There are a lot of Lingerie Mistakes People Didn’t Know They Were Making. For example, contrary to popular belief, it is not always healthy to wear the same underwear for years on end. In fact, according to experts, old underwear should be replaced every six months to a year at most.
In chat with Good housekeepingDr Susannah Unsworth, a specialist women’s healthcare expert, explained that major health issues resulting from wearing the same underwear for a long period of time can arise because the quality of the fabric declines over time. According to Dr. Unsworth, even if old underwear appears clean with repeated washing, deteriorating fabric fibers still retain bacteria, yeast, and moisture. She added that the fitting issues that came with deteriorating fabric elasticity could cause irritation and chafing. Even Janine Dutton, owner of Belle Clothing, confirmed that ill-fitting underwear can lead to chafing, making you more susceptible to infection.
Meanwhile, talk to The IndependentCosmetologist and intimate health specialist Dr Shireen Lakhani of Elite Aesthetics explains why underwear needs to be replaced more often than people think. “(Underwear) absorbs a lot of dead skin from (your intimate areas) as well as bacteria — the naturally occurring healthy bacteria that we all have, as well as the harmful bacteria that can be a result of infections like thrush and sexually transmitted diseases,” Dr. Lakhani said, noting how research has shown that throwing underwear in the washing machine doesn’t always eliminate bacteria, including harmful bacteria.
There are many things that affect the lifespan of your underwear
Experts mention several factors that affect the lifespan of underwear. For starters, frequency of wearing played a big role in the decision to replace underwear. Since underwear that is worn daily is more susceptible to bacteria, it is wise to replace it within a shorter period of time. Meanwhile, underwear that is not worn frequently can last longer.
During Dr. Shirin Lakhani’s conversation with The Independent, she said that a good rule of thumb is to replace your underwear annually. However, she stressed that underwear worn during sporting activities should be replaced much sooner. Narendra Baisal, a consultant gynecologist at the London Gynecology Hospital, indicated that it is best to replace cotton underwear after withstanding 50 washings in the washing machine. It is worth noting that most experts agreed on this You should consider getting rid of your underwear when… You start having fitting issues, or notice color fading, holes, wobbly materials, or irritation.
The material of the underwear also makes a difference. Chat with Yahoo! shoppingStacey Grace, founder and CEO of lingerie brand Kent, explained how fabrics impact longevity and comfort, saying: “Synthetics can technically last longer, but that’s because they’re made of materials that don’t biodegrade. They can also trap heat and moisture, which isn’t ideal for everyday wear.” Instead, she recommended choosing cotton underwear because the material provides breathability and longevity. In the end, it’s useful to know Why might your underwear be bad for you? – Especially if you don’t replace them as frequently as you should.
