After all, not wearing underwear is good or bad?
Going straight to the point, not wearing underwear is really good! Taking off your underwear is liberating. Your balls can finally breathe! And that brings several benefits.
Research shows that between 5% and 7% of men do not wear underwear. And they may be on the right track because not wearing underwear can definitely be beneficial as it allows for more air circulation, lowers the risk of infections, and even helps with sperm production and fertility, according to some currents of thought.
But the most important thing is that leaving the intimate region free brings a good feeling! So it's easy to see why some men want to feel that freedom all the time. In fact, there's no medical reason why you need underwear to support your balls, says Jamin Brahmbhatt, co-director of the PUR urology clinic in Clermont, Florida.
So if you can, go ahead and take off your underwear - just make sure you follow these rules first:
1. Beware of friction
Friction can chase you no matter what you wear (yes, even baggy pants can be a problem). Without underwear, you don't have any protection between the outer layer of your skin and the "hard reality of the fabric and seams of your pants," says Mona Gohara, a professor of clinical dermatology at Yale University.
Therefore, before letting the bird free, apply a thin layer of baby powder or Vaseline to the crotch. This will help form a barrier to minimize friction, says Dr. Gohara.
Thinking about it in advance can also save you some discomfort. Before going to bed, apply a moisturizer to promote skin healing overnight as well as prevent any chafing the next day, according to dermatologist Hadley King.
2. Beware of Fungal Infections
Just because you're betting on freedom, don't assume that the possibility of having a fungal infection is out of the question. Underwear or not, men are more prone to the condition simply because of the anatomy of the groin.
Jockey's itch is a skin condition that presents as a red, itchy, ring-shaped rash; this occurs when you're exposed to Tinea cruris -like fungi, says Dr. Gohara.
Fungi love warm, humid environments, as well as the insides of pants when your scrotum and groin are sweaty.
Jockey itch can be very uncomfortable and requires drug treatment. To fight fungus, keep your scrotum and groin dry with just a pinch of baby powder in the morning. But the most important thing is to wash your pants regularly. Which brings us to our next rule.
3. Wash your pants well
If you normally wear pants four times before washing them, cut it down to just two. Your genitals carry a lot of bacteria, so it's important to keep your clothes clean after you put them on. One disadvantage of not wearing underwear is that it reduces the number of times the pants could be worn again before washing.
When the fabric is very close to your skin, it makes your pants dirtier and smells stronger much faster, requiring more washes, more water, more soap, more money...
Pants made from heavy, thick fabrics can usually last longer between washes than light, thin pants.
4. Watch out for sweat stains
The underwear absorbs sweat in the groin area that accumulates throughout the day. When you don't have extra fabric to absorb moisture around your crotch, you end up with unsightly sweat stains on your pants, says M. Jay Singleton, men's style consultant and founder of the Urban Squire Club. These stains are most visible on light-colored fabrics like khaki pants, he says.
As with preventing chafing or itching, you can sprinkle some baby powder on your private parts to save you from any embarrassing marks. This will absorb moisture so stains don't form.
If you're having persistent stains on your clothes, here's a tip: Rub a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent mixed with two teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide onto the stained area and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then wash clothing as usual in cold soapy water.
5. Prefer wider pants
Tights, especially those made from heavy fabrics like denim, can cut into your crotch when you sit down, says Singleton. And the stronger dyes on the jeans rubbing against you can lead to some temporary blemishes on the skin. Tights also cause the same irritation and lack of ventilation as underwear.
To make matters worse, if the fabric isn't thick enough (or if you're wearing a very light color), everyone may notice your private parts in an embarrassing way. To mask extraneous lines or bulges, wear loose-fitting cotton pants and heavier fabrics.
6. Be careful when trying on pants to buy
The groin area is full of bacteria, including the kind that can cause diarrhea.
Maybe it goes without saying, but don't try on new pants without underwear. Some of these fecal bacteria can be transferred to tissue, says Sarah Council, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the Genomics and Microbiology Research Laboratory at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Not only can you transfer these bacteria, but you can also be exposed to microorganisms from anyone else who has tried on the same garment before.
Conclusion
The benefits of not wearing underwear are tempting, but there are also some precautions to be taken to make sure everything goes well.
If you are not used to being without underwear but want to try, you can use a samba song instead of underwear at first, as it is okay to wear and you will gradually get used to freedom, as samba song is not so tight as the traditional underwear and already brings some comfort and a feeling of freedom.
Or you can go without underwear at home and only wear them when you go out.
But remember to follow the rules mentioned here, if you choose not to wear underwear, so that your experience is the best it can be.
