Your Underwear Stains May Be Linked To Tissue Paper, UK Doctor Claims
Many people may believe toilet tissue leaves them clean, but a UK-based Nigerian doctor has warned it could be one of the least effective ways to maintain hygiene.
Dr Olufunmilayo, known on social media as OurfavonlineDoc, told his followers on X that dry tissue often fails to clean the anal area properly, leaving residue that can stain underwear and cause persistent itching.
“The healthiest way to clean your anus after doing a poo is not tissue paper,” he wrote. “Tissue paper only removes some of the faeces and smears the rest around your anus. This is why your underwear is sometimes stained and itchy.”
According to him, the best method is washing with water, which he described as the most hygienic option.
Wet wipes, though second-best, were ranked above dry toilet paper, which he labelled the “worst” choice.
His post sparked lively debate online, with some users agreeing that water leaves a cleaner and fresher result, citing practices in Asia, the Middle East and Africa where water is commonly used.
Others defended tissue as a matter of convenience and habit in Western countries.
Public health experts generally back water-based cleaning for reducing irritation, preventing infection and promoting hygiene.
However, environmental specialists caution that wet wipes can damage sewage systems if not disposed of correctly.
Dr Olufunmilayo ended with a simple plea: “If you can afford to, or you have access to it, please always use water.”
