Now, you know looking and smelling clean are of the utmost importance. So much so, that we frown upon people who don’t bathe enough. Some individuals don’t shower every day. While there’s lots of inconsistent advice about how often you should shower, this group might have it right.
It may sound counterproductive, but a shower every day could harm your skin. Some dermatologists only suggest a shower every other day or two to three times a week.
Many individuals hit the shower at least once a day, either in the morning or night before bed. Depending on the day and exercise level, you might even take two or three showers.
There’s no arguing the significance of personal hygiene. But while some individuals take a daily shower, it doesn’t have to be a part of your daily routine in many circumstances.
Not convinced that you can miss the daily shower and stay clean? Here’s what you need to know about showering too much and not showering enough.
The advice above from dermatologists doesn’t mean you have to scale back your shower routine. Everyone’s skin is diverse, and each individual’s skin can vary from season to season.
For instance, your skin might be drier in the winter, in which case too many showers can bring on intense dryness. Yet, a shower every day in the summer may not adversely affect your skin.
Since there are no hard or fast rules on how much is too much, you must get to know your body and determine what your skin can tolerate.
Due to personal preference, you may not want to neglect a daily shower. According to professionals, if this applies to you, stick with only one shower per day.
Any more, and you can potentially strip your skin of essential oils. Your skin is a mighty organ that produces its own oils to keep it moisturized, naturally. If you disturb this process, it causes dryness, which can lead to skin inflammation or eczema. Your skin may feel scratchy and crack, chip, or become red.
More than one shower per day might even initiate a flare-up if you have a skin condition like psoriasis. Also, too many showers may rinse away “good” bacteria from your skin, putting you in danger of infections.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what can happen if you shower too much:
Dry, flaky, and itchy skin:
Frequent showering, especially with hot water, can remove the skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation.
Exacerbation of skin conditions:
Dryness and irritation can worsen existing skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, making them more painful and difficult to manage.
Disruption of the skin’s microbiome:
The natural balance of bacteria and fungi on the skin can be disrupted by excessive showering and harsh soaps, potentially leading to skin imbalances and increased susceptibility to infections.
Dry, brittle hair:
Showering too often, especially with harsh shampoos or hot water, can strip hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness, breakage, and a less healthy appearance.
Just as you can shower too extensively, you can also shower too little. Although fewer showers may enhance skin health, you should still keep your hygiene in mind.
Sweat glands cover much of your body, producing sweat when you’re overheated, stressed, hormonal, or physically active. Sweat is odorless — until it combines with bacteria that are usually present on the skin.
A skipped shower probably won’t trigger body odor, especially if you haven’t been exercising. However, body odor is unavoidable the longer you go without a shower, especially in your armpits and groin.
Of course, the chance of body odor isn’t the only basis to shower or bathe regularly. Inadequate hygiene or infrequent showers can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on your skin. This can trigger acne and worsen conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
Showering too little can also trigger an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on your skin. Too much harmful bacteria on your skin also puts you at risk for skin infections. This may lead to dermatitis neglecta, where patches of plaque form on the skin due to insufficient cleaning.
Bathing also removes dead skin cells. These cells can stick to your skin and cause hyperpigmentation when you don’t bathe enough. Continuing good hygiene can fix this condition.
Although personal hygiene is essential for your health, it’s possible to bathe too often. Daily showers might be part of your schedule, but you need to do what’s best for your skin at the end of the day.
If you’re troubled by dry skin and looking for a way to prevent skin inflammation and irritation, experiment with fewer showers. Or, at the very least, restrict your showers to five minutes and miss the hot water.
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