Bras are good for you! The health benefits explained.

If you ever suffer from shoulder or neck pain, irritated skin or tenderness in your boobs, you may find relief in your bra. We busted some wirefree bra myths earlier this month, and now we’re shouting about the very real ways that bras, particularly the wirefree variety, could improve your health.

A well-fitted bra, of any type, shouldn’t be leaving marks, soreness or chaffing on your skin – but underwired bras can sometimes dig in and irritate sensitive areas (and we’re not even going to mention the dreaded broken wire!).

Wearing a wirefree bra is even more important after breast or chest surgery, as underwires may rub and damage skin in an already sensitive area. If you’re choosing bras to wear during your post-surgery weeks and months, make sure you book a consultation with your nearest Royce stockist, many of whom are trained in fitting bras for anyone going through a breast or chest operation.

Our wirefree post-surgery bras are specially designed to ensure your surgery site can heal effectively. Browse our range including the Silver Post Surgery bra (our hospital essential), and Comfi-Bra, Maisie and Fearne for the following weeks and months of recovery.

As with any clothing, it’s good to pay attention to what your bra is made of, particularly as it’s in close contact with your skin for hours on end. Breathable fabrics, such as cotton and bamboo, allow the skin to breathe, helping reduce sweat build-up and any subsequent infections and skin irritation.

Organic cotton is a smart choice for your skin and the planet. We plan to use organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics in even more of our bras in the near future – for now, our favourite styles that include breathable, soft organic cotton include our brand new lounge bra Mia; athleisure-style Eden; and fuller cup Rosa.

Many people, particularly those with larger breasts, believe that wearing a bra can stop back, neck or shoulder pain. It’s a common belief but, surprisingly, it isn’t strictly true. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that you can avoid pain in this area by wearing a bra.

However, a 2003 study of over 100 women seeking breast reduction surgery found that all of them were wearing the wrong size bra. It seems that while a bra won’t prevent back or shoulder pain, which is more likely caused by factors such as bad posture or weak muscles, wearing a badly fitting one will only make your symptoms worse.

Ensure you’re wearing the best fit by getting measured by a professional fitter every 6-12 months, or following our DIY fit at home guide.

Sports bras reduce discomfort when exercising

Whether HIIT workouts or running a 5K is your vibe, you’ll know that vigorous exercise creates a lot of movement in the boob area.

While there is no research to confirm that this kind of movement leads to sagging breasts (it’s a fact of life that ligaments will stretch over time with hormones being the more likely cause), it can cause breast pain and tenderness, particularly for fuller-cupped women. A study in 2015 found that wearing a sports bra, with the right level of support, when running helped reduce breast pain for women with larger boobs.

SHOP SPORTS BRAS

It’s not just about physical health – feeling comfortable can boost your mental health too. We believe that wearing wirefree means you can get on with living your life without the little irritations that a poorly fitted underwired bra may bring.

So, treat yourself to some new wirefree underwear (because life’s too short for getting stressed-out by your bra!)