One of the controversies on the internet over the past few weeks has been about how often you should shower. People have different bathroom routines. In a Vanity Fair video, the cast members all played a game about whether they knew each other, America Ferrera admitted to some dismay that one of her guilty pleasures was not taking a shower for a few days.
While some celebrities like Al Rocker said they overdo it and feel compelled to shower twice a day, parents Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard said they wait for their kids to smell bad before they wash.
But how often should we take a shower?
Let’s start by saying that there is no definitive answer to this question…
Where you are in the world can affect how often you shower. According to Harvard Health Publishing, two-thirds of people in the United States shower every day, more than 80 percent of Australians like to bathe every day, and in China it is reported that about half of people bathe only twice a week.
So finding a general correct answer is not so simple and depends on many factors. For example, if you have a morning exercise routine or a very sweaty work environment, you may need to bathe daily so that your smell does not bother those around you.
But taking too many showers can also cause more irritation than you might expect. Your body has a large collection of viruses, germs, and bacteria that make up the microbiome, and some of these foreign entities are important to your health. There is some research that shows that taking too many showers can disrupt this microbiome and harm your skin’s overall health. This can lead to inflamed, dry and itchy skin, allowing bacteria and allergens to pierce the skin, causing allergic reactions and skin infections.
Showering with harsh shampoos and soaps is known to rid your body of beneficial germs and natural oils, which can cause many problems. It’s thought that disrupting your precious microbiome may also contribute to some common skin conditions.
Should children bathe every day?
Some pediatricians and dermatologists recommend not bathing children every day. This is because the immune system needs stimulation from dirt, normal microorganisms, and environmental exposure, allowing the body to create protective antibodies and “immune memory.” Bathing and showering too often can reduce the immune system’s ability to do its job.
Not taking a shower often enough can cause an unpleasant odor to spread around you as you try to continue your daily life. In addition, not taking enough showers can cause other problems such as dandruff caused by yeast that multiplies in the sebaceous glands and irritates the scalp, acne that clogs the pores due to dirt and dead skin, and the accumulation of natural oils on the skin and causing the proliferation of staining bacteria, eczema that likes to flare up when the skin is not clean.
That’s why finding the right wash rate is quite a difficult decision. There is no specific amount that experts agree on. Some experts think you should shower every day, while others suggest that two or three times a week is fine for most people. Of course, this will vary depending on people’s work and routine situations.
Some experts recommend showers lasting 3-4 minutes, focusing on the armpits and groin while showering. In addition, it is recommended that the water is not too hot, use products made for sensitive skin and limit odors, and use a humidifier to lock moisture in the skin when finished.
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