Experts Advise Not to Wear Spanx, Can Damage the Organs

A recent study finds that wearing spanx or shapewear may result in the crushing of organs and infections.

Although shape wear and other similar undergarments claim they can make you look slimmer, experts have found that they can actually cause uncontrollable gas, damage the stomach, colon and intestine and even result in death. People who have irritable bowel movement and functional bowel disorders should think twice before using the product, doctors suggest.

"You've got all this pressure on your bladder from the shapewear pressing down," said chiropractor Dr. Karen Erickson. "If you postpone urinating, it can cause stress incontinence, where you leak, or it can exaggerate stress incontinence with people who already have it. It's like putting these giant rubber bands around your upper thighs and tightening them when you sit."

Spanx, a type of shapewear that is founded by Sara Blakely can give you blood clot and can "worsen acid reflux and heartburn and provoke erosive esophagitis," said gastroenterologist Dr. John Kuemmerle. Likely, dermatologist Dr. Maryann Mikhail warns users that tight granny underwear can also cause yeast and bacterial infection. Folliculitis is another type of Spanx-related infection that takes place when bacteria get trapped in hair follicles and become inflamed.

"Usually folliculitis can be easily treated with topical antibiotics but recurrent infections may develop antibiotic resistance, meaning they get harder and harder to treat," she added. As a result, doctors are now suggesting and encouraging users to avoid wearing Spanx or to simply wear skinny jeans - which are considered as a safer counterpart - in moderation.