8 underwear mistakes that can mess with your health

Some of us have at least one dirty secret: we are making underwear mistakes – including not changing them as often as we should. According to a 2019 survey by the underwear manufacturer Tommy John, about 45 percent of us go for two or more days without changing our skivvies. Men were 2.5 times more likely than women to go for a week or more. Harmless hygiene habit or health hazard? Read on to find out more about underwear mistakes and the impact they can have on your health.

Ideally, every last centimetre of your underwear should be woven from these natural fibres, but at the very least, the centre stretch should be lined in cotton to keep your nether region fresh and dry. Research, including a study published in 2018 in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, suggests that wearing non-cotton-crotch underwear can set you up for a yeast infection. Synthetic fabrics – like polyester and lace – can mess with your vaginal health by trapping heat and moisture, irritating the skin and creating an environment for bacteria or a fungus to overgrow and multiply. Silk (sorry) has the same effect. Save the fancy for special occasions, but otherwise stick with cotton.

“It’s a very breathable fabric that has the ability to reduce moisture,” says Jennifer Wider, MD, women’s health expert and author of The Savvy Woman Patient. “As a result, women who wear 100 percent cotton have less of a chance of vaginal irritation and yeast infections.”

Size matters – and not just because you don’t want panty lines. Tight-fitting undergarments (and pantihose for that matter) can keep your lady bits hot and sweaty – and not in a good way, but more along the irritation- and infection-promoting lines. In some women, snug underwear can trigger symptoms of a painful condition known as vulvodynia (so can inserting a tampon and having sex). “If your underwear is too tight or too small, the chances of vaginal and vulvar irritation increases,” says Dr Wider. So, too, does “the ability of bacteria to multiply if there isn’t enough opportunity for aeration.”

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Bacteria can survive a laundry cycle, suggests a study published in 2019 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Over time, that can do a number on your vaginal health, possibly increasing your chances of a yeast infection or urinary tract infection, among other conditions. If you wash your underwear on anything less than the “Hot” cycle, be sure to tumble dry them on low for 30 minutes after washing. A review of studies published in 2015 in Frontiers in Microbiology showed that cooler washing temperatures will disinfect only when bleaches are used in the detergents. It also found that a thorough drying of the laundry can effectively decrease the bacterial load.

Down-there skin can be sensitive and easily irritated by the perfumes used to give your laundry detergent its fresh scent. The chemicals in fabric softener and dryer sheets can also cause a little itch and burn. “Some women are more sensitive than others but on the whole, scented tampons and strong detergents can cause itching and irritation or even a burning feeling,” says Dr Wider. Your best bet? “Avoid using scented detergent if you’ve had a reaction in the past.” Instead, look for those labelled “hypoallergenic.”

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…which likely means you adore G-strings. But in an effort to avoid visible panty lines, you may be providing a direct lane for bacteria to travel from the back door to the front, raising your risk of infection. “Some women may be able to tolerate thongs without a problem, but for others, it’s another story,” says Dr Wider. “Many thongs come in lacy, synthetic fabrics with non-breathable materials that increase the risk for irritation and infection. The other issue women face is that thongs have a thin band of material which has the potential of moving bacteria from one area to another.”

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Ewww all you want, but it’s still important to eyeball discharge to check for changes. There can be a little more, or less, depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle – but if it’s clear to white, it’s normal. Grey or greenish discharge, instead, could be a sign of bacterial vaginosis – an infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that normally live in the vagina. Discharge that looks like pus, or has a foamy or cottage-cheesy texture, may also indicate a problem. A little vaginal odour is normal, but strong, foul and noticeable may mean infection or other issues.

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After yoga class or a workout at the gym, you head home to shower, but have to stop at the bank real quick, pick up a few groceries for dinner, grab a cup of coffee, and an hour later, you’re still in your icky workout undies. “It’s always a good idea to change after working out,” says Dr Wider. That’s especially true if you’re not wearing moisture-wicking or cotton undies since “synthetic fabrics don’t breathe as well as cotton ones and can trap moisture and bacteria post-workout.”

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That combo of warm and wet can irritate the skin on the outside of your vagina (the vulva), leading to inflammation; become a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast; and may raise your risk of intertrigo, a rash that can appear in skin folds and creases that’s caused by friction, lack of air circulation and moisture.

For most women, not a problem. For others, however, going commando at night might do their vagina good. Women who suffer from chronic inflammation of the vulva or vagina are prone to vaginal yeast infections, itchiness and irritation, and are likely better off if they sleep without underpants. Since yeast and bacteria thrive in moist, warm places, a little aeration now and then may provide some relief. If you feel uncomfortable in the buff, opt for a loose pair of cotton underwear or loose pyjama shorts.

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Source: RD.com