Anjali Butani of ANJALI MD Skincare Featured in SELF Magazine

Sorry, But Your Loofah Is Probably A Cesspool Of Bacteria

ANJALI MD featured in  - SELF Magazine By Claire Hannum It's nothing to freak out over, but it IS kinda gross. Over the past week, the internet has descended into what appears to be a major freak-out over some unpleasant scientific findings: As it turns out, most shower loofahs are pretty gross. Those cute little scrubbers can be a prime location for hosting and transmitting bacteria. They also have a tendency to collect dead skin cells, so each time you use yours, you may be spreading dirt you removed from your body during yesterday's shower right back onto yourself. (Gag.) Neither of these are particularly dangerous, but they are kind of, well, gross. "Ick" factor aside, it's worth noting that the findings everyone is concerned over are from a study that took place back in 1994. Many dermatologists have been advising against their patients using loofahs for decades. So, while the internet's current concern may be a tad excessive, it does have a bit of truth to it. "Loofahs are very unhealthy for the skin," Anjali Butani, M.D., cosmetic dermatologist and founder of ANJALI MD Skincare tells SELF. "They fill with dead skin cells and bacteria after just a few uses." The warm, wet environment inside your shower is a major culprit in maintaining a loofah's nastiness. According to Butani, those surroundings, paired with "all those dead skin cells trapped in the nooks and crannies" come together to serve as the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. "Instead of cleaning your skin, you end up adding germs and bacteria to your skin." That in itself is probably enough to make many of us avoid loofahs for the foreseeable future, but it's not the only downside of using them: The sponges can also irritate sensitive skin. Going too hard on the loofah can invite redness and flare-ups of conditions like acne and rosacea. Again, none of this is worth panicking over, but it's worth being aware of. While it may be time to part with your beloved loofah, the good news is that you've got a much simpler way to cleanse right at your fingertips. Butani suggests that anyone mourning the loss of their favorite shower accessory should simply switch to applying a cleanser with their hands. "In my practice, I recommend using a cleanser with glycolic acid instead of physically exfoliating with harsh tools like loofahs. I tell patients to use their hands in a soft, circular massaging technique to exfoliate and stimulate circulation." With this method, you can get clean without getting grossed out by your loofah. It's the best of both worlds! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to toss my loofah in the trash.

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