Love it or hate it, labia cleavage is here! Characterized as showcasing your vajayjay in crotch-hugging swimwear, stars like NeNe Leakes, Tammy Rivera, and a plethora of Instagram models have hopped on board this trend — leaving very little to the imagination.
READ: From Shaming To Surgery: Stop Looking For The “Picture Perfect” Vulva
Although this 80’s trend may accentuate your waistline, #IRL, it may secretly be ruining your health. Here’s how:
When you wear clothing that’s too tight, the fabric rubs against your skin, disrupting the barrier that helps protect your derma from infections.
While this rule applies to suffocating wardrobe choices overall, the same rule applies for swimwear.
On top of damaging your protective barrier, curve-hugging clothing produces more sweat, in turn creating an environment for viral, fungal, and bacterial infections, such as folliculitis, which can turn hair follicles into icky red bumps. Yuck!
Meanwhile, a warm, moist swimsuit bottom produces a lovely home for yeast and bacterial infections. According to Owen Montgomery, M.D., chairman of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, synthetic fabrics including nylon, rayon, and spandex can trap moisture in place, increasing your risk for infection (over and over again), Montgomery tells Cosmopolitan.
Not to mention the maintenance is out of control! That’s right ladies, if you plan on rocking this trend, you’ll need to consult a “waxpert.”
You’ll likely need a Brazilian wax. Starting at $40 for front to back at popular spas, technicians will completely remove hair from