Why do you have to change your shirt when playing sports?

thể thao - Ảnh 1. — Wearing sweaty clothes is not good for the body - Photo: CN

According to Planet Fitness magazine, changing your shirt mid-workout is necessary because wearing a shirt that is soaked with sweat can have many negative effects on your health and performance. Here is a scientific analysis of why you need to change your clothes when your shirt is too wet.

Affects body temperature regulation

The human body cools itself by sweating, which then evaporates to help cool the body. However, if the shirt is soaked, it will hinder the cooling process because:

Limit sweat evaporation: When your shirt absorbs too much sweat, evaporation is reduced, making it harder for your body to dissipate heat. This can lead to heat exhaustion, especially in hot and humid environments.

Heat retention and dehydration: Some fabrics (like cotton) when wet will stick to the skin, creating unwanted insulation, making the body hotter and continue to sweat more, easily leading to dehydration and exhaustion.

Risk of cold and hypothermia

If you exercise in cold or windy weather, wearing wet clothing will cause your body to lose heat more quickly, increasing the risk of hypothermia.

As sweat evaporates from the skin's surface, the body loses a large amount of heat. If the shirt is still wet, it will continue to absorb heat from the body, causing the temperature to drop even more.

This is especially dangerous when jogging outdoors in cold weather or when exercising in an air-conditioned room.

Increased risk of skin irritation and infection

Sweaty clothes create favorable conditions for bacteria and fungi to grow, easily causing skin problems such as:

Heat rash, diaper rash: Sweat that stays on the skin for long periods of time can clog sweat glands, causing heat rash and redness.

Fungal infections (tinea, ringworm, athlete's foot): Moist skin is an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to grow.

Acne and folliculitis: Sweat and bacteria can clog pores, causing pimples or folliculitis, especially on the back and chest.

Effects on athletic performance

Wearing wet clothes will make the practitioner feel uncomfortable, heavy and lose concentration, leading to reduced exercise performance.

Increases friction between shirt and skin, easily causing scratches or irritation.

Causes a sticky, uncomfortable feeling, reducing flexibility in movement.

Creates an unpleasant odor, affecting psychology and confidence when practicing with others.

Choose the right sportswear

To avoid these harmful effects, you should change into dry clothes when they are soaked with too much sweat. In addition, choosing the right type of clothing is also very important.

Prioritize absorbent and breathable fabrics: Materials like polyester, spandex, or dry-fit technology fabrics help sweat evaporate faster.

Avoid wearing cotton shirts: Cotton absorbs sweat well but retains moisture for a long time, making the body cold and uncomfortable.

Wear a moisture-wicking undershirt: When playing high-intensity sports, you can wear a specialized sports bra underneath to help absorb and release sweat faster.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-phai-thay-ao-khi-choi-the-thao-20250321101624983.htm