But while frequent washing of hands is key for stopping the spread of germs, according to most medics there is no inherent physical health benefit to the daily shower. In fact, it can even be bad for you by drying out your skin and undermining your immune system.
Generally, many people can go 2-3 days without showering and still not smell bad, particularly if they are not very active. However, after about a week, most people will likely begin to notice body odor and may feel uncomfortable. Regular washing of key areas (like underarms and groin) can help extend this period.
Skipping showers can lead to a buildup of bacteria and oils on the skin, which can cause unpleasant body odor and potentially contribute to skin infections.
There are a few reasons why someone might not shower every day. Some people have dry or sensitive skin, and frequent showers can strip natural oils. Others may not sweat much or engage in activities that make them feel the need to shower daily.
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Is it actually unhealthy to shower every day?
Yes, you could be making your skin drier than it would be with less frequent showering. This is not a public health menace. However, daily showers do not improve your health, could cause skin problems or other health issues — and, importantly, they waste a lot of water.
Dr. James Hamblin, a public health specialist, stopped showering for five years to test the necessity of daily showers. He found that while soap and hot water disrupt the skin's natural microbiome, maintaining these microbes is more important than previously thought.
This is certainly a key point for anyone with friends: if you stop washing, it's pretty likely that you'll start to smell bad. Even if you don't sweat excessively, strong body odor will doubtlessly develop and your refusal to shower will prevent you from eliminating it.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Though it may take some time for a smell to show up on the body, especially if you're still using deodorant, according to Dr. Angela Lam, a person's hair can develop a mildew smell in as little as a few days of not washing it (via USA Today).
Age, environment, exercise habits and sweat levels are all in the mix. Dr Sasha Dhoat, a consultant dermatologist at Barts Health NHS trust in London, says that showering once a day is fine, but adds that in cooler climates, including ours, showering on “alternate days or every third day may suffice”.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and not showering can lead to clogged pores, rashes and irritation. For anyone with pre-existing skin conditions, this could worsen their symptoms.
One of the most significant factors influencing the avoidance of showers is mental health. Conditions like depression can severely impact motivation and energy levels. Individuals experiencing depression often find even the simplest tasks daunting, leading to neglect of personal hygiene.
From a strictly medical perspective, it is not necessary for most people to shower daily. However, the ideal showering frequency may depend on a person's age, health, and occupation. Showering cleans the skin and removes dead skin cells to help clear the pores and allow the skin cells to function.
There's nothing wrong with wearing a bra while you sleep if that's what you're comfortable with. Sleeping in a bra will not make your breasts perkier or prevent them from getting saggy. And it will not stop breasts from growing or cause breast cancer.
Studies show that eating only once a day may increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels, especially if the single meal consists of heavily processed or high-carb foods. Other potential risks of fasting include: Shakiness or physical weakness. Intense hunger or binge eating.
Today's psychological thought largely concurs, emphasizing the role of crying as a mechanism that allows us to release stress and emotional pain. Crying is an important safety valve, largely because keeping difficult feelings inside — what psychologists call repressive coping — can be bad for our health.
Physically active or frequent sweating: Shower daily or after workouts to remove sweat and bacteria. Desk job or low activity: Shower every two to three days unless you feel sweaty or dirty. Outdoor or manual labor: Shower daily to clean off dirt, sweat, and grime.
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
Ablutophobia is the extreme, irrational and overwhelming fear of bathing, cleaning or washing. The fear of bathing, cleaning or washing refers to the individual themselves, such as washing their skin and hair.
Dr. James Hamblin, a preventive medicine and public health doctor, stopped showering for five years to explore the necessity of daily bathing. He found that frequent washing disrupts the skin's microbiome, which is crucial for health.
This could be because showers worsen a specific health condition. Or simply because it's hard to find the time. Mental health conditions like depression can lower someone's motivation to shower. Others like OCD or trauma can make it a distressing experience.
