“After going three days without changing underwear”... The “shocking condition” hidden in a Kian84 variety-show scene [Health Talk]

[Financial News] The distinctive hygiene habits of webtoon artist and TV personality Kian84 have sparked heated debate online after being revealed on a television show.
A scene from the recently released Netflix variety show Kian’s Bizarre B&B 2 aired in which Kian84 farted in a gathering of several people, prompting former volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung, appearing alongside him, to reveal: “He’d already gone three days without changing his underwear by then. I checked.”
When Kim Yeon-koung then pointed out his habit of lying down on the bed still sweaty after a sauna, Kian84 fired back, “I developed trauma and a sense of resistance after being repeatedly pressured to wash during my military service,” adding, “I’ll wash when I want to.” Kian84 has previously shown his unusual lifestyle on YouTube and other variety shows, including wearing clothes for about a week without washing them and using a single towel for everything from showering to serving as a kitchen dishcloth, blowing his nose, and wiping wet shoes.
After the show aired, viewers were divided between critics who said, “Basic cleanliness and consideration should be maintained on a lodging show where many people stay together,” and supporters who said, “It’s just Kian84’s characteristically unpretentious persona.” But dermatologists and urologists who watched the show agree that it is “a dangerous habit that seriously threatens skin and genitourinary health, rather than something to dismiss as a personal preference.”

Underwear, especially briefs, remains in close contact 24 hours a day with areas of the body where temperatures are high, sweat and sebum are secreted actively, and air circulation is poor. Even if it looks clean, tiny traces of waste and bacteria left after urination and bowel movements remain in the fabric.
According to medical research, an average of millions of bacteria and traces of E. coli are found in worn underwear. Wearing the same underwear continuously for three days (72 hours) creates an ideal environment for harmful bacteria and fungi to multiply, as body heat combines with moisture.
The most common conditions are jock itch, a fungal infection, and bacterial folliculitis. As dermatophytes penetrate the outer layer of skin, they cause intense itching and redness around the groin. Scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections, which can leave oozing sores or scar-like pigmentation.
The risk of urinary infections also increases. If intestinal bacteria, such as E. coli growing in underwear, enter through the urethra, they can cause a urinary tract infection (cystitis). Women are especially vulnerable to cystitis and vaginitis (including candidiasis) because their urethras are short, while men are also at risk of balanoposthitis and prostate conditions.

The habit of getting into bed without washing off sweat after a sauna or outdoor activity is also a major cause of damage to the skin barrier.
When moisture and sebum from sweat seep into blankets and pillows, house dust mites and mold multiply rapidly. Prolonged friction between the skin and this contaminated bedding can lead to contact dermatitis and worsening acne, as well as fungal skin conditions such as tinea versicolor (pityriasis versicolor), which causes mottled patches on the torso.
Reusing towels several times without drying them, or using one to wipe the face, then objects or shoes, and bringing it back into contact with the skin, are typical causes of cross-infection.
A damp towel left at room temperature quickly becomes a breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. Rubbing the face or area around the nose vigorously with a contaminated towel can let bacteria enter through tiny cuts, causing contagious impetigo, which produces yellow discharge and scabs, or cellulitis, in which inflammation spreads deep into the skin.

Specialists emphasize that basic hygiene rules must be followed meticulously, as the risk of cross-contamination rises sharply in environments where many people stay together, such as communal living settings and lodging facilities.
As a basic rule, underwear should be changed for a clean pair at least once a day, even if you have been inactive or have not sweated. If you sweat from exercise or other activity, change it immediately.
Wet towels should be spread out to dry rather than left in a heap, washed after one or two uses, and kept separate for the face and for the body and feet.
To prevent bedding from becoming soiled and skin problems caused by sweat, sebum, and harmful substances accumulated during outdoor activities, make a habit of showering before bed. Wash bedding, including pillowcases and blankets, in hot water every one to two weeks and dry it thoroughly in the sun to prevent mites and mold from multiplying.
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter