How Physically Active People Can Stave Off Fungal Infections
There’s little wonder as to why physically active individuals are prime candidates for fungal infections. After all, exercise facilitates a lot of sweating, and the resultant moisture is highly conducive to such conditions as athlete’s foot and jock itch. That being the case, a fair number of athletes have simply resigned themselves to regular fungal infections. Fortunately, engaging in copious physical activity and remaining free of fungal infections don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Avoid Wearing Dirty Clothes
Regardless of how much you dislike doing laundry, you should never wear clothing that hasn’t been properly washed. This is particularly true in the case of workout clothes, which soak up a tremendous amount of sweat. For an added layer of protection, consider exercising in antimicrobial activewear. Even if the clothes in question aren’t used for working out, every piece of clothing you wear accumulates sweat and bacteria and should never be re-worn without a good washing.
In addition to not wearing dirty clothes, you should avoid sharing clothing – and other personal items – with others, especially in the absence of proper laundering. So, regardless of how close you are to someone, sharing unwashed clothing, towels or footwear is both unsanitary and highly conducive to fungal infections, staph infections and other undesirable health issues.
Don’t Wear Sweaty Clothes for Long Periods
The longer sweaty clothes remain on your body, the more likely fungal infections are to develop. As such, you should make a point of promptly changing out of clothes that have soaked up a fair amount of sweat. For example, after finishing a strenuous workout, make sure to change out of your activewear at your earliest possible convenience, regardless of whether or not you’re able to shower right away.
Of course, this isn’t to say that exercise is the only activity that can produce large amounts of sweat. Depending on the weather, simply being out and about is liable to result in considerable sweatiness. So, after returning home from any sort of excursion in hot weather, take care to put on fresh clothes. Additionally, if you anticipate doing a lot of sweating, bringing a change of clothes when you leave the house – or always leaving one in your car – can prove incredibly helpful. Ideally, clothing changes should occur after bathing, which brings us to the next point…
Bathe on a Regular Basis
Bathing on a daily basis can prove beneficial in a number of areas. For starters, giving yourself a thorough scrub each day is a great way to keep body odor under control and keep yourself smelling fresh. Unsurprisingly, irregular bathing is liable to pave the way for unpleasant body odor and bacteria buildup, which can leave you feeling itchy and uncomfortable and prove detrimental in professional settings and social situations.
Bathing on a daily basis can also prove conducive to staving off fungal infections. A daily shower, for example, can help get rid of excess sweat and bacteria, thus reducing your odds of developing jock itch, athlete’s foot and other common fungal issues. Furthermore, when bathing, take care to pay special attention to the parts of your body that are most prone to fungal infections – such as the feet and groin.
Once you’ve finished bathing, make sure to dry yourself as meticulously as possible to get rid of any excess moisture. If you put on clothes without taking the time to fully dry yourself off, moisture can become trapped and set the stage for the formation of fungal infections.
As is the case with changing clothes, it’s important to bathe after exercising or taking part in other physically strenuous activities. So, even if you’ve already had your daily bath or shower, make sure to take an additional one every time you work up a hearty sweat.
If you regularly exercise or engage in activities that produce a fair amount of sweat, it’s reasonable to assume that the occasional fungal infection will crop up. However, this isn’t to say that staving off fungal infections should entail avoiding physical activity. Given how beneficial being physically active can be to both physical and mental health, it’s in your best interest to prioritize it rather than swear it off. So, if you’re looking for effective ways to stay in shape and remain fungus-free, put the tips discussed above to practical use.
