Underwear mistakes you're probably making

 

Not wearing cotton

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Let's face it, ladies, cotton underwear may not be the sexiest choice you can make — but it's the healthiest. "Silk and synthetic fabrics are not breathable, which increases the risk of moisture being trapped and retained, which can create a yeast or bacterial infection," Donnica Moore, M.D., told The Huffington Post. She added that if you must wear underwear made from synthetic fabrics, you should at least choose a pair with a cotton-lined crotch. Limit the silky panties to special occasions — especially those where they won't stay on very long.

Wearing thongs

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Thongs may be the perfect solution to panty lines when you're rocking your yoga pants, but they come with risks that are just, well, gross. "If you have a little bacteria — E. coli is the most common bacteria in the colon — in the back part of the fabric and you're physically active, that material may move," Dr. Jill M. Rabin told The Huffington Post. "All it has to do is move an inch or two and it's next to the vagina or urethra. That thong may be depositing colonic bacteria into your vagina or urethra."

If that's still not enough to make you ready to trash your thongs, irritation from the thin material can also lead to skin tags on the vulva and rectum — probably not the look you're going for down there. Rabin added that choosing cotton thongs, wearing them for short periods of time, and keeping yourself clean will probably keep you healthy… but is it worth it?

Wearing underwear to bed

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OK, so hear me out on this one. I'm not telling you to go bed naked, I'm just saying it might not be a bad idea to go commando under those comfy pajamas of yours — especially if you're a frequent flyer when it comes to issues like yeast infections and vaginal inflammation. Trapped moisture can lead to increased bacteria and even yeast infections, and wearing underwear 24/7 can increase that risk.

Michigan State University ob-gyn Nancy Herta, M.D., told Glamour, "Allowing that area to get some air helps to keep it dry and clean." If you can't bring yourself to ditch the underwear every night, try it out for at least a couple nights a week and see if you notice any improvements.

Not wearing them during the day

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Just because it's better to let your lady parts breathe while you sleep doesn't mean you should plan on going commando all day, every day. Melissa Goist, M.D, told Health that while it's OK every now and then, it's definitely not advisable to go without underwear in some situations. According to Goist, going sans-panties while you wear clothing that causes friction, like jeans, can actually lead to chaffing and sores — which can eventually become infected. No, thank you!

Wearing the wrong size

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No one wants to wear underwear that sag — it's uncomfortable and unsightly. But wearing too-tight underwear is just as bad, and might even be worse. Wearing too-tight clothing in any area of the body can lead to chafing and irritation, and the vagina is no different. I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like a good place to be dealing with chafed skin.

Wearing underwear that doesn't leave room for a little air to move around can also cause moisture to be trapped, possibly leading to a yeast infection. It's probabaly best not to size down when picking out your undergarments from now on.

Wearing colored underwear

It's definitely fun to pick out underwear in a wide variety of pretty colors and patterns, but Owen Montgomery, M.D., told Cosmopolitan it might be bad for your health. "Fabric dye can irritate the delicate skin around your vagina — especially if you already have sensitive skin or you're prone to recurring vaginal infections," he said. Looks like it's tighty-whities from now on, ladies!

Not changing underwear after a workout

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Sitting around in your sweaty clothes (and underwear) after a workout may do more than make you smell a little ripe. According to Jen Gunter, M.D., it can lead to a female version of 'jock itch.' She told Glamour that while it probably won't give you an internal infection, it's not uncommon for women to develop intertrigo, an itchy, yeast-induced issue in the groin area that's usually accompanied by a rash. Since it's often brought on by moisture and friction, changing into a clean and dry pair of underwear post-workout can go a long way toward keeping this uncomfortable condition at bay.

Putting your underwear in the dryer

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It's easy to throw your underwear into the washer and dryer without much thought, but they call them "delicates" for a reason. While it's possible to get away with not hand-washing underwear, especially if they're cotton, throwing them in the dryer is basically giving them a death sentence, according to Women's Health. Lingerie expert Jenny Altman told them the heat breaks down fabrics, meaning the elastic in your underwear will be saggy before you know it. Instead, try using a drying rack or clothing line. Since they're small and made of light fabrics, they probably won't take as long as you think to dry.

Washing them with the wrong detergent

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The skin on your arms and legs might not call for special detergents, bur your vagina may have different requirements, according to Donnica Moore, M.D. She told The Huffington Post one issue she sees a lot of is contact dermatitis. "The number one cause of that is your laundry detergent. The tissues that your panties come in to contact with are a lot more sensitive than your elbows."

Moore recommended choosing a hypo-allergenic detergent — or at least choosing one that's not heavy on the perfumes. "I don't know why we need our vaginas to smell like a garden," she added.

Figure out what works for you

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When it comes down to it, it's important to choose an underwear that feels as good as it looks. While some of the information from this article might be a bummer to your underwear drawer (sorry, thong fans!), you'll find there are still plenty of choices out there that look great, feel great, and aren't bad for your health.