Well, hate to burst your bubble, but not showering right away, a.k.a. keeping your workout clothes on after you exercise for as long as humanly possible, is actually really bad for you—it can cause yeast infections, much like keeping on a wet bathing suit for too long, explains Trina Warren, a certified personal trainer and Pilates Instructor at AYC Health & Fitness in Kansas City. And it doesn’t even matter if you exercise inside a toasty gym or the chilly outdoors—both are bad. “It’s the overall dampness of your workout gear plus the sweaty undergarments that trigger the infections,” Warren explains.
Her advice? Take a shower immediately after your sweat session. This is extra important if you worked out outside and you have environmental allergies, like grass allergies or hay fever, because pollen (an allergen) sticks on your clothes and hair.
Or, if you know you’re going to be running errands afterward and won’t have access to a shower ASAP, at least opt for workout clothes made from synthetic fabrics that are specifically designed to get rid of sweat and keep you cooler and drier. That is, stay away from cotton—that material is the worst because it actually retains sweat and moisture, keeping you sticky and stinky for longer until you shower.