Health Benefits and Problems of Wearing Tights

Wardrobes around the world include tights as a basic item of clothing. But are there any health benefits or problems with wearing tights, and if so, which one defeats the other?

Among the numerous benefits that wearing tights offers, support tights specifically developed for medical use help in reducing or controlling circulation problems, including varicose veins.

Varicose veins are caused when there is a reverse blood flow due to weakness in the connective tissues around the veins, resulting in great pain for the individual, as well as the unsightly appearance of enlarged veins. The extra pressure exerted by high-strength support tights assists in keeping everything normal.

The porous nature of the material used to make tights has allowed manufacturers to use microencapsulation techniques to fill these holes with products that benefit the skin, enabling them to become a part of the health and beauty industry.

The recent introduction of caffeine tights to a line already containing moisturisers and creams, have laid claim to tights helping people improve their skins, and even assist with making the legs slimmer.

In their most general form, tights are a good source of warmth in winters and assist with reducing pain in the back and legs.

But the wearing of tights comes with some risks. It is important to wear hosiery that is of the right size, as those made of synthetic fibres or ones that are too fitted can cause yeast and urinary tract infections. A good idea is to wear your tights with intervals of a few days, and ensure that personal hygiene is up to the mark.

A more minor issue with tights is their delicate nature that can result in tears over time. However, this can be easily resolved by either repairing the damage or purchasing a new pair.

The benefits of extra warmth, pain reduction, improvement to skin and blood circulation, outweigh the risks of damage and probable infections, provided one retains proper hygiene and purchases the correct size. So, for all those people who wear tights: go for it, with the knowledge that they are helping you in many different ways.

Popular Styles of Tights

There are a large number of styles of tights available, making decision hard for the modern lady. So, before answering which style are more popular, it is important to discuss some of the options available in market.

The styles and designs available in tights are wide, ranging from their thickness to the colour. Your choice will depend on the weather and the purpose you intend to fulfil. Of course, there’s also the option of stockings, hold-ups, fishnet and tattoo variations, and so on.

Different styles complement different seasons and outfits, with opaque ones suited for the winter months due to the extra warmth they provide, while thinner pantyhose go better with summer outfits and are cooler for that period of the year.

Stockings or hold-ups take preference over tights in summer, as the latter are quite high at the waist. A person’s job can also play a role in their preference, with tights more suited for the active lifestyle, while stockings should do the needful in an office environment.

Then there’s the office dress code that needs to be considered. Even though rules seem to be less dictated, conservative workplaces will have women go for tights, rather than their preference of stockings.

As far as popularity of a type goes, that comes down to factors like season and outfit. After all, you wouldn’t expect to see warm wool tights in the middle of summer, or a colour that is rather bright for the clothing worn and causing one to look weird.

There’s also the personal taste that has a say in choice. For some people tights are easier than stocking in terms of wearing, while others stick to hold-ups being the only easy type of hosiery to put on.

So, not an easy question to answer! Popularity will vary from time to time, which is why women taken the sensible option of keeping several types and styles in their wardrobe; you never know what the outfit may call for!

Machine Washing Your Tights

Instructions on the pack give the idea that it isn’t safe to use washing machines for washing tights. But then, do you always follow instructions?

Due to the delicate material used in the making, manufacturers prefer customers washing tights in warm water solution of a mild detergent. The rigours of the washing machine, with their heat and spin cycles, might end up ruining your tights permanently.

But who can spare the time these days to go through the laborious process of rinsing out the soap and wringing out the water again and again? After all, we would rather be doing something more productive with our time.

The washing machine makes the task much easier, by popping them in at a certain time and picking them out when all spun, and relatively dry.

However, one needs to adopt some precautionary steps in this case. One good tip is to place the tights in a pillow case prior to putting them in the washing machine. Maintaining a medium temperature, light spin cycle and using a mild detergent will ensure that the tights do not get tangled or damaged. A few rotations might be needed on the delicate setting, in order to get them as dry as possible.

For those tights that have a slight ladder, machine wash is strictly not advised. The force within a washing machine is likely to not only make the ladder re-appear, but cause more trouble than you would want. Thicker tights are more suited to withstand the pressures of the washing process in a machine; as long as you take care, even thinner tights will be able to survive the wash.

So, following a bit of advice can help in making the washing machine a safe washing tool for your tights. After all, there are things more exciting than hand-washing tights that you could spend the time and energy in instead!