By Megan LaVoie
Thongs are a hidden hit rage in today's world. But that floss between your cheeks, while it may be sexy, may be harmful.
Kellie Flood-Shaffer, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, said women who wear thongs have a higher risk of catching infection and having irritation.
"I often see patients who wear thongs regularly have severe irritations toward the cheeks because every time you walk that thong is rubbing," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said women have a higher risk of yeast infections and chaffing when they wear thong underwear.
"Yeast infections are common amongst women who wear thong underwear because thongs are tight and don't let the womens' genitalia breath. They also cause chaffing - much like what your lips look like when they get chapped," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said thong underwear is not the problem - frequent wearing of them is.
"I always recommend to women to only wear thongs when they don't want panty lines. Don't wear them every day with jeans and tight pants because the material irritation that the thong causes will rub their skin raw," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said that many of her clients feel they have to wear thongs daily.
"I tell the women who can't live without wearing their thongs daily to not wear their thongs to bed," she said. "The body has to breath - air is our friend."
According to www.thongs4u.com, thongs first appeared in the United States on male models for colleges and art schools to cover up their genitalia so women in the classes wouldn't be embarrassed. Americans who traveled abroad to Europe and Brazil saw thongs worn on beaches and brought them home to the United States. Thongs were introduced as an undergarment in the 1980s and have since become a popular alternative for men and women to wear instead of the normal panties and boxers.
Ryan Callaway, a sophomore construction tech major from Round Rock, said men like thongs on women because they are sexy and revealing but said he believes women like them for different reasons.
"I think women like thongs because you can't see their panty line," he said. "I guess that's important."
Jackie Bush, co-manager of the Victoria's Secret in South Plains Mall, agreed with Callaway.
"We definitely sell more thong panties than non-thong panties, probably because women think they are comfortable, and they don't want panty lines," she said.
Bush said Victoria's Secret V-string low-rise thong is the most popular, with cotton the material of choice.
Flood-Shaffer said cotton thongs are healthier to wear then lycra and nylon thongs.
"Cotton and silk materials are better choices to wear then lycra and nylon because the materials let that area breath," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said that another problem of thong wearing is that women shave their pubic hair.
"I see 50 patients a week, and 75 percent of them are completely shaved. This is a new fad because 10 years ago I never saw it once," she said.
"Hair protects women from certain infections, and when they shave it all off, it make the thongs rub even more," she said.
Sara Walker, a junior English major from Arlington, said she has never had any problems wearing thongs.
"I have been wearing thongs since I was 13, and I think they are way more comfortable and appealing than granny panties," she said
Callaway said thongs are good for women when they are young, but once they start getting older they shouldn't wear them.
"I think moms wearing thongs is gross. Women like Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston's age is OK, but once they start looking older, no more thongs for them," he said.
Kellie Flood-Shaffer, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, said women who wear thongs have a higher risk of catching infection and having irritation.
"I often see patients who wear thongs regularly have severe irritations toward the cheeks because every time you walk that thong is rubbing," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said women have a higher risk of yeast infections and chaffing when they wear thong underwear.
"Yeast infections are common amongst women who wear thong underwear because thongs are tight and don't let the womens' genitalia breath. They also cause chaffing - much like what your lips look like when they get chapped," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said thong underwear is not the problem - frequent wearing of them is.
"I always recommend to women to only wear thongs when they don't want panty lines. Don't wear them every day with jeans and tight pants because the material irritation that the thong causes will rub their skin raw," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said that many of her clients feel they have to wear thongs daily.
"I tell the women who can't live without wearing their thongs daily to not wear their thongs to bed," she said. "The body has to breath - air is our friend."
According to www.thongs4u.com, thongs first appeared in the United States on male models for colleges and art schools to cover up their genitalia so women in the classes wouldn't be embarrassed. Americans who traveled abroad to Europe and Brazil saw thongs worn on beaches and brought them home to the United States. Thongs were introduced as an undergarment in the 1980s and have since become a popular alternative for men and women to wear instead of the normal panties and boxers.
Ryan Callaway, a sophomore construction tech major from Round Rock, said men like thongs on women because they are sexy and revealing but said he believes women like them for different reasons.
"I think women like thongs because you can't see their panty line," he said. "I guess that's important."
Jackie Bush, co-manager of the Victoria's Secret in South Plains Mall, agreed with Callaway.
"We definitely sell more thong panties than non-thong panties, probably because women think they are comfortable, and they don't want panty lines," she said.
Bush said Victoria's Secret V-string low-rise thong is the most popular, with cotton the material of choice.
Flood-Shaffer said cotton thongs are healthier to wear then lycra and nylon thongs.
"Cotton and silk materials are better choices to wear then lycra and nylon because the materials let that area breath," she said.
Flood-Shaffer said that another problem of thong wearing is that women shave their pubic hair.
"I see 50 patients a week, and 75 percent of them are completely shaved. This is a new fad because 10 years ago I never saw it once," she said.
"Hair protects women from certain infections, and when they shave it all off, it make the thongs rub even more," she said.
Sara Walker, a junior English major from Arlington, said she has never had any problems wearing thongs.
"I have been wearing thongs since I was 13, and I think they are way more comfortable and appealing than granny panties," she said
Callaway said thongs are good for women when they are young, but once they start getting older they shouldn't wear them.
"I think moms wearing thongs is gross. Women like Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston's age is OK, but once they start looking older, no more thongs for them," he said.
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