Why Wearing Your Gym Leggings Could Actually be Damaging Your Health

Oh goody, another thing we're doing wrong.

21 March, 2018
Why Wearing Your Gym Leggings Could Actually be Damaging Your Health

​If you're the kind of gym-goer that prefers milling about in your gym kit for a full day, but never actually making it onto the treadmill, then you might want to listen up.

There's no judgement here; well-made gym leggings are flattering. The hold you in and, teamed with the right pair of trainers, allow you to give off the (entirely false) image that you're one of those lucky people who enjoys exercise.

But I'm about to come and piss on your parade, unfortunately. Because apparently we're being warned against wearing our gym leggings when we're not ​actually ​working out. According to medical experts, donning our exercise gear for longer than the time we spend exercising can cause a bunch of dermatological problems.​ Which isn't exactly ideal.

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Speaking to Mic​, dermatologist  Dr Michael Eidelman ​explains that the fabric used to create exercise-wear doesn't "breathe as well," so causes you to"hold sweat closer to the skin," creating "so much warmth and moisture."

And that, in turn, can lead to skin problems. Like folliculitis, for example, which is when your hair follicles become blocked and then inflamed. Apparently in women, it's common on the upper back (thanks to sports bras), but you can also get it on your bum if you're a particular fan of spinning or general cycling. Joy of joys.

But you'd be getting off lightly if you just got a touch of folliculitis, because apparently gym leggings can also cause yeast infections. Mmmm.

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If you were particularly unlucky, you could get vaginitis and other yeast infections thanks to lingering moisture in your leggings around your crotch area. And according to Eidelman, you've got a higher chance of this if you're is on antibiotics for the likes of acne.

And nobody wants that when they're trying to do a good deed by exercising, do they? Luckily, Dr Eidelman​ has a way around it; he recommends hunting down moisture-wicking gym gear (Sweaty Betty does some good stuff, as does Nike), and making sure you shower and changing shortly after exercising.

Simple.

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Credit: Cosmopolitan
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