Petticoat Cancer: Doctors Warn Tightly Worn Sarees Can Lead to Skin Cancer
Tightly Worn Sarees Can Lead to Skin Cancer
New Delhi: Doctors in Bihar and Maharashtra have issued warnings about the potential risk of skin cancer associated with the practice of tightly wearing sarees.
Physicians from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha and Madhubani Medical College and Hospital in Bihar have highlighted the risk posed by the tightly tied waist cord of the underskirt (petticoat) worn beneath a saree, particularly prevalent in rural areas. The constant friction from such garments can lead to chronic skin inflammation and ulceration, potentially progressing to skin cancer.
This condition, previously referred to as “saree cancer,” has now been labeled ‘petticoat cancer’ by the doctors, as detailed in their report published in BMJ Case Reports. The report emphasizes that the tightness of the waist cord is a key contributing factor to these chronic skin issues.
One case involved a 70-year-old woman who sought medical help for a painful skin ulcer on her right side, persisting for 18 months. The surrounding skin showed depigmentation. The patient had been wearing her petticoat tightly under a Nauvari saree. A biopsy confirmed that she had a Marjolin ulcer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma, a type of ulcerating skin cancer.
In another instance, a woman in her late 60s visited doctors for a non-healing ulcer on her right flank that she had for two years. For 40 years, she wore a traditional ‘lugda’ saree tightly tied around her waist without an underskirt. Her biopsy also revealed a Marjolin ulcer, which had spread to a lymph node in her groin by the time of diagnosis.
Marjolin ulcers, though rare, are aggressive and can develop in chronic wounds, burn scars, leg ulcers, and other non-healing injuries. The doctors pointed out that while the exact mechanism of malignant transformation in chronic wounds is not fully understood, prolonged irritation and chronic inflammation are known to increase cancer risk.
“Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer,” the doctors explained. They also noted that such ulcers may not fully heal due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing, creating a chronic wound that has a higher likelihood of becoming cancerous.
Health experts recommend wearing looser petticoats beneath sarees to reduce pressure and minimize friction on the skin. If any skin problems develop, switching to looser clothing can help the affected area heal properly. Early recognition and management of such chronic ulcers are vital to preventing complications and ensuring better health outcomes.
(with inputs from IANS)