Although we’ve been socialized to believe that we should wear underwear on a daily basis, have you ever taken a minute to think about whether it’s essential and if it’s actually good for you?

At first glance, you might think wearing underwear is healthy, because nearly everyone does it (or at least says they do). However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question whether wearing underwear is healthier than going commando. There are pros and cons to each, though, that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Here’s what experts have to say about the benefits of wearing underwear — or skipping it entirely.

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For starters, wearing underwear does serve an important purpose. “Underwear provides a protective layer between the skin and the outside environment, which can potentially reduce irritation and rubbing,” Dr. Kimberley Thornton, an ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at RMA of New York, tells Yahoo Life.

Read more: yahoo