I Broke Up With My Skinny Jeans and Was Shocked by What Happened Next

30.11.2024 02:00

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Imagine living in constant discomfort without realizing the root of it all is your favorite piece of clothing. For me, it took 13 years of battling relentless itchiness and irritation to connect the dots—and skinny jeans were the culprit behind my painful jock itch.

The evidence? A month ago, after slipping on my previously neglected but beloved, loose-fitting Levi’s 501 jeans, I realized my decade-plus battle with jock itch was finally over. And I couldn’t help but link the relief to one key adjustment in my wardrobe: I ditched skinny jeans for bigger fits.

For those who don’t know, jock itch is a fungal infection that causes itchy, red rashes in the groin. Sound familiar? I thought it might. It all started in high school when I first slipped into skinny jeans. It was simply the dominant cool look of the time, from The Strokes in the early 2000s to Harry Styles in the 2010s (that man loves tight jeans). They weren’t just clothing—they were a piece of my identity. Unfortunately, they also created the perfect warm, enclosed environment for jock itch to thrive. While I didn’t suffer for 4,748 consecutive days, the flare-ups—especially during L.A. summers—were relentless.

Back then, I was too embarrassed to speak up. I even convinced myself it was the result of something worse (yikes—STI?). I stayed quiet and dealt with the discomfort. A big mistake.

A few months ago, similar symptoms crept up again—this time on my waistline. Itchy, ruby-colored, and inflamed. My doctor diagnosed me with a fungal infection (jock itch’s cousin) in under 30 seconds. With a four-week treatment of fluconazole, a medicine used to treat fungal or yeast infection, I cleared the issue. Without getting preachy about grooming problems, speaking up really is the first step toward a solution.

For years, jock itch felt like a never-ending battle, but now, I can confidently say I’ve won the war. That’s not to say I’ll never wear skinny jeans again—after all, Indie Sleaze-themed parties still happen pretty often in my social circle—but they’re no longer part of my everyday wardrobe. They don’t define me, because that would mean knowingly aggravating myself.

A looser, more comfortable fit: Levi's 501 Original Fit Men's Jeans in Light Stonewash.

Courtesy Image

Letting go of skinny jeans wasn’t just about comfort—style fads come and go, and I was ready to build a new adult look for myself. (And what's more classic than trusty 501s?) But crucially, it meant saying goodbye to 13 years of unnecessary pain.

Here’s what I learned along the way: First, don’t Google-diagnose yourself. Go to a doctor before spiraling into self-doubt, and be honest about what’s ailing you. Second, if you’re a skinny jean connoisseur, remember you’re not alone—jock itch is surprisingly common. And third, your thighs deserve to breathe.