A Camel toe is the visible outline of a woman’s labia or crotch and it commonly occurs through clothing. The appearance of a Camel toe can be attributed to a variety of reasons, and because we always want to feel and look our best at all times this may raise the question of “what causes a camel toe?” Well, to address your concerns, in this guide we will go into a deep dive of the major causes of camel toe.
What causes a camel toe?
Camel toe can occur when your clothing isn’t fitting correctly. If your trousers or shorts are overly snug in the groin region, it may result in camel toe.
A camel toe can be caused by other factors ranging from clothing to genetics. So for easier understanding, this post is going to be divided into 2 categories;
- The external causes of camel toe and
- The natural causes of camel toe
The external causes of camel toe
1. Wearing tight clothes
One of the most common causes of a camel toe is wearing tight clothing such as leggings, yoga pants and biker shorts. While these types of clothes are designed to make body movement easier, they tend to be very tight fitting taking the form of the body and can directly cause a camel toe for the person wearing them. The camel toe can form when a woman sits down for a period of time and then stands up. This can be due to the way our bodies bend while we are sitting causing the fabric to get stuck between the folds of the skin.
Although it is not every woman that will easily get a camel toe from wearing tight clothes, it is important to note that most incidents of camel toe occur while you are wearing them.
2. Wearing clothes with thin fabrics
Thin fabrics like spandex cling to the skin because they lack structure and can get into the folds of the skin pretty easily. We love these lightweight fabrics for the comfort they provide for the body, the way they stretch and how they snatch the body together that is why they are used to make sportswear, lounge wear, swimwear and so on, I mean what can’t you do with them? But they can be part of the problem as they tend to cause a pesky camel toe.
Also because sheer fabrics are usually transparent with very little barrier between the body and the fabric, they make the camel toe indent show even more clearly.
3. Wearing clothes with middle seams and stitches
Some garment stitching simply does not support the vulva enough. Some underwear, pants and even jumpsuits have their stitches running along the middle of the body which makes the fabric to literally cut through the labia causing discomfort and ultimately ruining the outfit. While this may not really show when you are shopping for them, the minute you get ready to wear them for a night out with the girls, you may start to feel some pressure on your crotch and you know that is a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
4. Choosing to go without underwear
A lot of women love doing without underwear also referred to as “going commando’’ as a liberating and carefree choice but do you know that this adventurous decision can lead to a camel toe? The absence of underwear can cause the fabric of the cloth to be in direct contact with the skin making it easy for it to get into the folds of your delicate parts leading to a wedge that creates the camel toe effect.
5. Following bad fashion trends
Now, I know you want to keep up with the times, you want to wear the latest fashion and you want to turn heads everywhere you go but there are some clothing choices that should not see the light of day if you do not want to cause a camel toe. Don’t get me wrong, different styles will work on different women and it helps to know your body before attempting to wear an outfit just because it is trending.
Some of the common fashion culprits of camel toe that are trending are the jumpsuit, leotard style outfits and a little birdy told me that low rise jeans are making a comeback. While there is nothing wrong in following these fashion trends you have to remember that they come and go, so make smart choices according to your body and your own personal style.
6. Engaging in physical activity
Engaging in physical activities or movements that involve stretching or spreading the legs initiates friction between the fabric and skin increasing the likelihood of a camel toe. Some of these activities include yoga, dancing, swimming, biking and for the gym girlies, dynamic body movements like running on the treadmill is a repetitive motion can cause clothing to shift and gather in the crotch area, enhancing the contours of your lady parts.
7. Shaving down there
Pubic hair serves as a buffer between skin and the fabric. However some women prefer to go bald in the crotch by shaving, waxing or general removal of pubic hair, this may lead to more fabric friction making the cloth ride up into the crevices of the labia.
The natural causes of camel toe
1. Pregnancy changes
Camel toe can become a more frequent occurrence during pregnancy being that the body goes through various changes including weight gain and hormonal fluctuations. Women also experience increased blood flow that causes swelling in different parts of their body along with fluid retention not to mention the release of the hormone relaxin which prepares the female body for childbirth; this protein can affect the structure of the pelvic area.
Together, these changes can impact the distribution of fat and increase the size of the labia which will in turn make a camel toe more noticeable.
2. Individual body size and shape
Body size and shape is another major cause of camel toe and the size and shape of the labia can vary among individuals. Women with higher levels of fat tend to have some incidence of camel toe, the level of fat as well as the distribution of fat around the pelvic area which can push against clothes making it more noticeable.
3. Body moisture
Body moisture can come in various forms and one of those forms is sweat. This can occur when the body heats up on a sunny day; perhaps when you are having fun at the beach and can cause clothes to stick on the body revealing more than you bargained for.
4. Genetics
Genetics is the mother of all traits; it plays a vital role in shaping who we are, from our eye colour to our height. But did you know that many women inherited traits that make camel toe a common visitor in their day to day lives? Features such as the size of your pelvic bone, a fleshy labia and fat distribution are all inheritable traits that may have you accepting camel toe as your close buddy. So if you ever wonder what causes camel toe, just know that you may have gotten it from your mama!
5. Weight loss
Embarking on weight loss is an incredible achievement, and shedding those pounds can sometimes bring an unexpected surprise. During weight loss as the body undergoes transformation, changes in fat density, and change in size, the skin may lose elasticity and may need some time to adjust to its new shape. During this period, the flesh around the crotch may increase the occurrence of a camel toe.
Final thoughts
So readers there you have it, we have explored the various external and natural causes of camel toe, learning the causes brings us one step closer to fixing it. Enjoy the beauty of your body however imperfect it may be, at the end of the day do not forget that although a camel toe can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, there are some practical steps you can take to avoid and eliminate it.
