In contrast, older adults reported significantly cleaner habits. Among people aged 55 to 64, 67% said they never wear underwear for more than one day, and only 3% admitted to repeating pairs.

Skin irritation or infection

According to doctors, this growing trend of stretching wear-time poses more than a cosmetic concern. Bacteria, yeast, and moisture build up in tight-fitting clothing, creating an ideal environment for skin irritation and potential infections – especially in areas with limited airflow.

“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,” Sarah Roberts, a licensed skincare specialist, told the Daily Mail.

‘Harbor moisture and bacteria’

Roberts wa:rned that wearing underwear too long can cause infections like yeast overgrowth and bacterial vaginosis.

Yeast infections lead to itching, burning, and thick white discharge when candida fungus multiplies. Bacterial vaginosis, often mistaken for yeast, usually includes a fishy odor and gray or yellow discharge caused by bacterial imbalance.

“The vulva contains folds and crevices that harbor moisture and bacteria more readily than male genitalia,” Dr. Archit Aggarwal, a dermatologist with ClinicSpots, told the publication.

Jock itch

It’s not only women who face hygiene-related health risks – men are just as vulnerable, especially when it comes to jock itch, a fungal skin infection marked by an itchy, red rash in the groin, buttocks, and upper thighs.

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