18 January 2024 , 11:29
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It's considered uncouth to ask someone how often they change their underpants, especially if they're a stranger on the street.
Whilst most people agree that garments such as jeans and coats require less maintenance, the most logical and hygiene-conscious answer when it comes to knickers is to change them daily, right? Well, Curry's recently surveyed more than 2,000 UK residents on their underwear habits and found some disturbing results.
Fifty-four per cent of participants said they do wash their underwear after each wear. However, one in five men admitted to only washing theirs after wearing them for an entire week. Even more shockingly, five per cent of men said they will make use of their undies for two-three weeks before popping them in the wash.
The majority of women (81 per cent) said they change their knickers daily, with one nine per cent admitted they wait until they've achieved a week's worth of wear. So, how often should we be changing our undies, and who is going to have a word with Brits re-using the same pair of boxers for 21 days in a row?
Dr Jen Caudle, a TV health expert who garners millions of views on her TikTok videos, advised changing your underwear daily for 'health reasons' as well as "personal practice", in a recent post. "Changing your underwear every day helps potentially lower the risk of moisture being trapped in your genital area and developing bacterial yeast infections and stuff like that," she said. Dr Caudle added that irregularly changing your underwear cause increase the risk of skin conditions such as eczema.
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However, skin specialists claim men can wear the same pants for a couple of days without changing with no threat to their health. A dermatologist over at ClinicSpots told the Mail this only applies in situations where the person is conducting "minimal activity" and isn't sweating.
"Men's looser-fitting styles like boxers may also allow for slightly longer wear," Dr Chun Tang, a GP and medical director at Pall Mall Medical, said: "While wearing underwear for multiple days isn’t ideal, breathable cotton boxers can be worn for two days if proper hygiene practices are maintained."