I have a confession to make. Me, no always Wash your workout clothes Immediately after exercising. If I’ve had a really sweaty session, they’ll go straight into the wash, but otherwise I’ll re-wear them at least once. Think about it: A hot girl taking a walk on a crisp day or a quick 15 to 20 minutes on a Peloton bike that doesn’t result in a lot of sweat shouldn’t mean I have to do more laundry this week.
This is “girl math” logic, but I had to find out from an expert if it was actually safe for my skin. Is my “reuse” habit causing more harm than I realize? I spoke with a dermatologist about what we should all consider when deciding whether to ejaculate sportswear In the laundry.
The real concern is sweat, bacteria and acne
Sweat itself is harmless and odorless. But when they combine with bacteria naturally found on your skin and are absorbed by the fabric, then this can be achieved You start to smell And irritation. Problems arise when you keep your sweaty clothes on for hours after a workout.
“The longer bacteria remain in contact with your skin, the more likely they are to become harmful.” Brianna Olamejo, MD.FAAD, a New York dermatologist, tells SELF.
“Normally, it can cause young love. I see a lot of patients with pimples on their chests or backs, and they’re often people who exercise frequently and maybe go to lunch afterward or can’t change their clothes or shower right away.
Unfortunately for me, Dr. Olamejo says that even if you remove your gym clothes and put them back on the next day, the bacteria just doesn’t go away. “Some of the bacteria from the previous workout still lingers,” she says. “It will probably have an odor, but it may also cause acne or irritation.”
It depends on your exercise and sportswear
Well, my logic wasn’t that completely on. Dr. Olamejo says not all workouts are created equal when it comes to sweat and skin risks. Just as I suspected, the sweatier workouts (eg Run, Hot yogaor Spin class) are the ones that guarantee a new set of clothes tomorrow.
“High-intensity cardio tends to cause the most sweat,” says Dr. Olamejo. “These are more prone to acne. Lower intensity workouts, e.g Pilates, WalkingOr yoga, may be less risky. Everyone sweats differently, so it varies widely.
