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Not showering after exercise, is that bad?

Have you ever skipped a shower after exercising? And do you wonder if that hurts? We have the redeeming answer for you!

The effect

During intensive workouts you naturally sweat. The sweat on your skin can give you a rash from the heat. Your skin will also break down and there is a chance that bacteria will penetrate your skin, because they grow quickly on sweaty skin. Taking a shower right after exercise can help prevent this.

By not showering after exercise, you give sweat and natural oils that are on your skin the chance to cause damage. Together they will form a waxy film if left on your skin for too long. This can irritate your pores, which can lead to acne, among other things.

It also depends on the type of workout you do. If you exercise outdoors, such as hiking, cycling or boot camps, it is even more important to shower after exercising. Outdoors, you are exposed to dust, toxins and other environmental factors.

If you don't shower for a long time after exercise, you can also get infections. Fungi grow faster in warm and humid environments. Sweaty sports bras are known to cause yeast infections under and around your breasts. The best thing you can do for good skin health is take off your sports bra after exercise, take a shower and dry yourself well.

Read also :'Why do some people sweat more than others during exercise?'

Don't just wash yourself…

In addition, it is not only important to wash yourself well after exercising, but also to wash your sportswear well between wearing. If you don't, the grime from your previous workout will re-adhere to your skin when you put the clothes back on. This makes you vulnerable to an inflammatory reaction such as folliculitis (when your hair follicles become inflamed) or acne.

No time?

Do you really have no time to shower after exercise because you have to go straight to an appointment or to pick up your children? It's not a disaster to skip a shower once in a while if you have no other choice, but at least make sure you do the following things. Wash your hands with warm water and soap, use damp cloths to 'clean' yourself, use deodorant and change into clean clothes. Then make sure you take a good shower within 12 to 24 hours.

Source:Livestrong.com