How Bad Is It Really?

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy. Keep scrolling to learn what you should avoid and what you can officially stop worrying about.

By Philip Schmidt
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a hand replacing a white furnace filter in the blue wall next to a white socket
How Bad Is It Really to Never Change Your Furnace Filter?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
illustration of the back view of a person in the shower holding a purple razor, wondering how to get rid of nipple hair
How Bad Is It Really to Shave Your Nipple Hair?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
An illustration of a package of imodium for diarrhea on a table next to a glass of water and two white capsules
How Bad Is It Really to Take Imodium Every Day?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person preparing wax in a bowl to wax their pubic hair
How Bad Is It Really to Wax Your Pubic Hair?
Fashion, Style and Personal Care
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person's hand spraying nasal spray into the air, on a magenta background
How Bad Is It Really to Use Nasal Spray Every Day?
Health
By Ashley Lall
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a bottle of gummy vitamins spilling out, on a light peach background
How Bad Is It Really to Take Gummy Vitamins?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
An illustration of a person sleeping while wearing a dirty sleep mask over their eyes
How Bad Is It Really to Never Wash Your Sleep Mask?
Health
By Philip Schmidt
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of the rear view of a person holding an orange bucket of cleaning supplies wearing a yellow glove walking toward a jug of bleach on a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Mix Bleach With Other Cleaners?
Health
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
An illustration of a person applying a whitening strip on their teeth
How Bad Is It Really to Use Whitening Strips?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a calendar with a bottle of stool softener on every day of the week, to represent taking a stool softener every day
How Bad Is It Really to Take a Stool Softener Every Day?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
Close up illustration of a person wearing orange high heels against a grey background
How Bad Is It Really to Wear High Heels All the Time?
Health
By Jenessa Connor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person peeing while sneezing
How Bad Is It Really to Pee When You Sneeze?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a box of Benadryl and multiple blister packs on a light blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Take Benadryl Every Day?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person with shoulder-length black hair spraying dry shampoo onto their head, on a light blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Use Dry Shampoo Every Day?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person taking a prenatal vitamin when they are not pregnant.
How Bad Is It Really to Take Prenatal Vitamins When You’re Not Pregnant?
Nutrition
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a light pink bathroom with the shower running and a window showing a thunderstorm outside
How Bad Is It Really to Shower During a Thunderstorm?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person sleeping in bed with their bedside lamp on
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With a Light On?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of several bottles of zzzquil on a light purple background
How Bad Is It Really to Take Zzzquil Every Night?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person sitting in a lounge chair wearing a wet bathing suit and drinking a beverage
How Bad Is It Really to Sit Around in a Wet Bathing Suit?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person's hand spraying a bottle of spray sunscreen on a yellow background
How Bad Is It Really to Use Spray Sunscreen?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person's feet with orange painted toenails wearing blue flip-flops, against a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Wear Flip-Flops Every Day?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person scraping tartar off their teeth with a dental cleaning instrument on a dark pink background
How Bad Is It Really to Scrape Tartar Off Your Teeth?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person's hand reaching for a razor in the shower, to represent shaving pubic hair
How Bad Is It Really to Shave Your Pubic Hair?
Health
By April Benshosan
Expert Reviewed
Sketch of runner with pain in their front right shin
How Bad Is It Really to Keep Running With Shin Splints?
Fitness
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person's hand pulling a strand of black hair off a piece of pizza
How Bad Is It Really to Find a Hair in Your Food?
Health
By Bojana Galic
Expert Reviewed
Sketch of athlete lifting dumbbells with a growling stomach
How Bad Is It Really to Strength Train Fasted?
Fitness
By Ava Erickson
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person sitting on a yellow beach towel wearing floral swim trunks lifting one leg to reveal a tanned thigh on a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Get a Tan?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of an empty bottle of pepto-bismol on a light yellow background
How Bad Is It Really to Take Pepto-Bismol Every Day?
Health
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a bathroom counter with a toothbrush in a cup with cobwebs next to a tube of toothpaste
How Bad Is It Really to Only Brush Your Teeth Once a Day?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person in a pink t-shirt standing in front of a microwave that has food in it
How Bad Is It Really to Stand in Front of the Microwave?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of three empty bottles of tums, to represent taking tums every day
How Bad Is It Really to Take Tums Every Day?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of person with a blonde ponytail who has a sunburn, to show if its bad to peel sunburn, against a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Peel Your Sunburn?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a pair of dirty pajamas on a dark blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Wear the Same Pajamas Every Night?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person's feet under a bathroom stall door, to represent the dangers of public toilet seats
How Bad Is It Really to Sit on a Public Toilet Seat?
Health
By Jessica Migala and Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person picking lint out of their bellybutton
How Bad Is It Really to Pick Stuff Out of Your Bellybutton?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of four expired sunscreen bottles in a row on a light blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Use Expired Sunscreen?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a magnifying glass showing germs on a bed's comforter, to represent what happens if you don't wash your comforter or duvet cover
How Bad Is It Really to Never Wash Your Comforter or Duvet?
Health
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person putting on a hat in front of a rack of hats hanging up, showing they wear hats every day.
How Bad Is It Really to Wear a Hat Every Day?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of the top half of a person in the shower brushing their teeth
How Bad Is It Really to Brush Your Teeth in the Shower?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Illustration of a plate of food that has bugs on it.
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Food After a Bug Landed on It?
Nutrition
By Ciara Lucas
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a bottle of vitamin D supplements next to a glass of water and a white microwave showing 5 am on the clock, signifying taking vitamins on an empty stomach
How Bad Is It Really to Take Vitamins On an Empty Stomach?
Health
By Tiffany Ayuda
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a calendar showing fast food meals.
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Fast Food Every Day?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a bottle of tylenol pm and a glass of water on a nightstand next to a bed
How Bad Is It Really to Take Tylenol PM Every Night?
Health
By Krissy Brady
Expert Reviewed
person checking off "later" for tasks on a list, to represent procrastination
How Bad Is It Really to Procrastinate?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a bucket full of car cleaning supplies with cobwebs on it, to represent never cleaning your car
How Bad Is It Really to Never Deep Clean Your Car?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a stomach with mucus sliding down the esophagus, to represent swallowing mucus
How Bad Is It Really to Swallow Mucus?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person vacuuming next to their couch
How Bad Is It Really to Never Move Your Furniture When You Vacuum?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of an old mattress with stains on a grey and light yellow background
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep on an Old Mattress?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person eating an ice cream cone and getting a stomachache, as an example of what happens when you ignore lactose intolerance
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Dairy if You're Lactose Intolerant?
Health
By Sara Youngblood Gregory
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a tampon on a bed, to represent wearing a tampon to bed
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With a Tampon In?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person with a hangover headache drinking a cup of coffee
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Coffee When You’re Hungover?
Nutrition
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a water filter pitcher with a magnifying glass over it showing bacteria and germs growing inside
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Water Pitcher?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a lit vanilla scented candle against an orange graphic background
How Bad Is It Really to Light Scented Candles All the Time?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person reading in the dark
How Bad Is It Really to Read in Low Light?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person's hands with a gel manicure
How Bad Is It Really to Get Gel Manicures?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a pack of birth control pills in front of a calendar, which has the word skip written over the dates
How Bad Is It Really to Skip Your Period Using Birth Control?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
custom illustration of a bed with a chocolate bar on it, with the moon out the window
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Chocolate Before Bed?
Nutrition
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person's hand with acrylic nails in the French manicure style, on a light pink background
How Bad Is It Really to Get Acrylic Nails?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a laptop surrounded by dirty tissues and a cup of tea, to represent working from home while sick
How Bad Is It Really to Work From Home When You're Sick?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Fact Checked
custom graphic showing cheap alcohol bottle with $9.99 price tag and a shot
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Cheap Alcohol?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a dark-skinned person sleeping with an eye mask on with their cell phone next to their head on the pillow
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep Next to Your Phone?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
illustration of a person rubbing in their skin care products on their face, on a green background
How Bad Is It Really to Rub In Facial Skin-Care Products?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
illustration of a humidifier with pathogens inside against a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Never (or Rarely) Clean Your Humidifier?
Health
By Anthea Levi
Fact Checked
custom graphic showing person skipping protein at breakfast, eating toast instead of eggs
How Bad Is It Really to Skip Protein at Breakfast?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
close-up illustration of a person mouth-breathing on an orange background
How Bad Is It Really to Breathe Through Your Mouth?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a bottle of anti-gas pills surrounded by gas clouds on a light orange background
How Bad Is It Really to Take Anti-Gas Pills Every Day?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
custom illustration showing dirty air fryer
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Air Fryer?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a bottle of melatonin against a night sky with dark blue background.
How Bad Is It Really to Take Melatonin Every Night?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
illustration of a pair of dirty dumbbells placed on an exercise mat
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Workout Equipment?
Fitness
By Bojana Galic
Expert Reviewed
An illustration of a person foam rolling their calves.
How Bad Is It Really to Never Foam Roll?
Fitness
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a pale green toilet being flushed in a pink-tiled bathroom
How Bad Is It Really to Not Close the Toilet Lid When You Flush?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person holding a pill in front of their mouth
How Bad Is It Really to Swallow Pills Without Water?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of person removing stitches from their own arm.
How Bad Is It Really to Remove Your Own Stitches?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Person sleeping on a sofa
How Bad Is It Really to Fall Asleep on the Couch Every Night?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a colander of rice being rinsed in the sink under a running faucet.
How Bad Is It Really to Not Rinse Rice Before Cooking It?
Nutrition
By Hallie Levine
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of couple in bed with rage lines above their heads
How Bad Is It Really to Go to Bed Angry?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Person wearing sneakers on a tiled floor, with illustrations of germs
How Bad Is It Really to Wear Your 'Outdoor' Shoes Inside Your Home?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of someone squeezing a tube of toothpaste labeled as expired onto a toothbrush
How Bad Is It Really to Use Expired Toothpaste?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a person doing a lunge and their knee is cracking or popping.
How Bad Is It Really if My Joints Crack and Pop During Exercise?
Health
By Anthea Levi
Fact Checked
illustration of coffee maker and hand grabbing coffee pot
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Coffee Maker?
Nutrition
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
Person listening to headphones while sleeping
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep in Headphones?
Health
By Tiffany Ayuda
Expert Reviewed
illustration of calendar with bowls of cereal for every day
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Cereal for Breakfast Every Day?
Nutrition
By Anthea Levi
Expert Reviewed
illustration of person eating protein bar with soy protein isolate
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Soy Protein Isolate?
Nutrition
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
Couple in bedroom, with red circle over one person's crotch.
How Bad Is It Really to Have Sex With a Yeast Infection?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
Person wearing blue outfit lounging in bed scrolling on a phone
How Bad Is It Really to Get Into Bed in Your 'Outside' Clothes?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
cartoon illustration of a glass of water on a nightstand beside a bed
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Water That's Been Out Overnight?
Nutrition
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person's hand holding a rusty razor on a blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Shave With an Old Razor?
Health
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed
couple snuggling in bed
How Bad Is It Really if You Don't Pee Immediately After Sex?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person popping cystic acne on their chin
How Bad Is It Really to Pop Cystic Acne?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a bed with a slice of cake on a plate on top of it
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Sugar Before Bed?
Nutrition
By Tiffany Ayuda
Expert Reviewed
illustration of three cans of tuna on yellow background
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Canned Tuna Every Day?
Nutrition
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
illustration of hand holding a mug of old coffee with a cobweb on it
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Old Coffee?
Nutrition
By Kelsey Kunik
Expert Reviewed
custom illustration of woman eating shrimp on pink background
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Shrimp?
Nutrition
By Madeleine Burry
Expert Reviewed
custom graphic showing eggs in skillet cooking on a gas stove
How Bad Is It Really to Use a Gas Stove?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person sleeping in bed with their bra strap showing
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With a Bra On?
Health
By Taayoo Murray
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a piece of gum in a stomach on a dark pink background
How Bad Is It Really to Swallow Gum?
Health
By Bojana Galic
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person cutting their cuticles
How Bad Is It Really to Cut Your Cuticles?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a person cleaning their dirty bathroom
How Bad Is It Really to Never Deep Clean Your Bathroom?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a dirty washing machine that needs to be cleaned in a light blue room
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Washing Machine?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
custom illustration of a person eating while standing
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Standing Up?
Nutrition
By Taayoo Murray
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a bathroom with a dinner plate in the foreground and shower in the background, to represent showering after eating
How Bad Is It Really to Shower After Eating?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
an illustration of a dirty dishwasher that needs to be cleaned
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Dishwasher?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person picking a scab on their arm
How Bad Is It Really to Pick a Scab?
Health
By Tiffany Ayuda
Expert Reviewed
custom illustration of sausages on a charcoal grill
How Bad Is It Really to Cook on a Charcoal Grill?
Nutrition
By Taayoo Murray
Expert Reviewed
iIllustration of a person putting on sunscreen at night in a green bathroom
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With Sunscreen On?
Health
By Gabrielle Kassel
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of someone doing a squat workout two days in a row
How Bad Is It Really to Work the Same Muscle Two Days in a Row?
Fitness
By Tiffany Ayuda
custom illustration showing hand with chopsticks reaching for raw fish sushi with beef tartare on plate
How Bad Is It Really to Eat Raw Fish and Meat?
Nutrition
By Madeleine Burry
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person talking to their doctor with fingers crossed behind their back to show they're lying
How Bad Is It Really to Fib to Your Doctor?
Health
By Kayla Hui
an illustration of a person sleeping in bed with wet hair
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With Wet Hair?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
custom illustration showing person drinking espresso with saucer in hand
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Espresso?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
An illustration of a pair of airpods that are covered in dirt and earwax, against a light blue background
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Earbuds?
Health
By Jaime Osnato
Expert Reviewed
An illustration of a package of open baby wipes on the back of a toilet , in a bathroom with peach tile
How Bad Is It Really to Use Baby Wipes Down There?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Illustration of a window AC unit covered in cobwebs because it hasn't been cleaned
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Window AC Unit?
Health
By Marygrace Taylor
Expert Reviewed
illustration of a person with brown hair plucking one gray hair, against a dark gray background
How Bad Is It Really to Pull Out a Gray Hair?
Health
By Molly Triffin
Expert Reviewed
custom graphic showing two hands clinking glasses one with clear liquor and one with dark liquor
How Bad Is It Really to Drink Dark Liquors Over Clear Liquors?
Nutrition
By Marygrace Taylor
An illustration of a pillowcase stained with makeup, to represent sleeping in makeup
How Bad Is It Really to Sleep With Makeup On?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
custom graphic of boiling carrots in a pot over the stove
How Bad Is It Really to Boil Vegetables?
Nutrition
By Kayla Hui
Expert Reviewed
Illustration of a hamburger in a plastic container in the microwave, to represent the dangers of microwaving plastic
How Bad Is It Really to Microwave Plastic?
Health
By Lacey Muinos
Expert Reviewed
custom image of hand pouring hot water into a mug with a teabag in it.
How Bad Is It Really to Never Clean Your Teapot?
Nutrition
By Jessica Migala
Expert Reviewed