In cold weather, many of us consider reusing our workout clothes without going through the washing machine. In winter we do not sweat as much as when there are warmer temperatures, but that does not give you free rein to wear dirty clothes again, does it?
There are many reasons why you may be tempted to wear sportswear again after sweating it out once (or twice). Maybe you don't have time to do laundry, or you want to reduce the frequency with which you have to carry your laundry on the roof. Or maybe you just don't see the point in washing your expensive leggings after wearing them in a quick 20 minute workout.
Whatever the reason, we will tell you if it is dangerous to put the same clothes back on after a day or two before washing.
Dirty workout clothes breed bacteria
It's not the most comforting thing to think about, but we all have microorganisms that live naturally on our skin; millions of them actually just sit there all the time. This is what we call the microbiome of our skin . It includes bacteria, fungi, and yeast (a type of fungus).
When you play sports, these insects can transfer to anything you touch, and that includes the clothes you are wearing. We obviously sweat and wear clothes that can absorb whatever we excrete. These microorganisms can remain in clothing after workouts, especially if you miss the basket of dirty laundry. Bacteria and fungi love these dark, moist areas to grow.
You can also catch more bacteria by sharing gym machines. In normal amounts, these microorganisms are really essential to maintain the balance of your skin. So are certain yeasts and fungi. But when your clothes get sweaty and hot, you create the perfect environment for those little ones to proliferate faster than normal.
When we wear our clothes over and over again, one of the things you worry about is having higher amounts of microorganisms, which can lead to irritations, boils and pimples .
Is it safe to reuse dirty workout clothes?
There are two important factors to consider: what workout clothes are we talking about and how much did you sweat?
Anything further from your skin is generally less of a problem to use again. Putting on a running jacket again is totally different from reusing socks. The clothes that are closest to your body are the ones that perspire the most and have more contact with the skin, so it is very important to wash them after each use. For example, socks or sports bra .
The worst thing to reuse is underwear . This tends to collect most microorganisms, since it is in contact with the genitals and the anal area. If we are trying to compare different garments to reuse, underwear is not an option.
Some fabrics can also be better than others. Synthetic materials, such as polyester , tend to have more potential to trap some of these microorganisms. Synthetic fabrics absorb sweat and there may be some truth to the idea that clothes that dry faster can promote less growth of microorganisms. But the science in this area is lacking so far.
After thinking about the clothes you want to wear again, think about the amount of sweat you have excreted. If you're wearing a sports bra and you weren't exercising too much and want to dry it off and put it back on the next day, that's different than wearing a very sweaty one and putting it back on the next day. If it's a little sweaty and you let it dry and it doesn't smell much, then you can use it again.
3 dangers of going back to wearing dirty workout clothes
You could have a rash
Having a higher number of bacteria on the skin is not necessarily enough to cause an infection. But it only takes a small wound or a front door. We're not talking about a huge wound or obvious cut – common exercise-induced rubbing can compromise the skin barrier enough to let things like staph and MRSA in .
Staph can cause a mild skin condition called folliculitis. This is basically an infection in the hair follicles. It occurs when something, such as abrasions, tight clothing, or shaving, damages the hair follicle and creates an entrance for microorganisms.
It is generally not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable and unsightly. Folliculitis looks like a red, bumpy rash and is often mistaken for acne. The good news is that it can be easily dealt with with some skincare strategies, such as applying a warm compress several times a day and avoiding shaving or waxing.
But in a more extreme scenario, staph and MRSA can cause deeper infections and abscesses that require antibiotic treatment to clear up.
You could develop acne or a yeast infection
Some bacteria can also promote acne. If your dirty clothes are full of bacteria and oils from your skin, you can end up with clogged pores and an acne breakout on your chest or back.
Yeast infections are also more likely to develop in humid environments. Athlete's foot and jock itch are more likely to develop when reusing clothes. Both are caused by fungal overgrowth and can cause uncomfortable itching.
Malassezia and tinea versicolor are two other types of fungal infections that can develop when normal fungi on the skin grow out of control. Staying in wet clothing can promote them and cause a nasty rash.
The overgrowth of certain fungi or bacteria can also cause a skin condition called intertrigo , which is most commonly caused by candida , a type of fungus, and develops in warm, moist areas of the body where the skin rubs against other skin. such as the armpits, the back of the knees, or any other skin fold.
Your skin can get irritated
Even minerals that build up on clothing when you sweat can cause skin irritation.
Sweat is made up of different salts: sodium chloride, potassium chloride , etc. You may notice colored clothing has a kind of flaky white tint when you air dry after a particularly sweaty workout. They are the mineral salts of sweat. Salts are technically metals, and when they settle on the skin, they can be quite irritating and cause chafing in areas of repetitive friction.
The accumulation of sweat is annoying on its own, but it can also create those micro tears in the skin that allow bacteria to settle and cause infections.
And sometimes dirty workout clothes just smell bad. It is not the sweat itself that smells, but the bacteria that feed on the sweat.
