7 Gross Things That Can Happen to Your Body at the Gym

2. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
This bacteria thrives in warm water and is famous for hanging out in hot tubs. It can cause hot tub folliculitis, a hair follicle infection that strikes in the form of an icky red-itchy-bumpy rash, says Debra Jaliman, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist. It may be worse in the areas where your bathing suit was in contact with your skin. You can nix the rash by mixing half white vinegar with half cool water and making compresses, then applying them to the area for 15 minutes twice a day, suggests Jaliman. You can also use a topical hydrocortisone cream for the itching, but if either of these don’t work, you may need to see your dermatologist for antibiotics. “The only way to avoid this rash is to go into a hot tub that has the proper chlorine levels [between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million] and make certain that you take off your bathing suit and shower right after going into a hot tub,” says Jaliman.

3. Cold and Flu Virus
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cold and flu viruses can live on the skin for up to three hours and on a surface for up to four. (Ew!) “This means that any shared gym equipment—think spin bike handlebars, treadmill keypads, free weights—can harbor the virus that causes your next cold or flu,” says Shainhouse. To reduce your risk of catching a virus, wipe down equipment before using it, don’t touch your nose or mouth while working out, and wash your hands when you’re done, adds Shainhouse.

4. Staphylococcus Aureus
Its street name is staph, and it’s a bacteria that lives on the skin and in the nose. “It can transfer to gym equipment if you wipe your nose or have it on your skin,” says Shainhouse. “If the next person to use the equipment has a break in their skin, the staph bacteria can get in and cause a bumpy rash, boil, or full-on skin swelling and fevers.” Staph infections are usually mild, the exception being MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a more aggressive staph strain that’s resistant to antibiotics. But don’t fret: There are still certain antibiotics it will respond to, so make sure to check in with your doc for a prescription if a staph infection strikes.

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5. HPV
“Human papilloma virus is a family of viruses that can cause plantar warts [one shown above],” says Randy Wexler, M.D., associate professor of family medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “It can be spread by skin-to-skin contact or from walking around barefoot in bathrooms and showers.” Make sure to wear flip flops when walking around these areas—and if plantar warts do crop up, check in with your doc to have them removed.

6. Streptococcal Bacteria
“Strep bacteria are extremely contagious and can be spread through skin contact, airborne droplets, and surfaces like exercise equipment,” says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and president of LovelySkin. “Aside from causing strep throat, these bacteria can also lead to skin infections and blisters.” While minor strep infections usually get better on their own, skin infections and more serious infections (like pneumonia) need to be treated with a round of antibiotics.

7. E. coli and Hepatitis A
“These are a bacteria and virus, respectively, that are transmitted by fecal-oral routes,” says Shainhouse. Translation: You can get sick by ingesting poop bacteria. If someone doesn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom or doesn’t wipe very well, these germs set up shop on the equipment and can spread when an unsuspecting person touches their mouth during their sweat sesh. Both E. coli and hepatitis A cause mild to severe symptoms—cramps, diarrhea, vomiting. When it comes to E. coli, it’s usually a case of waiting for the agonizing symptoms to pass (but should they escalate, head to the hospital, stat). If you suspect you’ve been exposed to hepatitis A, getting a hep-A vaccine within two weeks may protect you from a full-on infection, according to the Mayo Clinic—and if you start experiencing symptoms, check in with your doc for an action plan.

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