I have a confession to make. I don’t always wash my workout clothes right away after exercising. If I’ve had a really sweaty session, they’ll go straight into the laundry—but otherwise I’ll rewear them at least once. Think about it: A hot girl walk on a crisp day or a quick 15 to 20 minutes on a Peloton bike that doesn’t result in much sweat shouldn’t mean I have to do more laundry this week.
That’s my “girl math” logic, but I had to find out from an expert if it’s actually safe for my skin. Is my “reuse” habit causing more harm than I realize? I spoke with a dermatologist about what we should all keep in mind when deciding whether to toss activewear in the laundry.
The real concern is sweat, bacteria, and acne
On its own, sweat is pretty harmless and odorless. But when it combines with the naturally occurring bacteria on your skin and is absorbed by fabric, that’s when things can start to smell and irritate. The problems arise when you keep your sweaty clothes on for hours after your workout.
“The longer the bacteria stays in contact with your skin, the higher chance it can become harmful,” Brianna Olamiju, MD, FAAD, a New York–based dermatologist, tells SELF.
“Usually, it can cause acne. I see a lot of patients who have breakouts on their chest or back, often people who work out frequently and maybe go to brunch afterwards or aren’t able to change or wash immediately.”
And unfortunately for me, Dr. Olamiju says that even if you remove your activewear then rewear it the next day, bacteria doesn’t just disappear. “Some of the bacteria from the prior workout can still linger,” she says. “It’s probably going to smell, but it can also still cause acne or irritation.”
It depends on your workout—and your activewear
Okay, my logic wasn’t totally off. Dr. Olamiju says not all workouts are created equal when it comes to sweat and skin risk. Just as I suspected, the sweatier workouts (like running, hot yoga, or spin class) are the ones that warrant a fresh set of clothing tomorrow.
“High-intensity cardio tends to cause the most sweat,” Dr. Olamiju says. “Those are at higher risk for acne. Lower intensity workouts, like Pilates, walking, or yoga, may be lower risk. Everyone sweats differently, so it’s on a spectrum.”