When it comes to personal hygiene, there are certain areas where opinions are split and habits vary widely from person to person.
Questions like whether you need to wash your legs in the shower or how often bedding should be changed often spark strong reactions, and underwear habits tend to fall into that same category of quiet disagreement.
Doctors say it is not always that straightforward, as factors like the style of underwear and how much you sweat throughout the day can make a difference.
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.”
Health professionals generally agree that wearing a fresh pair daily is the safest option, as re-wearing unwashed underwear can increase the risk of skin issues.
Licensed skincare specialist Sarah Roberts warned: “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.”
Roberts went on to explain: “Men’s boxers, although touching the skin less frequently than women’s underwear, do not escape these hazards — particularly when worn repeatedly without change.”
For women, vaginal health becomes an added consideration when underwear is worn for extended periods without being changed.
Other factors to keep in mind include heavy sweating, frequent exercise, menstruation, and vaginal discharge, according to dermatologist Dr. Archit Aggarwal.
Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman also emphasized: “For those engaged in intense physical activities or who sweat heavily, it’s advisable to change underwear more frequently.”
Dr. Kopelman added: “In hot and humid climates, changing underwear even more than once a day might be necessary to maintain good hygiene.”
In short, changing into clean underwear every day remains the simplest way to stay comfortable and reduce the risk of irritation or infection.
