These are the risks when trying on a swimsuit in the store
MEXICO CITY.
The thought of wearing a new bathing suit is reason enough to have nightmares, but not because of what you're thinking. It turns out that the dreaded moment when we try one on in the store goes beyond the horror of the fluorescent lights in the changing room and has more to do with the thin strip of paper or plastic that is attached to the suit. More specifically, with the potential contamination of said strip, which may contain fecal matter and a wide variety of bacteria capable of causing various diseases.
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Most women's swimsuits come with a small, disposable sanitary liner that tries to protect us from fluids and other germs. Some companies even include a specific return policy, in which case it is not possible to exchange the garment unless the protective strip remains intact, in order to provide more hygienic clothing to customers. However, according to experts, this precaution does not make much sense: the hygienic straps in the crotch of bikinis are not exactly a safeguard against bacteria or viruses.
Dr. Philip Tierno, clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University School of Medicine, has led research on the microflora and human secretions found on a variety of new items of clothing, from underwear to dresses . As expected, he discovered a lot of dirt, including bacteria from the skin, fecal and respiratory tracts, as well as vaginal organisms, including fungi.
Research has revealed that dirty swimwear has nothing to do with the quality of the store, Tierno explained. Regardless of whether the store was luxury or not, the bacteria were present on the clothes.
What did seem to matter, according to the expert, was the suggestiveness of the bikini. Although women are often advised to keep their underwear on for added protection, many take it off to see how the swimsuit actually fits them. And the skimpier the swimsuit, the more likely a woman is to remove her underwear to try it on. Some of the women who participated in Tierno's research, perhaps swayed by false confidence in the liner's ability, admitted to removing their underwear.
The Risks
So if swimsuits in general stores often act like petri dishes, do they pose a health threat? In other words, what is the risk we really take in a fitting room?
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For example, while about 25% of people live with staph (a type of bacteria that can survive in brand new swimsuits), most of these common species do not pose an infection risk.
That being said, the risk of contracting something is not entirely zero. Some fecal organisms that Tierno discovered in his research can cause a number of diseases, such as hepatitis A, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) or traveler's diarrhea. We should also be concerned about other microbes such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus, which can cause everything from strep throat to necrotizing diseases in extreme cases. Other common germs such as salmonella or norovirus can also live in swimsuits, Tierno said.
Three tips
Even if the risk is remote, with these simple gestures you can minimize the risk of contact on a summer shopping spree.
1. Use protection. Since the swimsuit's protective strips can be easily removed and come into contact with more than one person, Tierno advises not removing your underwear in the changing room. Afterwards, it is convenient to wash it when you get home.
2. Also wash the bathing suit. When it comes to bacteria, buying a swimsuit that other people have tried on is like buying used clothes, explains Tierno. Put your bikini in the washing machine before wearing it for the first time on the beach. Soapy water will kill germs that could cause disease. This is also a key tip for men, even if they are more reluctant to try these clothes on. The clothes come in many cases from other countries, where they could have been contaminated not only by contact with the dirt on their hands, but also by machinery riddled with germs.
3. Go directly to the sink. It's not just about washing the swimsuit; washing yourself is just as imperative after trying on a bikini.
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