How often you should change your underwear, according to doctor
Dan Seddon
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock
A professional dermatologist has weighed in on the age-old question of how often we should all be putting on a fresh set of underwear.
When it comes to personal hygiene, there's a disconnect across the board in particular areas.
Should we be washing our legs in the shower? How regularly should we be changing our bedding? It's a bit of a minefield, and people on either side of the argument seem disgusted by the other.
Underwear-wise, the majority of us assume it's a daily task of changing, right?
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Yet according to doctors, it all depends on what kind type of pants you have on at the time and how hot you tend to get.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, dermatologist Dr. Anju Methil explained: "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."
Moreover, Newsweek's 2023 poll saw 47 percent of pollers confirming that they changed underwear every single day without hesitation.
It's the best way to take care of yourself, as strapping on the same unclean undies can lead to skin problems.
Sarah Roberts, a licensed skincare specialist, advised: "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."
Apparently, it can also involve who the underwear is targeted at, with many styles for men being designed to be worn for longer.
Roberts went on to add: "Men's boxers, although touching the skin less frequently than women's underwear, do not escape these hazards — particularly when worn repeatedly without change."
On the other end of the gender spectrum, there's vaginal health to consider when keeping your underwear on for more than 24 hours.
Wearing without changing or washing has the potential to result in pain and irritation. Yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis could occur.
Other factors to consider alongside sweat and regular exercise include heavy menstruation and significant vaginal discharge, says fellow dermatologist Dr. Archit Aggarwal.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hannah Kopelman made sure to mention: "For those engaged in intense physical activities or who sweat heavily, it's advisable to change underwear more frequently."
You may not realise that our health 'down south' is also at the mercy of the weather.
Dr Kopelman added: "In hot and humid climates, changing underwear even more than once a day might be necessary to maintain good hygiene."
So there you have it, give yourself a freshen-up every day if you want to eradicate all manner of uncomfortableness.