Scars from bras (warning- slightly icky pictures)
This is a bit ranty, but I really felt like I had to get this off my chest (pun only slightly intended). Right now, I'm just totally fed up with the fact that if I don't wear a bra, my back hurts and I feel awkward, but if I do wear a bra, I get the most horrible, painful marks and indentations. I'm not a stranger to wearing bras which are the right size and looking for a good fit, but it seems like even the best options are no good.
The pictures which I have taken have been taken about 5-10 minutes after taking a bra off, so you can see general red lines. The normal ones fade though, don't worry.
Firstly, I have the all too common discolouration line coming up from my armpit from having straps sitting in there. Pretty much any lady in a large cup size will know what I'm talking about. http://i.imgur.com/ICXAJCMh.jpg I'm very fair, so it shows up quite a bit. This isn't actually painful, but I know that it shouldn't be there. Even moving straps doesn't bring them far enough in, because in order to get straps to stay on my shoulders it would mess up the lift point of the bra, so I have to try and compromise a little.
The bit which is really hard to live with is the fact that I get sort of a combination of a pressure sore and carpet/friction burn on the underside of my breasts (it's not really from carpet, but it's the same as if you've ever got dragged along the carpet to the point it rubs your skin raw). To the best of my knowledge, this is caused by both my very heavy breasts, and the fact that I have to angle straps in in order to get them to stay put. A pressure sore is caused by 'constant pressure on a bony protrusion' and that's pretty much what happens I think. I've got some images here- if you're someone who doesn't like looking at medical stuff/wounds, I wouldn't suggest clicking on the links.
Up close and personal- http://i.imgur.com/4Wfwwyuh.jpg
Right side- http://i.imgur.com/TtIL4OWh.jpg
Left side- http://i.imgur.com/ASrOsK4h.jpg
Picture from slightly further out- http://i.imgur.com/hYKRx89h.jpg
This isn't normal or right. I do know that I have sensitive skin, but constantly having my skin torn open, healing up again, only for it to be rubbed raw isn't good for me, and it hurts. The bit just under my bust feels more like my grandma's skin than the rest of my skin (my grandma is the most wonderful and sweet 90 year old lady you'll ever meet, but as an older person, she has lost most of her skin elasticity).
I've tried looser and tighter bands, and it seems like no matter what I do, I get rubbed raw, and also, the band bows up at the sides (you can see how the red line on the side isn't perfectly straight). I spoke to my GP about it, and she wasn't especially helpful- she suggested wearing a thin layer under my wires to ease the pressure, but even that doesn't help. I've tried bandaids, but they don't really make that much of a difference, plus I'd need one on each side every day, making my bandaid usage much higher than the average person. Thankfully, the area hasn't got infected, but I really worry about that as well.
I just don't know what to do. Has anyone else in their 'correct' size had these issues? Should I try tightening my bands up even more? Is there anything else that I can do? I just feel like chucking the whole thing and wearing a corset all the time (though I'd have to get one made, and I feel like that would come with its own set of fit issues).
Filed under Boob and body issues
49 comments
Oww. I've had this before - Curash helped a little, but didn't totally solve it. Primer might also help - you want it lubricated and dry, so that whatever is managing to rub can slide instead of dragging. Mine was definitely caused by a too big band, though. I've also, distressingly, had it right across the top of my boob from the cup on an evil Playtex bra.
Good luck? If you can find one you trust, I've found pharmacists can be more knowledgeable about creams and ointments than GPs. Or there's these: http://pambras.com/ ?
ETA: I've been staring at those pictures some more, and looking at where they are, I'm wondering if the reason changing the band tightness didn't help is that the sheer weight of your bust is driving the underwires against your ribs? I mean, I have problems with the weight of my boobs due to a particularly dense structure, and if you have the problems I do with strap width and lack of depth in cups compromising support, then that would explain why you're getting problems like mine only dialled to 11 (because yes, you're definitely several cups bigger than me). I do get bruises and very occasionally sores along the same line, but nothing this bad any more. I think it helps that most of the time, my band now sits slightly above, rather than on, a rib. I don't know if that helps or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
Have you tried talking to a dermatologist? They're probably more in the know on different skin ailments and treatments than your GP.
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