Jen Thomas
Nobody ever truly knows what anyone else gets up to in their private life, so how often should you change your underwear, really?
Many a debate has raged on the internet when it comes to hygiene.
From whether you should wash your legs, to how often you should change your bedding, or even shower in the first place, it seems everyone has a different opinion.
Most people assume the correct answer for how often we should change our underwear is daily.
Advert
Most medics actually say something else; apparently, it depends what kind of pants you wear and how sweaty you get.
It's a tricky one.
If you choose a loose style such as boxer shorts then - whisper it - you might get away with wearing them for longer than a day.
Your secret is safe with us!
Speaking to the Daily Mail, dermatologist Dr. Anju Methil said: “In situations with minimal activity and no sweating, changing [underwear] every other day may be acceptable.
“Men’s looser-fitting styles, like boxers, may also allow for slightly longer wear.”
A poll from 2023 run by Newsweek backed up the general consensus, with 47 percent of people saying they change underwear every day.
It seems like the healthiest thing to do, as experts say that repeatedly wearing undies can make you more likely to experience skin problems.
Sarah Roberts is a licensed skincare specialist and she advises: “Men and women risk skin irritation, rashes, or the worsening of pre-existing conditions such as eczema or psoriasis when they re-wear underwear too often without washing it; this is due to friction and trapped moisture.”
It also turns out that it just comes down to who the underwear is aimed at, too.
Many styles designed for men are created so they can be worn for longer.
Roberts added: “Men’s boxers, although touching the skin less frequently than women’s underwear, do not escape these hazards — particularly when worn repeatedly without change.”
Wearing underwear repeatedly can also also cause problems when it comes to vaginal health.
Regular wear without changing or washing can lead to painful and irritating problems like yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.
Other factors to consider besides sweat and exercising regularly are heavy menstruation and significant vaginal discharge also require changing more than once a day, says dermatologist Dr. Archit Aggarwal.
Exercise friction and sweat can cause other rashes and uncomfortable issues.
Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman explained: “For those engaged in intense physical activities or who sweat heavily, it’s advisable to change underwear more frequently."
The weather can also cause problems which make you want to change it more often as well, but it all comes down to comfort too.
Dr Kopelman added: “In hot and humid climates, changing underwear even more than once a day might be necessary to maintain good hygiene."