Persistent wire friction is related to power irritation, which may end up in pores and skin ulceration.
Doctors in BMJ Case Reports have cautioned that the tightly tied waist wire of the underskirt (petticoat) historically worn beneath a saree, particularly in rural areas of India, could result in a situation they’ve termed “petticoat cancer.” This warning follows their remedy of two women who developed this particular kind of malignancy.
The continued pressure and friction on the pores and skin could cause power irritation, resulting in ulceration, and, in some circumstances, development to pores and skin most cancers, say the authors.
This phenomenon has beforehand been described as “saree cancer,” however it’s the tightness of the waist wire that’s guilty, they level out.
Case Studies: Two Women with Petticoat Cancer
The first case involved a 70-year-old lady who sought medical assist as a result of of a painful pores and skin ulcer on her proper flank that she had had for 18 months and which wouldn’t heal. The pores and skin within the surrounding space had misplaced its pigmentation. She wore her petticoat beneath her saree which was tightly tied round her waist.
A biopsy specimen revealed that she had a Marjolin ulcer, also called squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating pores and skin most cancers).
The second case involved a girl in her late 60s who had had an ulcer on her proper flank that wouldn’t heal for 2 years. She had worn a standard kind of saree known as a ‘lugda’ day-after-day for 40 years, tied very tightly across the waist with out an underskirt.
A biopsy specimen revealed that she too had a Marjolin ulcer. The most cancers had already unfold to at least one of the lymph nodes in her groin when she was identified.
A Marjolin ulcer is uncommon however aggressive. It develops in power burn wounds, non-healing wounds, leg ulcers, tuberculous pores and skin nodules, and in vaccination and snake chew scars, clarify the authors.
“The exact process by which chronic ulcers or wounds become malignant is unknown, although many theories have been proposed,” they write. “Every cutaneous lesion that is continuously irritated (chronically inflamed) has been shown to have a higher risk of developing malignant transformation.”
Medical Explanation and Recommendations
They add: “Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer. The ulcer at this site does not heal entirely due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing. A chronic non-healing wound results, which may develop malignant change.”
They advocate carrying a unfastened petticoat beneath the saree to ease pressure on the pores and skin, and to put on unfastened clothes if pores and skin issues develop to permit the realm to heal.
Commenting on her prognosis, the 70-year-old mentioned: “I’ve been carrying a Nauvari saree, tightly wrapped round my waist, for many of my grownup life. Six years in the past, I seen a small space of depigmentation on my proper flank, which I initially dismissed as a minor pores and skin subject.
“Over time, this spot became a non-healing ulcer, inflicting me concern and discomfort. The discomfort turned a component of my each day life, impacting my potential to carry out routine duties. When I lastly consulted a dermatologist, I used to be identified with pores and skin most cancers, largely exacerbated by the power friction and pressure from the tightness of the saree tied round my waist.
“This has been a psychologically and physically taxing journey. It shows the importance of paying attention to chronic skin changes and seeking medical advice early. I hope my story will raise awareness among women about the potential health risks associated with traditional clothing practices and encourage timely medical consultation for unusual skin conditions.”
Reference: “Petticoat cancer: Marjolin ulcer of the waist in South Asian women (a site-specific malignancy)” by Kaveri Rusia, Bhushan Madke, Piyush Kumar and Yash Kashikar, 1 October 2024, BMJ Case Reports CP.
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2024-262049
