It’s no secret that fungal infections are particularly common among people who are physically active. Given that moisture and sweat buildup are highly conducive to the formation of fungal infections, outdoor fitness enthusiasts would do well to take certain precautions.
While the benefits of good exercise cannot be overstated, protecting oneself against fungal infections is an absolute must. As such, outdoor fitness buffs looking to send fungal infections packing can benefit from the following pointers.
Promptly Wash Your Activewear
Wearing workout clothes that haven’t been laundered is liable to result in fungal infections, staph infections and other undesirable health issues. When you don unwashed activewear, you’re essentially placing sweat, dirt and assorted bacteria back on to your body. Not only is this unsanitary, it’s also likely to imbue you with an unpleasant outdoor – something that anyone working out in close proximity to you is liable to take issue with. So, regardless of how little activewear you own or how much you hate doing laundry, you shouldn’t wear unwashed workout clothes under any circumstances.
For maximum protection against bacteria, consider ditching your current exercise attire for antimicrobial activewear. Furthermore, nature lovers who regularly hike and/or camp should get their hands on some good antimicrobial outdoor gear.
Be Mindful of Footwear
If you do a fair amount of hiking, it stands to reason that your feet do a fair amount of sweating – which can facilitate the formation of athlete’s foot. Frankly, there’s little wonder as to why feet are such popular spots for fungus formation. In addition to sweating during periods of physical activity, feet are essentially trapped in small spaces with the sweat they produce thanks to socks and other footwear. Needless to say, the more sweating your feet do, the more sweat they’re going to be trapped with.
Fortunately, you can help alleviate this problem by regularly alternating your footwear. So, if you only own one or two pairs of shoes, now would be the perfect time to expand your footwear collection. Giving your shoes time to air out can effectively reduce your risk of coming down with athlete’s foot and limit your exposure to residual sweat. This is particularly true in the case of shoes used for fitness activities.
You should also make a point of changing your socks on a regular basis. Before going to bed, at the start of the day and after completing a rigorous workout are among the most important times to put on a new pair of socks. Regularly changing your socks is also one of the most effective ways to avoid contracting athlete’s foot. Additionally, provided your feet are clean and free of fungus, giving them some time to breathe can feel good and provide them with a break from sweat exposure.
Never Skip a Post-Workout Shower
Showering on a daily basis is one of the foremost tenets of good grooming. In addition to keeping you smelling fresh and exfoliating your skin, showers are essential to getting rid of sweat buildup – which is among the leading causes of fungal infections. That being the case, engaging in a rigorous outdoor workout without showering afterward is the equivalent of rolling out the welcome mat for fungus.
After wrapping up a workout, showering should be your top priority. The sooner you shed your sweat-drenched activewear and step into the shower, the less likely you are to find yourself battling a fungal infection. For maximum effectiveness, pay special attention to the most fungus-prone parts of your body when showering. Additionally, once you’ve gotten clean, take care to dry yourself as thoroughly as possible to minimize residual moisture.
Of course, this isn’t to say that showering is only important for fitness buffs. Even if you aren’t physically active on a consistent basis, a daily shower is essential to getting rid of sweat buildup and preventing unpleasant body odor.
Nothing quite compares to reconnecting with the great outdoors. Furthermore, combining one’s love of nature with their love of fitness can be a recipe for a great workout. However, as it the case with indoor fitness, exercising outside can produce a fair amount of sweat. And while this is often an indicator of a solid workout, excessive sweatiness can also pave the way for a host of unwelcome fungal infections. Fortunately, with the advice outlined above at your disposal, getting in touch with nature and avoiding various infections won’t have to be mutually exclusive.
