You need to be replacing your loofah waaaaay more often than you are

It’s time to change your loofah! Or, maybe stop using it altogether. These may be tough words for loofah lovers to hear, but it turns out that this colorful washcloth alternative may actually be a bacteria magnet.

According to dermatologists, while the seemingly magical skin scrubbers may start out as a hygienic shower tool, it doesn’t take long for bacteria and dead skin cells to get caught in the webbing and collect. Matthew Knight, M.D. (of the Knight Dermatology Institute) revealed to Women’s Health Magazine exactly how loofahs continue to become unsanitary after dead skin cells and bacteria are collected.

“[Y]ou put them in this environment in the shower that’s warm and moist and gross, and it’s a set up for bacteria, yeast, and mold to grow in the loofah, he said. (Yuck!)

Even worse, using a loofah on recently shaved skin or an area of the body that may have a cut could cause a bacterial infection. New York City dermatologist Dr. Jessica Krant told the Huffington Post that aggressively using a loofah could potentially insert bacteria into the wound.

For those who can’t part from their beloved loofah, dermatologist Sejal Shah, M.D. recommended to Women’s Health that users replace their loofahs often, especially at the first sign of mold. Additionally, Shah recommended taking the scrubber out of the shower after use and leaving it by an open window to dry, to decrease the impact of humidity.

We’ll just be off to change our loofahs, ASAP.