Practical Tips for Avoiding Fungal Infections

Although some of us are more prone to certain types of fungal infections than others, many of us regularly engage in behaviors that are highly conducive to such infections. Without even realizing it, we increase our odds of developing assorted fungal infections on a daily basis. Luckily, while many types of fungal infections are easy to develop, they’re equally easy to avoid. So, if you’re raring to stop fungal infections in their tracks, take care to equip yourself with the following pointers.

Bathe on a Daily Basis

Good grooming will serve you well in many areas of life. Whether you wish to maintain a professional appearance at the office, catch the eye of a potential romantic partner or get together with your nearest and dearest, basic cleanliness can do you a world of good. Furthermore, proper hygiene can help you stave off a wide assortment of fungal infections, and when it comes to steering clear of fungus, few grooming practices are as important.   

So, if your bathing schedule has become irregular, it’s in your best interest to correct this. The longer you go between baths and showers, the more sweat, bacteria and dead skin will build up, which can prove highly conducive to fungal infections. Provided you’re comfortably able to do so, make a point of giving yourself a good scrub at least once a day.

Additionally, if you regularly engage in strenuous workouts, you may need to bathe multiple times per day. Even if you’ve already had a bath or shower, you should bathe after doing an excessive amount of sweating. So, once you’ve met your fitness goals for the day, get out of your sweat-drenched activewear and give yourself a rinse.

After finishing your bath or shower, make sure to dry yourself off completely before proceeding to put on clothes. Fungus thrives in moist environments, and getting dressed before properly drying off stands to seal in moisture and set the stage for various fungal infections. 

Don’t Wear Unwashed Clothing 

Wearing articles of clothing for multiple days at a time is extremely unhygienic and highly likely to result in fungal infection, as well as other undesirable consequences. So, no matter how bothersome you find doing laundry to be or how much you’d like to continue wearing a certain piece of clothing, you should avoid wearing clothes for more than a day without washing them. Even if you think they smell fine, your unwashed clothes are caked in sweat, bacteria and assorted filth.

In addition to changing your clothes on a daily basis, avoid sleeping in clothes that have been worn outside of your home, as this stands to bring certain germs into bed with you. Instead, make a point of putting on fresh socks, underwear and breathable sleepwear before hitting the hay. In the interest of maximum protection, consider investing in antimicrobial bed sheets and pajamas.     

Avoid Sharing Clothing or Towels 

Under no circumstances should you share unwashed clothing or towels with another person. No matter how close you are with someone, such behavior is liable to lead to the formation and propagation of fungal infections. Even if the other party tries to place tremendous pressure on you, make it clear that sharing towels and/or clothing is a bad idea, particularly if they haven’t been washed.  

Don’t Wait to Treat Existing Fungal Infections 

As is the case with other health issues, waiting to treat fungal infections stands to make the problem considerably worse. Additionally, given how easy most fungal infections are to successfully treat, you have no excuse for not beginning treatment in a timely manner. Many fungal infections can be taken care of with over-the-counter sprays, ointments, powders and gels, most of which are affordable on even the tightest budget. Should OTC treatment prove ineffective, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with your doctor. 

Fungal infections can be itchy, bothersome and outright inconvenient. Furthermore, even if you’re not particularly prone to such infections, they’re fairly easy to develop. Every day, many of us inadvertently engage in behaviors that are highly conducive to the development of fungal infections and subsequently act surprised when said infections actually take shape. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of simple preventative measures you can take against fungal infections.