For the Yogis: Is wearing your yoga pants 24/7 bad for your health?

Sarah Khan

03 Oct 2017

1/8
#1 – Vaginal Infections
Dr. Michael Eidelman, medical director of Chelsea Skin & Laser, cautions against wearing clothes that "don''t breath as well and holds sweat closer to the skin". Such clothing, like yoga pants, creates plenty of warm and moisture which leads to vaginal infections like vaginitis and even yeast infections. When combined with natural bodily sweat and moisture, tight yoga pants can trigger a flare-up of fungus and yeast in your nether regions.
2/8
#2 – Tinea Cruris
Also known as 'jock's itch', tinea cruris is an infection that typically affects men, but can occur in women as well. It is a fungal infection that can highly irritate the skin on your inner thighs, butt and genital area. As the layman term for the condition implies, it causes itching or a burning sensation in the area surrounding the groin. Not entirely pleasant, eh?

Tight, restrictive clothing like jockstraps and even yoga pants traps heat and moisture, creating an environment that easily lets the fungus spread.
3/8
#3 – Butt Acne
Butt acne - yes, that's a thing. It makes sense truly, considering that yoga pants are the tightest around your derriere. What's more, you sit on your butt and are constantly rubbing against it as you move, which causes it to be in even tighter contact with your butt. This causes the sweat and bacteria to build up and clog your pores, leading to acne on your butt.
4/8
#4 – Folliculitis
Another concern arising from frequent yoga pants wear is folliculitis: an inflammation of hair follicles that arises from damaged or blocked natural follicle growth. What damages or blocks the follicles, you might ask? The answer: rubbing and irritation caused by tight clothing like yoga pants.
5/8
Tips on Hygienic Yoga Gear Wear
Convinced that your yoga pants might be more unhygienic than you'd initially thought? Flick through for easy tips to counter this! (P.S. You may even want to consider going commando in your yoga gear).
6/8
#1 – Go Commando
Yes, that's right - even health experts back this up. Firstly, wearing more layers only means more moisture - which only lets yeast thrive. It's a widely-known fact that wearing tight, non-breathable yoga pants can cause yeast infections. Wearing underwear not only creates more heat in your nether areas, it also traps the moisture more securely, creating a breeding ground for yeast.
7/8
#2 – Opt for lightweight briefs
Not keen on going commando? If so, opt for a pair of briefs that are lightweight and moisture-wicking. Underwear made of cotton is fine non-sweaty sessions, but a more breathable fabric option is best when working out during those yoga sessions.

Never wear thongs during yoga. You might think a lightweight thong might be a good alternative to your cotton undies, but this is not true. In fact, thongs wrap around your body more tightly and are more likely to ride up in uncomfortable areas, which can actually spread fecal matter (yikes!) into your vaginal area during your workouts, potentially leading to vaginal and urinary tract infections.
8/8
#3 Choose moisture-wicking yoga gear
Opt for moisture-wicking clothing for your yoga gear. After you shower post-yoga, make sure to change into different, more breathable clothing. Also note that despite this, your post-workout routine is crucial - attempt to cleanse yourself of both sweat and bacteria (around your nether areas) after working out!

Do you ‘live’ in your yoga pants? Well, you may want to rethink that.

We get it: wearing your yoga pants all day can feel très liberating.

There’s a reason why ‘athleisure’ – a fashion phenomenon so popular that the next edition of Merriam-Webster Dictionary will include it as a definition in its next edition – is on the rise: it’s just so darn convenient.

If you’re one to live in your yoga pants and year 24/7, here’s some bad news: what if we told you that there are actual health dangers lurking in your yoga pants and workout gear? From a higher risk of yeast infections and zits to rashes and flare-ups, browse our gallery above for the health risks of regularly wearing your yoga pants (and what you can do to prevent it!)

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

7 Yoga places in Singapore that won’t break the bank

10 Active wear pieces you can wear outside of the gym

Your favourite lip balms contain cancer-causing ingredients, according to new French study

Festive Bites: Where to get your sweet treats in...