First, let’s calm the panic down. There really are bacteria and fungi on gym equipment—common detections include staphylococcus species and dermatophytes (the fungi that cause athlete’s foot and ringworm), and occasionally there are drug-resistant strains. But for people with intact skin and normal immune systems, it’s a low-probability event for these to truly develop into an infection. In Mr. Feng’s case, the key wasn’t “the equipment wasn’t disinfected.” Rather, he wiped his mouth with his hand directly—his hand had sweat on it and residue from the equipment—so the microbes were delivered close to the mouth’s mucous membrane. The premise (the equipment wasn’t clean) is real, but the conclusion “so the gym is dangerous” got exaggerated. You can’t disinfect a gym into a sterile room, but most risks can be blocked with a few habits.
Don’t wipe sweat with your hands. Use your own towel, and the towel for wiping your face should be kept separate from the one you use on equipment. During workouts, try not to touch your face or rub your eyes. After training, wash your hands first or use hand sanitizer before touching your face. That one habit alone basically prevents a situation like Mr. Feng’s—this is the most important point in the whole piece.
When using equipment that touches the skin, put your own towel as a barrier layer (especially on the bench, backrest, and seated machines). As for “sit in short shorts for a bit and get pimples on your butt,” that’s probably folliculitis—sweat plus friction plus trapped bacteria creating an environment where it can flare up. Using a towel, wearing clothing that covers the thighs, and not sitting for long afterward in damp clothes can usually solve it.
Wipe the equipment before and after use. Gyms usually have alcohol wipes or spray bottles. Wiping before use is because the previous person may not have; wiping after use is both a matter of public-mindedness and protection for yourself.
In the changing room and shower area, don’t walk barefoot—wear flip-flops. Athlete’s foot and plantar warts (foot warts) are often spread this way through damp floors.
If you have broken skin or an open wound, cover it with a waterproof bandage before working out. Staphylococcus aureus and similar bacteria mainly enter through wounds. When your skin is intact, it stays on the surface and generally doesn’t pose a threat.
After your workout, shower as soon as possible and change into dry clothes. Don’t sit in the car or on the road wearing clothes that are soaked through for one or two hours.
As for “wearing gloves”—gloves can easily trap a damp environment, and they don’t help much in preventing infection. What really works is hand hygiene and not using dirty hands to touch your face. So instead of obsessing about gloves, build the muscle memory: “wipe sweat with a towel, and wash your hands before touching your face.”
Don’t wipe sweat with your hands. Use your own towel, and the towel for wiping your face should be kept separate from the one you use on equipment. During workouts, try not to touch your face or rub your eyes. After training, wash your hands first or use hand sanitizer before touching your face. That one habit alone basically prevents a situation like Mr. Feng’s—this is the most important point in the whole piece.
When using equipment that touches the skin, put your own towel as a barrier layer (especially on the bench, backrest, and seated machines). As for “sit in short shorts for a bit and get pimples on your butt,” that’s probably folliculitis—sweat plus friction plus trapped bacteria creating an environment where it can flare up. Using a towel, wearing clothing that covers the thighs, and not sitting for long afterward in damp clothes can usually solve it.
Wipe the equipment before and after use. Gyms usually have alcohol wipes or spray bottles. Wiping before use is because the previous person may not have; wiping after use is both a matter of public-mindedness and protection for yourself.
In the changing room and shower area, don’t walk barefoot—wear flip-flops. Athlete’s foot and plantar warts (foot warts) are often spread this way through damp floors.
If you have broken skin or an open wound, cover it with a waterproof bandage before working out. Staphylococcus aureus and similar bacteria mainly enter through wounds. When your skin is intact, it stays on the surface and generally doesn’t pose a threat.
After your workout, shower as soon as possible and change into dry clothes. Don’t sit in the car or on the road wearing clothes that are soaked through for one or two hours.
As for “wearing gloves”—gloves can easily trap a damp environment, and they don’t help much in preventing infection. What really works is hand hygiene and not using dirty hands to touch your face. So instead of obsessing about gloves, build the muscle memory: “wipe sweat with a towel, and wash your hands before touching your face.”
