The Effects of Re-Wearing Workout Clothes: Bacteria and Skin Infections

KOMPAS.com – There are various reasons that make someone tempted to put back on clothes that have been worn for sports.

For example, because you don’t have time to wash your clothes or you feel sorry because you’ve only been used to exercise for a short time.

Whatever the reason, re-wearing workout clothes before washing them again can have several effects.

Dirty gym clothes breed bacteria

Quoted from Livestrong, Friday (2/6/2023) humans have microorganisms that naturally live on the skin and there are millions of them. That includes bacteria, mold, and yeast (a type of fungus).

When you exercise, these germs can transfer to anything you touch, including the clothes you wear.

In normal amounts, bacteria are actually important for maintaining skin balance. But when the clothes are sweaty and warm, it creates the perfect environment for them to reproduce much faster than they normally would.

Also read: What Are the Effects of Not Showering After Exercising?

“When we wear clothes (after a workout) over and over again, one of the things you worry about is an increase in (microorganism) counts, which can cause things like irritation, boils, pimples, and even abscesses,” says Teo Soleymani, MD, physician. certified skin at UCLA Health.

The worst thing to put back on is underwear as it tends to collect the most microorganisms. Because underwear is in direct contact with the genitals and anal area.

Clothing materials also affect microorganisms. Synthetic materials such as polyester tend to have the potential to harbor more microorganisms.

A small study published in Applied and Environmental Biology in 2014 also found synthetic fabrics have a more unpleasant odor, thus encouraging the growth of certain bacteria more than cotton fabrics.