Take showers. If you're getting into a pool or hot tub, shower first to prevent introducing bacteria. Then shower when you leave to prevent picking up "hot tub rash," a skin infection caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (By the way, though it's very unlikely that you'd pick up a sexually transmitted infection from just sitting in a hot tub, says Glatt, if you're getting frisky with a fellow gym-goer, you are at risk.) And of course, take your typical shower after working out to help prevent fungal infections like Athlete's foot and jock itch, which can develop if you hang out in sweaty or wet clothes.
Wear shower shoes in wet areas. These popular accessories not only prevent falls, they can also protect against fungal infections, like ringworm. (Damp surfaces, such as locker room floors, are an ideal breeding ground for microbes.) So next time you're tempted to go barefoot, put the brakes on that plan. You may not get an infection by wandering around once or twice, says Adalja. But the more you test your luck, the greater your risk. So why take the chance?
[See: 9 Footwear Do's and Don'ts]
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