Health & Fitness: Heading to the Gym? Follow These Hygiene Tips

After a workout, change out of your sweat-soaked clothes as soon as possible.

Nearly 80 percent of women exercise on a regular basis, yet as many as one-third of these women mistakenly wear their sweat-soaked clothes for as long as an hour following a workout, according to a new survey by Harris Interactive for the Vagisil Women's Health Center.

"Appropriate workout attire, along with physical activity and proper hygiene, all play a big part in creating a healthy lifestyle," said Mari Winsor, celebrity Pilates trainer and feminine fitness consultant to the Vagisil Women's Health Center. "Women should change clothes immediately after a workout. Even if they are only in the car for 15 minutes, that is still 15 minutes too long when it comes to proper feminine hygiene."

According to the survey, 56 percent of women are not wearing the right attire when working out.

"This may create a potential situation for vaginal irritation, itch and infection," said Dr. Adelaide Nardone, an avid runner and board-certified gynecologist in Providence, R.I.

"The Vagisil survey also found that most women - 81 percent - do not know that the underarm is not the part of the woman's body with the most sweat glands; the vulvar area actually has more sweat glands," she said.

Winsor and Nardone offer these tips for women:

* Take steps to prevent excess perspiration. Only 14 percent of women take steps to prevent excess moisture or perspiration. Sprinkle a cornstarch-based powder, such as Vagisil Deodorant Powder, onto panties or panty-liners on a regular basis, especially during a workout, to help absorb excess moisture and odor.

* Gear up. When working out, don't wear clothing that traps moisture, such as spandex, jeans, or wind pants or shorts. Wearing tight pants or underwear can restrict ventilation and lead to vaginal infection.

* Don't overlook good hygiene. Sixty-eight percent of women are unaware of the connection between physical activity and its effect on vaginal health. With the excess perspiration and moisture generated from a workout routine, women should either shower immediately or, more conveniently, use Vagisil Foaming Wash, a soap-free, easy-to-use feminine cleanser that requires no rinsing with water.

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