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When a product is advertised as a shower item, you expect it to make you clean. From soap to body scrubs and foot masks, many products are intended to remove the grime building up on your skin. But there's one popular shower product that renders these cleaning supplies useless.
Dermatologists tell Parade it's a common bathroom item they recommend people throw out altogether because people often mishandle it.
The Shower Item To Keep Out of Your Bathroom
Let's first squeeze out the gross secret behind loofahs. Loofahs are dirty. These scrubbers may seem clean because they're holding on to soap, but are often contaminated with harmful germs you're scrubbing onto your body. Just how bad is it to use a loofah? Let's find out.
Loofahs are a bacterial haven
One older but well-known study found that while loofahs help exfoliate the skin, dead skin cells can get trapped inside the crevices of a loofah. These increase the risk for several infection-causing bacterial species to multiply, including:
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- Group B Streptococcus
- Pseudomonas
- Enterococcus
- Xanthomonas
- Klebsiella (bacteria found in human stool)
"Even a brand new loofah, when exposed to sterile water, can grow pathogenic bacteria," warns Dr. Amanda Derwae, MD, a dermatologist at Integrated Dermatology of Fairfax. Natural loofahs made of gourd are no better either.
The second reason any loofah is a bacterial haven is that it never dries. Loofahs are damp after touching wet skin and are usually left to hang in the shower.
"One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving a damp loofah in the shower, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria, mold and yeast to grow," explains Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, a dermatologist at RealSelf. "Using a contaminated loofah can introduce these microbes back onto the skin, especially if you have any nicks or open areas, potentially leading to folliculitis or infections."
Add in the constant humidity in a bathroom from a steamy shower, and you have a perfect recipe for bacterial growth and possible mold on the loofah. So if you smell mildew or your loofah has taken on a wet sock smell, it's best to throw it out ASAP.
Constant scrubbing makes your skin more infection-prone
If you weren't grossed out by loofahs being a bacterial playground, here's another dirty truth. Constant scrubbing with a sponge scrubber makes your skin more prone to infections.
Loofahs create microtrauma by over-exfoliating skin, explains Dr. Derwae. The rough and vigorous strokes can remove more of the top layer of skin than needs to be removed. This is especially bad for people with sensitive skin or with an existing skin issue, which can make the problem worse and risk infection.
Even on normal skin, vigorous scrubbing with a loofah may eventually cause lichenification. As the skin's way to protect itself from constant abrasion, the skin hardens and thickens, leaving you with a wrinkly and leathery appearance.
Common Mistakes People Make When Using a Loofah
According to Dr. Derwae, using a loofah in general is the biggest shower mistake. However, if you want to hold on to your beloved soap scrubber, she recommends the following tips.
First, you need to give the loofah a chance to dry off completely. That means not using the loofah daily or keeping it in the bathroom, but in a cooler, less humid environment. While it won't lessen the bacteria on the loofah, it can curb the extent of bacterial growth.
Second, don't use loofahs too harshly to exfoliate. "Even small breaks in the skin can be a portal of entry for bacteria," she warns. "Loofahs should not be used for rashes or skin disorders, as these areas of skin are more susceptible to infection."
Third, using antibacterial soap doesn't kill the germs on the loofah. Instead, you'll want to clean it once a week. Dr. Derwae recommends using a mixture of one part household bleach to nine parts water for cleaning. "I've heard other methods such as throwing it in the washing machine in hot water or soaking with vinegar, but I don't know of data to show that either of these is as effective as bleach."
If a loofah is synthetic or damp, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal says microwaving a loofah for a few seconds can also do the trick.
Lastly, people often keep their loofahs until they come apart or smell like mildew. To avoid a bacterial hotbed, Dr. Derwae advises replacing your loofah every three to four weeks.
What To Use Instead of a Loofah
There are better options out there, both for your skin and the environment. Both dermatologists recommend washcloths instead of loofahs for washing your body. They are softer on the skin and are less likely to cause skin irritation and microtears. Though Dr. Derwae warns that washcloths also need to dry completely between uses and be cleaned regularly.
Dr. Badreshia-Bansal also vouches for silicone scrubbers, or using your hands to lather in a mild cleanser. "These are less likely to harbor bacteria and infection, and are better suited for preserving the skin’s natural barrier."