Is it actually healthy to wash your body every day and how often should you shower during the week? These are common questions that many people can't seem to find clear answers to. As a rule, the skin needs a naturally forming layer of oil and certain bacteria that act as a kind of barrier. Washing the body too often affects this and can lead to dry, stressed and itchy skin. This increases the risk of infections due to harmful microbes entering the cracks in the skin. On the other hand, poor hygiene habits and personal hygiene can also cause skin diseases. In order to prevent all of this, a certain balance in personal hygiene should be sought. Here is some useful information and care tips to help you.
What mistakes to avoid and how often should you shower?
Although the topic of showering frequency is controversial, there are certain factors to consider to ensure optimal personal care. Often this can actually boil down to habits and rituals. Many people shower every day to feel more alert, for exampleTo avoid body odor, or even to relax tense muscles.
However, some of them do this simply because that is how they were taught. In addition, it is important to pay attention to signs and to recognize the possible causes of any skin irritation. For this purpose, you can use the following advantages and disadvantages of excessive or inadequate personal hygiene as a guide.
What happens if you shower less?
Washing your hair can also cause it to lose its shine if you remove the natural oils through too frequent showering. This can even cause hair loss in some cases due to a condition called seborrheic dermatitis. The latter can also be triggered by hot shower water and the resulting removal of healthy oils from the hair. For this reason, washing less often can definitely be beneficial in certain cases. By doing this, you allow your skin to repair itself and stay healthy, which also strengthens your own immune system.
In addition, with fewer bacteria and oils washed out, your own body produces more antibodies. These are effective against many pathogens and ensure a better immune response to allergies or polluted air. Another advantage of not excessive showering is that you buy fewer cosmetic products and therefore help the environment. The microbes on the skin may also prevent dangerous viruses from entering the body, while also minimizing any potential risks of skin diseases. However, it is also possible for some people to cause skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis due to inadequate personal hygiene. Therefore, it is also important to remove dead skin cells to prevent possible skin infections. The question still remains: How often should you shower?
What needs to be considered individually and how often should you shower?
As you can guess from the information above, it is not absolutely necessary to wash your body and hair every day or even several times a day. However, there are people who are more susceptible to allergens or other skin problems, which makes regular personal hygiene essential. In addition, certain skin diseases require you to shower more often or less often. For example, those with dry skin, such as those with eczema, should not treat their bodies with bath products every day. The intensity of rubbing also plays an important role, as abrasive movements make dry skin even more irritable. So instead, try gently lathering using just your hands.
However, if it is a problem with oily skin, more frequent personal care would be useful and even necessary. For example, if you have acne, you should wash your face or body daily and possibly even several times a day to prevent possible breakouts. The frequency of showering also depends on individual needs and everyday work life. For example, if you work from home, you might miss a few days, which would have a healthy impact. However, you should not leave your body without washing for more than two or three days, otherwise the problems described above may accumulate. The same applies, of course, to intensive sports or strenuous activities.
Recommended type and duration of showering
Since showering is pleasant, it can be tempting to stay in the bathroom longer, but this also carries some risks. As a general rule, you shouldn't spend more than 10 minutes under warm water, otherwise it can dry out the skin and have a negative impact on water conservation. Even after showering, try to blot your skin instead of rubbing it with the cloth to retain the moisture you need. It is also advisable to apply a moisturizing cream if your skin is dry.
Additionally, when showering, you should focus on the areas of your body where dirt and odors accumulate most often. These are primarily the armpits, intimate areas and the spaces between the fingers. Accordingly, let the cosmetics you use glide gently over your skin instead of rubbing it in. Also avoid showering with hot water to prevent skin irritation. Otherwise, there is no consistent strategy when it comes to how often you should shower. Unfortunately, it's impossible to train your own skin or hair to produce less odor or oil. For many people, this also depends on specific hormonal imbalances, which often require medical treatment.
