How many times can women wear their bra before it becomes unhygienic?

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How many times can a bra be worn before it becomes unhygienic?

There are two things that you should consider before rewearing a bra. The weather and the activities you’ve done throughout the day.

Generally, you should wash a bra after wearing it two to three times. Considering how fickle the Philippine weather is, especially these past few weeks, two to three wears should be the upper limit.

High heat and humidity can make you sweat more because the air is already saturated with moisture that keeps sweat from evaporating off your skin. As a result, this traps more body heat since sweat is supposed to cool you when it evaporates. You’ll notice this most especially if you spend time inside a non-airconditioned and stuffy room.

Now for those who regularly work out or must do intense physical activities, please wash your regular bra or sports bra every after use no matter the weather.

If you can, change into a clean, dry bra right after a sweaty session. The same goes for those who sweat easily, travel by public transport, or spend long hours outdoors—it’s best to change your bra every day.

What skin diseases and other risks should women look out for if she insists on wearing her bra for two weeks straight?

It’s important to wash your bra after two to three uses max since your bra can collect all that sweat, grime, and oil, which makes it a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and dead skin cells. All these things can cause skin issues that can progress to something that will cause discomfort and pain.

It can begin simply as skin irritation and rashes, as trapped moisture and that constant friction can cause chafing or those red, itchy patches on the chest and under the breasts. Not only that, all those accumulated oils, dirt, and dead skin cells can block pores on your chest and back, triggering acne breakouts.

Rewearing a bra for multiple days also encourages the overgrowth of yeast or bacteria potentially leading to skin infections. A bacterial infection usually creates deep, uniform redness, and may come with crusting, blisters, or pus. You can expect pain and heat in the area that’s tender to the touch.

Yeast or fungal infections have red, moist patches surrounded by tiny, scattered red spots. They are very itchy and sometimes come with a burning sensation. These skin issues may require specific treatment and medication, which may take 7 days to 4 weeks to completely heal depending on the severity of the infection.

So, it’s wiser to take a preventive approach and opt to wear a clean bra every single time. If you need to rewear a bra, it’s best practice to air dry the garment in between wears. Given our weather, choose bras with lightweight, breathable, or moisture-wicking fabric. And make sure to know your proper size to keep the bra from digging into your skin.

Wonder what happens to your breasts when you go braless? Well, here's a read for you. — LA, GMA News

Ma. Cristina M. Maledeo-Miravalles, M.D. is a residency training officer of the Department of OB-GYN at Makati Medical Center. She is a member of the Philippine Medical Association, the Makati Medical Society, the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, the Philippine Society of Climacteric Medicine, and the Aesthetic Gynecologic Society of the Philippines.