool, stretching your veins. All that pressure can cause your veins to inflate, appearing like balloons.

Solution

Minimize the damage by getting your blood flowing again. As soon as you can wiggle free, walk briskly for 5 minutes so the muscles can squeeze the venous blood back up toward the heart. Then, elevate your legs at a 45 degree angle for as long as you can. Also, do not jam yourself into a body slimmer that’s too tight – spandex cannot take you from a size 8 to a size 4.

Girl Problem #3 Burn, baby, Burn

Exfoliating scrubs or peels are like tough love for your complexion: a bit of abrasion can send lackluster flakes and pore clogging dead cells packing, revealing the soft and (hopefully) dewy skin beneath. But you can take this ritual too far and doing so can cause rashes, bacterial infections, breakouts and scarring. Exfoliating more than once a week is not advised. Scrubbing your face too frequently will irritate your skin to the point it will overproduce oil. In addition, overuse of in-home peels, which contain acids, are too harsh if over used.

Solution

If you have sensitive skin, use products that contain retinoids (chemicals that cause skin to slough), or have cystic acne, stay away from exfoliators all together or risk painful irritation. As for the rest of you: Bypass scrubs with rough particles like apricot kernels. Instead, look for ones featuring smooth beads made of jojoba wax (a moisturizing plant oil) or beeswax. That said, even dermatologist can’t tell by looking at the ingredients what the exfoliating granules are made of, so you may have to buy and try. If a product feels like sandpaper, don’t use it on your face. You don’t have to waste it. Use it on your elbows, knees, or heels. Moisturize to help prevent irritation, wait a week between exfoliating treatments, and limit at-home peels to once every 2 weeks. If you feel burning (a little sting is normal) immediately rinse with water, apply moisturizer and throw away the peel.

Girl Problem #4 Wedgies, and We Don’t Mean Shoes

Never mind the butt cleavage and wedgies, thongs can be a pain in the backside for other reasons. That thin strip of fabric may save you from the dreaded VPL (visible panty line) but it also serves as a superhighway for microbes. When the underwear hit your perineum (the patch of skin between your vagina and anus) bacteria hitch a ride straight to your vagina. As you move, the fabric shifts bringing along itching and discomfort; you’ve got a yeast infection. To make matters worse, unlike granny panties, thongs tend to rub. This causes tiny tears in the delicate skin around your vulva and clitoris, creating access for microbes.

Solution

You don’t have to toss your thongs as long as they are cotton or have a cotton crotch. The breathable fabric keeps you drier, so bacteria can’t grow as easily. You might also consider growing out that Brazilian bikini line (ouch!). Hair serves as a barrier between you and your panties, so leaving more carpet on the floor provides cushioning for your delicate self. Also, don’t wear thongs when you exercise. Invest in some workout bottoms with cotton crotches and go commando.

Girl Problem #5 Wearing Stilettos

Trapping your feet in toe-squeezing stilettos may seem worth it for the attention your date gives you. But your ankles, knees and hips will require more attention after too much time balancing on your toes. High heels force your ankle joints to work overtime to maintain your balance, causing unnatural wear and tear, reports Kathy A. Zinzer, M.D., of Temple University’s Foot and Ankle Institute. (There’s an institute for that?). This balancing act also erodes cartilage, the spongy tissue between bones. When the cartilage wears down, you get painful bone-on-bone rubbing.

Solution

Lower your standards. A 3-inch heel puts seven times as much pressure on your foot (which also affects your ankles and knees) as a 1-incher. Limit heel height at 2 inches and wear platforms or wedges so your joints don’t have to strain to balance. Also, look for soles with shock-absorbing materials like cork and rubber because no one wants to go from sling-backs and peep-toes to walkers and canes.