We’ve all been there. Your workout is over. Maybe you did some yoga or a HIIT session. But you have an errand or prior commitment that you cannot skip…again. Perhaps you’re so exhausted that you don’t feel like moving, let alone going home, peeling off your sweaty clothes, taking a shower, scrubbing down, washing your hair, and maybe shaving all the things if that’s your vibe. It’s all too much, and dread kicks in.
You don’t feel great about wearing your sweaty clothes (especially yoga pants or leggings), but how bad can it really be to hang out in sweaty clothes for a few hours? The answer: not great.
3 Icky Things Can Happen
Some of us might feel an underlying sense of unease when we’re unable to hit the showers immediately after class, certain we’re just asking for a gynecological or dermatological headache. Others may worry about clogging pores or offending our coworkers. We might even chastise ourselves for feeling lazy.
If you just can’t be bothered, don’t beat yourself up. Staying in your sweaty yoga pants, leggings, or bike shorts won’t create a life-altering imbalance. But it could create some, er, discomfort.
1. Fungal Infections on the Genital Area
Let’s set the record straight: “Sitting around in sweaty yoga pants is not going to cause a yeast infection,” says Dr. Marisa Messore, an obstetrician-gynecologist. A yeast infection occurs when the bacteria in your vagina are out of balance. Taking antibiotics, pregnancy, or hormonal disturbances, unmanaged diabetes, or having a weakened immune system all contribute to someone’s possibility of getting a yeast infection.
The issue of lounging around in sweaty undies is more of an external one. “If you get a skin rash in the external genital area, that could be a fungal infection (officially called vulvar candidiasis),” explains Messore.
2. Pimples or Rashes on the Butt
Acne on the buttocks is often referred to as buttne. Yep. “I often see patients who experience skin issues from wearing sweaty, tight-fitting clothing, like yoga pants, for extended periods,” says Dr. Hannah Kopelman, a dermatologist in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida. “It creates an environment that can trap sweat, oil, and bacteria against your skin.” And that sweat buildup and friction can cause skin irritations such as rashes, breakouts on the butt, even folliculitis, she explains.
A quick primer on the difference. “Pimples may appear more as blackheads or whiteheads,” says Kopelman. “Folliculitis usually presents as red, inflamed bumps or pustules around hair follicles and can be itchy or tender. While pimples can sometimes become infected, they aren’t directly related to the hair follicle itself.”
Folliculitis is when hair follicles become inflamed or infected, often due to bacteria, fungi, or friction from tight clothing, whereas pimples form when oil and dead skin cells clog pores, explains Kopelman. None of which is pleasant.
If you’ve ever experienced an ingrown hair or clogged pore in your pelvic area, you know that it makes settling into Warrior 2 or a squat less than pleasant.
3. Smelling Like Sweat
It’s common knowledge that sweat is the body’s way of cooling down. But contrary to popular belief, sweat itself doesn’t necessarily smell. Only certain types of sweat produced by specific glands that have the potential to stink—and even then, it’s not so much the sweat that smells but what’s in the sweat and how it mixes with bacteria on our skin or clothes. So sweat, on its own, is only one piece of the wet clothes puzzle.
Do This Instead of Sitting Around in Sweaty Clothes
Not surprisingly, the amount of time you sit around without changing after class makes a difference.
“The longer you sit in sweaty clothes, the worse it can be for your skin,” says Kopelman. “Beyond just body odor, staying in damp workout gear for extended periods (like three hours versus 30 minutes) increases your risk of skin irritation, folliculitis, and even fungal infections. The moisture, bacteria, and friction from tight clothing can lead to more pronounced skin problems over time.”
Wear Moisture-Wicking, Breathable, or Looser-Fitting Clothing
One solution both doctors recommend is moisture-wicking, cotton, and linen clothing that is lighter and more breathable. Faye Rex, a yoga instructor based in Brooklyn, New York, made the switch to flowing fabrics about eight years ago. “Both my yoga practice and my teaching career started in hot yoga rooms, so I wore tight shorts and leggings for years. [Now I wear] flowier fabrics, and it is definitely the way to go.” She opts for joggers over wide-leg or harem pants to avoid the nuisance of not getting tangled up in extra fabric during her practice.
Take Off Your Sweaty Clothes ASAP (Especially Your Underwear)
If you can’t—or, for whatever reason, don’t—shower immediately after class, Kopelman says the optimal solution is changing out of your workout clothes as soon as possible. “Even though many leggings claim to be sweat-wicking, I still recommend changing out of tight-fitting clothing as soon as possible. This helps prevent the buildup of bacteria and friction.”
Even reaching for a towel and drying your sweat can help. At a minimum, change your underwear and slip into a loose-fitting pair of pants. “If I’m sweaty enough after a yoga class, I’m definitely changing or, in times of need, taking off my underwear and going commando in looser pants,” says Rex.
Already found yourself with skin irritation? If you have more than a few pimples or experience persistent, uncomfortable bumps, Kopelman recommends seeing a dermatologist. “These bumps could indicate folliculitis, fungal infections, or other conditions that may require medical treatment to resolve. If the discomfort persists or worsens, professional evaluation is always a good idea.”
