After a hard physical training there is nothing more comforting than feeling that you gave your best, but in reality there may be a feeling that can be similar to this, and it is that of a good shower after sweating.
Good hygiene habits after exercising are absolutely essential, since a good state of health of your body and your organism also depends on them.
You must bear in mind that in places like a gym, or CrossFit training sites, there can be a lot of bacteria due to other people's sweat. For these reasons, you should know the 7 hygiene habits that you should follow after training . They are very simple steps, but if they are not followed they can cause you a real problem.
7 essential hygiene habits after training
1. Use sandals in places of common use
It is essential that you always use sandals in places of common use, such as showers, bathrooms or even the training mat, since millions of bacteria and fungi are housed in these places that can affect your health.
In these places we can find fungi and bacteria called: Staph, streptococcus, E. colo, as well as the cold and flu virus.
These germs that we find in the gym can also cause problems such as athlete's foot disease or other infections that lodge in the skin, for these reasons it is not advisable to go barefoot.
If instead you want not to shower in the gym, but to do it at home, then it is recommended to at least change your training socks and shoes, since hot places are where the fungus that causes foot is much more easily lodged. athlete .
2. Properly wash your hands
One of the most common habits is cleaning your hands, but do you really wash them well after training? It is an essential step to avoid contaminating your body with germs.
Bacteria can be located in all parts of the gym as a consequence of sweat and poor hygiene of many people. This is why washing your hands thoroughly after training in the gym is so important.
What about cuts and scrapes? If you don't take care of them you can get an infection, as well as touching your mucous membranes such as your eyes and nose while you train. Lastly, remember to clean the equipment you used to prevent other people from getting contaminated.
3. Cleaning the yoga mat
There is nothing better than feeling relaxed after a good yoga session outdoors, but this is when your mat or mat is at its worst (if we talk about hygiene).
Numerous studies have shown that yoga mats, which contain tiny holes, are breeding grounds for fungi and bacteria. In this regard, research carried out for Elle.com in 2016 found that yoga mats can contain bacteria such as micrococcus luteus and empedobacter brevis, both of which are found in the human mouth, nose, and respiratory tract.
Other bacteria that we can find on yoga mats are streptococci, and various forms of staph, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
A tip to keep your yoga mat clean is to place a non-slip towel on it, which should be removed after finishing a training session.
4. Change your clothes after sweating
One of the big problems after training is spending a lot of time in gym clothes covered in sweat and grime after training. Therefore, it is essential that you look for clean clothes and change as soon as possible, especially if you are a woman, since vaginal pH is quite sensitive and can be altered depending on various situations.
When a woman exercises and stays in sweaty workout clothes longer than necessary, the breathability of the vaginal area is limited due to the spandex bottom or underwear that traps sweat and moisture. Moisture can cause the pH to change , which can cause bacteria to overgrow. Therefore, it is recommended to use vaginal cleaning soap and other related products.
5. Wash your face
If you don't have time for a shower at the end of your workout, you should at least have it to wash your face and remove the sweat you still have.
When you exercise, naturally occurring sweat and skin oil clog pores and cause bacteria to overgrow, bringing acne to life – that's why it's so important. Also, remember that pores open up when we exercise, and anything you apply to your face, such as makeup, clogs the pores and causes acne at the same time.
6. Use steam rooms with caution
After a tough training session, there is nothing better than visiting a steam room or sauna to relax. However, it is essential that you practice good hygiene habits when visiting these common places.
Saunas and steam rooms are dark, humid and warm environments in which mold, bacteria and viruses thrive. So after visiting, be sure to completely dry your genital area to reduce the risk of developing a vaginal bacterial infection. Also, if you visit a public sauna, it is important that you disinfect the area regularly, since bacteria thrive easily in these areas.
Experts recommend not visiting these places if you have a herpes, as it is very resistant and can last for days on the surface of these spaces.
One last thing you should do is take a shower after leaving this area to disinfect your body.
7. Wash your hair properly
Sweat, along with poor hair washing, implies greasy hair, one of the causes of acne.
The oil found in your hair can get on your face and clog your pores, causing acne. Therefore, you should wash your hair at least three times a week, with a shampoo that removes grease.
conclusion
Training is an essential part of people's lives, since thanks to it we can all enjoy good health. However, it is just as important that you maintain good personal hygiene habits at the end, since the state in which your body will be also depends on this.
References
- Nicole, F. 8 Post-Gym Hygiene Habits You Should Never Skip. For Livestrong [Reviewed April 2019].
