What is a loofah?

Loofahs — sometimes spelled loofahs — are a popular shower accessory used to cleanse and exfoliate skin.

Some people think that “natural” loofahs are made from sea sponge or dried coral because they have a coarse, spongy consistency. In fact, natural loofahs are made from a pumpkin from the cucumber family.

Loofahs exfoliate and cleanse the skin, but they're not the best shower choice for everyone.

Loofahs need to be cared for properly so they don't transmit bacteria that could make you sick. They can also damage sensitive skin.

Read on to learn what you should know about this popular shower sponge.

How loofah sponges are made

Loofah gourds are grown in tropical and subtropical climates. Before World War II, at the height of loofah's popularity in the United States, many were grown and imported from Japan. Today, the plants can be grown domestically or imported from almost any warmer climate.

After flowering, the flower develops into a long, squash-like plant that resembles a giant cucumber or zucchini. The gourds are then harvested and left to dry for up to six months.

Dried pumpkins are soaked in water, peeled and their seeds removed. Once fully dried, they can be sliced or shaped in a variety of ways before being sold as sponges.

Loofah Sponge Uses and Benefits

Loofah sponges from the loofah plant have always been used as scrubbers. The benefits and uses of a loofah include:

Use with soap to lather and cleanse skin
Exfoliation of the skin on the body and face
Stimulate blood circulation when showering or bathing

Some people also swear by loofahs as a household cleaner. They can be used to scrub tiles, showers, sinks and other hard-to-clean surfaces.

Risks of using a loofah

Loofahs are popular because they exfoliate the skin. Dead skin cells sometimes clump together in the top layer of skin, resulting in a dull and less youthful appearance. Loofah sponges gently scrub off this layer without damaging the young and healthy skin cells underneath.

This benefit can come with some hidden risks. Technically, if you hang your loofah out to dry in the shower, it's still collecting moisture or residual vapor from the time you've used it. Dead skin cells that linger in a damp place are a good recipe for the growth and multiplication of dangerous bacteria.

Loofahs have not been proven to increase most staph or strep bacteria, but they can harbor other bacteria on your body, including E. coli.

If you clean your loofah regularly and correctly, this is not a problem - however, most people do not.

Loofahs can also be too abrasive for some skin types. If you've ever experienced redness or irritation after using a loofah, your skin may be particularly sensitive to dermabrasion and exfoliation.

The coarse, somewhat brittle feel of loofah fibers can be too much and damage skin over time.

How to clean a loofah

After using your loofah, you should pay attention to how you care for it every day.

Instead of just hanging them up in the shower or on a bath hook, wring them out thoroughly with a dry towel and dry them. Then place them in a cool, dry place outside of your bathroom.

Also, you should clean your loofah every week. An older study concluded that regularly cleaning your loofah with a diluted water mixture made with 10 percent bleach can reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

Soak the loofah in the mixture for 5 minutes. After cleaning, rinse the loofah thoroughly with cold water and dry completely before hanging in a cooler place.

To use loofahs safely, you need to replace them frequently. The Cleveland Clinic recommends discarding the loofah every 3 to 4 weeks. Any sign of mold or a lingering musty smell are also signs that you should dispose of your loofah immediately.

If you want to avoid spreading bacteria with your loofah, you should definitely avoid using it on the genital area. Keep in mind that the dam is a place where E. coli and other dangerous bacteria sometimes grow, so don't use loofah there either.

Also, you shouldn't use them if you're freshly shaved. Your skin is damaged for several days after shaving and bacteria can penetrate the skin barrier.

Where can you buy Luffa products?

Natural loofahs are coming back into fashion, and it's not hard to find them. Loofah products are sometimes referred to as “natural Egyptian style” or “Loofah“ to distinguish them from their synthetic imitations.

You can buy real loofah in health food stores, but also in chains like Whole Foods.

Find out about these online available products.

Alternatives to loofah sponges

Loofahs aren't the only way to cleanse your body in the shower. If you want to avoid the risk of bacterial contamination altogether, consider replacing loofahs with other scrubbing alternatives.

Synthetic bath sponges are usually made from nylon and are made up of dense meshes arranged in a circular pattern. As with natural loofah sponges, bacteria can also settle in bath poufs. They can be even worse.

While silicone bath scrubbers have antimicrobial properties, they should still be cleaned regularly.

Sea sponges are an alternative to loofah sponges. Like loofahs, they contain no dyes, preservatives, or chemicals. Sea sponge contains some naturally occurring enzymes that kill bacteria. However, sea sponge needs to be cleaned regularly, dried after showering and replaced frequently.

Washcloths are an efficient tool when you want to do without loofahs, sponges and sponges. They have a gentle peeling effect and can later easily spread soap.

The best part is that after use, a washcloth can simply be tossed in the washing machine and given regular rinses with dish soap and hot water. Unlike many other bathroom accessories, washcloths are safe to use for years.

Summary

Natural sponges made from loofah can harbor dangerous bacteria. Loofahs aren't necessarily dangerous, but they do need proper care and maintenance to avoid bacterial growth.

If you enjoy lathering up in the shower, it's important to make sure you take good care of your sponges and other bathing accessories.