Folks who shelled out as much as $46 for an exercise class are going home with more than a post-workout glow — some are reporting they’ve picked up a nasty fungal infection, too.
Solidcore has studios around the country, with 16 locations around the city, two on Long Island and two directly across the Hudson. They specialize in workouts on a machine called a “sweatlana” that’s inspired by a Pilates reformer.
It’s on and around those machines that people suspect ringworm is spreading. Some fitness fans are urging others to wear socks and wipe down the machines thoroughly.
“Went to the dermatologist this morning and I have ringworm,” griped one Reddit user, who says they got it from the Downtown Brooklyn Solidcore last month. “I’m always diligent about wiping my machine and washing my hands before and after class, but alas, after a year and half of Solidcore, I finally caught it.”
Another New Yorker wrote that her roommate picked up the infection after working out at the brand’s Greenwich Village location.
“Even though I wipe my machine down before working out like a pyscho, I still managed to get ringworm,” wrote a third Reddit user from near DC. “Yes, I know I could get it anywhere but Solidcore is the only gym/studio I workout in and I otherwise live a very boring life.”
Still, people can’t get enough. On TikTok, one woman shared that she was still showing up to Solidcore twice a week after getting ringworm there.
Solidcore says they clean the studios and machines professionally, but clients are the ones wiping down machines after each class. Classes run from as early as 5 a.m. and run until 10:45 p.m. at some locations.
“The health and safety of the 250,000 people who visit our more than 170 Solidcore studios nationwide each month is always our top priority,” a representative from the company told The Post.
“Accordingly, we adhere to professional-grade protocols across all of our studios that are designed to keep our clients safe, including an EPA and FDA-approved, long-lasting machine coating that kills 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and fungi.”
So how is this spreading, and what can you do to protect yourself?
How ringworm might be spreading
Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection — not a worm. It causes an itchy, scaly, often ring-shaped rash. Athlete’s foot is a form of ringworm.
There’s a reason ringworm is a common problem in gyms of all kinds. It can linger on floors, towels, locker rooms, mats — and possibly sweatlana machines too.
Solidcore says they treat their machines biweekly with “an EPA- and FDA-approved long-lasting coating that is antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal” that kills a wide variety of bacteria and fungi for up to 90 days.
They also say in addition to the coating and “regular” professional cleaning, they introduced new, more saturated wipes with “antibacterial, antifungal and virucidal properties.”
Some fans note that another potential risk factor could be that participants in Solidcore classes often go barefoot. On Reddit, one person who suspects she picked up ringworm in a California studio said they now “wear socks, leggings and full sleeves to every class.”
On the flip side, one Michigan woman who claims to have gotten ringworm in her fingers said she does wear socks, but those only protect your feet.
“Ringworm is spread through any skin and it’s not limited to just feet. You can wear socks all day long but we are rubbing our entire body all over the reformer,” a commenter noted.
Ringworm is hard to get rid of. Disinfectants that kill it often need to stay wet for a few minutes before it actually works.
To prevent ringworm, take a shower right after your workout, make sure you dry off completely, and wear shoes and sandals in shared areas.
Meanwhile, Solidcore customers who pay up to $420 a month, say they’re being left in the lurch, often finding out about ringworm reports from Reddit.
“I really wish each studio would send out an email to clients that have been to their location recently whenever there is ringworm/athletes foot/etc,” the Downtown Brooklyn user wrote. “It’s a public health issue! I think the amount of fungal infections caught at SC would be a lot lower if they were more proactive about notifying clients.”
