Loofahs in my opinion are amazing. They just add a little that touch of luxury and spa like quality while showering. There are several different kinds of loofahs and each kind can provide different types of benefits. Loofahs in general can help remove dead skin, stimulate the blood circulation for younger and healthier looking skin and also help your soap last longer; which puts a little spending money back into your pockets. So why don't more people use Loofahs? In short, it's because of one simple word...bacteria!
Yes, loofahs can be a home to a lot of bacteria. You're using a loofah to scrub off dead skin cells and then you're leaving it to dry within a moist climate; why wouldn't there be bacteria building up? But just like anything else, if you don't clean it, there is going to be gross bacteria lingering around and has the potential of getting you sick. That is why there are some guidelines to using these amazing little things. Following are a few tips to help care for your loofah, from Melissa Piliang, MD at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dry it daily. Rinse your loofah well after each use. Shake it out thoroughly and hang it in a cool place — probably not in the shower — where it has the best chance of drying out.
Avoid using it for a few days after you shave. Bacteria can enter your skin through any sort of nick or cut, so you shouldn’t use your loofah for a couple of days after shaving your legs, Dr. Piliang says
Never use it on your face or in your genital area. Those parts of the body are sensitive.
Clean it weekly. “No matter which loofah you are using, you should clean it at least once a week,” she says. To do so, soak it in a diluted bleach solution for 5 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Or put it in your dishwasher.
Replace it regularly. “If you have a natural loofah, you should replace it every three to four weeks,” she says. “If you have one of the plastic ones, those can last for two months.” Usually, but not always: “If you notice any mold growing on your loofah, you should throw it away and get a new one,” she says. “Or if it develops a mildewy or musty odor — that’s a sign you should get rid of your loofah.”
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