Taking long showers over the weekend with your favourite body wash and loofah is the best feeling. But did you know, your loofah is the perfect breeding ground for bacterias and germs? Yep, you read that right.

Instead, of leaving your skin squeaky clean, loofahs can transfer bacteria onto your skin. Yikes! Let’s take a look at how this innocent looking bathing companion could be a bacteria hoarder that can cause nasty skin problems.

 

They are filled with dead skin cells

They are filled with dead skin cells

Your loofah definitely removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, but then they get stuck in the folds and corners. The bacteria rapidly multiply in the damp and humid environment in which your loofah stays. By the time you step in for your next shower, there are more bacteria on the loofah than on your body! Each time the loofah doesn’t get a chance to dry properly, the bacteria continue to multiply. Using the bacteria-laden loofah will do more harm for your skin than good.

 

Natural loofahs are no different

Natural loofahs are no different

Natural loofah made using cucumber fibres have also been introduced in the market claiming to be safer. But these are no different than the traditional ones. In fact, as they are made using natural ingredients it becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. It can easily transfer these bacteria onto the skin and in some cases cause skin infection.

 

What to do instead?

What to do instead?

Parting from your loofah might be the ideal thing to do here. But if you find it difficult to bid farewell to your beloved loofah, you can practise the following:

  • Replace the loofah every three weeks.
  • If the colour looks different or it smells odd, throw it out immediately.
  • Try to dry it outside the bathroom where there’s good air circulation.
  • Natural loofahs and sponges can be disinfected by microwaving them in water for 20 seconds.