Not all people can afford to have enough undergarments to take them throughout a whole week without having to wash them every other day. However, medics advise that whatever number one has, maintaining their cleanliness is very vital as it prevents some infections that may come with dirty clothing.

Dangers of putting on dirty undergarments

According to Dr Achille Manirakiza, a medical resident at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), there are several health dangers related to wearing unwashed undergarments.

"The most common problem related to dirty or not washed underwear is pubic lice. Potentially causing sexually transmitted infection, pubic lice can survive for long on the underwear and resist hard environments. It can be easily left out during laundry,” he explains.

Dr Rachna Pande, a medic at Ruhengeri Hospital, notes that, dirty undergarments can cause skin diseases.

Scabies, all kinds of fungal infections, bacterial sores and blisters, viral infections like herpes, human papilloma virus and protozoal infection can spread from used or unwashed under clothes.

"One can also get eczema due to allergy caused by dirt present in dirty clothes. At times people with reduced immunity can have severe forms of these infections, or even acquire necrotizing fasciitis, which is a potentially fatal condition,” she says. Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues.

How should underwear be maintained?

Manirakiza points out that in general although wearing clean underwear is a personal affair, he emphasizes that they should be kept with great care and cleanliness.

"Underwear should be kept in a warm, clean and dry area after being washed, dried and if possible ironed,” he says.

However, Manirakiza warns against keeping both clean and unwashed undergarments together, saying this can lead to an increase in the spread of infections.

"Ideally, underwear should be washed thoroughly, dried and ironed. This is because when they are not dried well, they create a conducive environment for the microbes and yeast to grow, leading to the spread of infections to the wearer,” says Amani.

He advises that for people who can’t afford to iron them, they should keep them in a clean environment.

Determining the right size

On how to determine the right size of underwear, Manirakiza says it depends on the size of the person, but he says a tight undergarment is not good.

"One is advised to wear something that allows air to circulate well in the covered areas. It’s also not good to wear unwashed undergarment since one might develop an irritation from the sweat released during the last wearing,” he says.

Dr Pande emphasises the importance of using undergarments of the right size.

"Tight undergarments used daily can cause chronic irritation and inflammation and even denuding the skin.

Chronic irritatation over time can lead to malignancy, and tight bras are risk factors for breast cancer,” says Pande.

On the other hand, Pande warns against wearing loose underwear as they can be uncomfortable and may not serve their function well. Moreover, tags of skin may get caught in the side loose fold of the underwear causing irritation and even tear of small folds of skin.

How long should one use them?

Undergarments can be used for as long as they last, that is, if they are still elastic and have not worn out. Ideally undergarments should be washed daily and fresh ones used.

Bras or vests on the other hand can be worn more than once, but one must know that wearing them constantly makes them damp, increasing risk for fungal infections and even skin allergies.

Wearing undergarments more than once increases the risk of one smelling bad due to contamination by body fluids, dampness and lead to growth of bacteria.