Many individuals are familiar with the internal debate over how frequently you should change your underwear. While conventional wisdom suggests a daily change, dermatologists and experts offer insights that may surprise you. Factors influencing this decision include the type of underwear, activities you engage in, and climatic conditions. Dermatologist Dr. Anju Methil explains, “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”.1
How Often you Change Your Underwear Depends
Wearing the same pair of underwear for an extended period poses risks beyond just fashion concerns. Licensed skin care specialist Sarah Roberts warns, “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”. For women, the risks extend further due to the anatomy, with a shorter urethra making them more vulnerable to infections. Dr. Archit Aggarwal emphasizes the need for women with heavy menstrual cycles or significant discharge to consider changing their underwear more than once a day.2
Physical activity and climate significantly determine how often you should change your underwear. Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman advises, “For those engaged in intense physical activities or who sweat heavily, it’s advisable to get changed more frequently.” Similarly, living in hot and humid climates may necessitate a more-than-once-a-day practice to maintain good hygiene. Men and women face different consequences, with women risking yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis and men facing the possibility of jock itch if hygiene is not maintained.
