New Delhi: Health experts in India are cautioning saree wearers, especially those who prefer tightly draped sarees, about a lesser-known health risk. Doctors from Bihar and Maharashtra are warning that tightly tied waist cords of the petticoat – traditionally worn under a saree – can cause continuous friction, chronic inflammation, and, in severe cases, may even lead to skin cancer. The phenomenon, identified in recent medical reports, has been dubbed "petticoat cancer."

The findings, published in 'BMJ Case Reports', highlight two cases treated by doctors from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha and Madhubani Medical College and Hospital in Bihar. Both cases involved women who developed Marjolin ulcers, a rare and aggressive type of squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating skin cancer), due to tightly tied petticoats.

In the first case, a 70-year-old woman was treated for a painful ulcer on her right side, which she had suffered from for 18 months. Despite attempts to heal, the skin remained discolored and the ulcer persistent. A biopsy revealed the ulcer was a Marjolin ulcer, and her condition was traced back to the tight petticoat under her Nauvari saree.

In the second case, a woman in her late 60s, who had worn a tightly tied saree for over 40 years, developed a similar ulcer. The skin ulcer remained unhealed for two years, and a biopsy revealed that the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes.

Chronic inflammation and malignant transformation

While Marjolin ulcers are rare, they tend to form in areas of chronic skin irritation, such as burn wounds, non-healing ulcers, or even scars from snake bites and vaccinations. Doctors explained that continuous irritation from a tight petticoat or saree can lead to “cutaneous atrophy” – a weakening of the skin that eventually causes erosion or ulceration.

"Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which can ultimately break down into an ulcer. If the wound remains non-healing due to ongoing pressure, it can undergo malignant transformation," the doctors explained.

Health experts urge looser fitting petticoats

Doctors recommend switching to a looser petticoat beneath sarees to reduce pressure on the skin and prevent ulcer formation. They also suggest wearing loose clothing around the waist if any skin irritation develops, allowing the area to heal without persistent irritation.

IANS