It's a question we often ask ourselves – do we really need to shower every day? Or is it one of those daily habits we've soaked up by osmosis instead of actual necessity?
Like all the great debates, there are two sides to every story – it's never simple. We first got to thinking about this when Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher admitted that they don’t wash themselves daily.
The news came to light on Dax Shephard’s podcast Armchair Expert, when Mila said: “I don’t wash my body with soap every day,” and Ashton added: “I wash my armpits and my crotch daily, and nothing else ever.”
Meanwhile, stars such as Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Cardi B both spoke out about their disturbed reaction to these habits. Cardi tweeted: “Wassup with people saying they don’t shower? It’s giving itchy.” Johnson showers three times a day, which is a whole different vibe.
@nmkajumulo 😭😭😭 its so hard to talk about this because I like to shower everyday and feel clean and also its super important to me that my Fiancé has the same view on hygiene BUT not everyone agrees and I see it all the time in the comments people just fighting about it and its literally all because we were taught so differently. I have my routine that I love and works for me and im just trying to teach people the things i WISH i knew when i was younger but some people realllyyyyy dislike it. I think its just the girls that like it like it and the girls that dont dont lol idk!! #howtosmellgood #smellgoodallday #showerroutine #hygiene ♬ original sound - nia kajumulo
Dax’s wife Kristen Bell also weighed in, confessing that she’s “a big fan of waiting for the stink”. She said: “Once you catch a whiff, that’s biology’s way of letting you know you need to clean it up.” Jake Gyllenhaal also told Vanity Fair: "More and more I find bathing to be less necessary, at times".
They’re not the only ones leading the shower-less charge, either. Julia Roberts previously confessed she doesn’t shower every day, though more for its eco-friendly merits than anything else, while deodorant has “never been her thing”. And in an interview with E! News, Cameron Diaz gave us more reason to consider putting the Mitchum down: “I don’t believe in antiperspirant. It’s really bad for you. I haven’t used it for almost 20 years. You’re stinky because you use antiperspirant. It keeps all the stink in.”
So, we want to settle the “to shower or not to shower” debate once and for all…
We’re previously cleaned up (see what we did there?) the debates around how long we should shower for once we’re in, and whether we should take one in the morning or evening, but is there actually any sense, or science, in steering clear of showering once a day? Here’s what medical doctor and founder of Illuminate Skin and Wellness Clinics Dr Sophie Shotter has to say.
@popsugarau What does this have to do with fashion week? 🤔 Anyway, let us know if you prefer to shower in the morning or at night! #showerthoughts #wellness #selfcare #popsugarau ♬ original sound - PS Australia
Should we be showering every day?
“You don’t necessarily need to shower or bathe your entire body daily. If we overwash, hot water can dry our skin out, and too many harsh soap-based products can irritate the skin, both of which cause a compromised barrier. Overwashing can also harm the microbiome on our skin – the cells which protect us from germs, and so could mean our immune system is compromised and we end up getting ill more often – think coughs and colds.”
If we go too far the other way and don’t wash enough, however, Dr Sophie adds: “We can become dirty, providing a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and bugs like lice, and that’s without mentioning the body odour.”
@buzzfeeduk "I am a DEFINITE one a day!" #shower #london #lol ♬ original sound - BuzzFeed UK
So, is showering everyday bad for the skin?
It can be.
"Showering every day is not necessarily beneficial for the skin," said Dr. Susanne Steinkraus. “Showers that are too long and too hot, as well as many conventional skincare products, attack the skin's natural protective acid mantle. When we shower, we therefore not only rinse off germs, dirt and flakes of skin, but also the body's own oils, which are supposed to protect us. This can disrupt the skin barrier.”
"Normal skin can also tolerate a daily shower, but would be happy with less," she said. The situation is different for sensitive and dry skin. "If the skin tends to be dry, it can dry out if you shower too often, as the water draws moisture from it," said Dr. Ralf Merkert. "Particularly in the winter months, when people spend more time in heated homes, the skin can dry out due to the dry heating air and is more susceptible."
@shanejustagirl What’s your every day shower routine? #hygieneroutine #hygiene #hygienetips #showertok #showerroutine #bodycaretips #forthegirls #atlantacreator #atlantainfluencer ♬ original sound - Shane
How often should you shower, based on your skin type?
The ideal frequency? Like most things in life, it varies from individual to individual, and largely comes down to lifestyle. “There’s no one answer to suit everyone,” Dr Sophie explains. “If you exercise a lot, naturally sweat more or the weather is very hot, you might want to shower every day, but if not, every couple of days is enough, with washes in particular areas that require more attention to hygiene in between.” Said areas include the groin and armpits, which Dr Sophie tells us contain more sweat glands and breed more bacteria, so will get a bit pongy if not washed when they need to be.
Normal skin: The skin can tolerate a daily shower, but it should still be avoided.
Dry and sensitive skin: Water dries out the skin, so avoid showering every day if possible.
As a general rule (unless it's summer or you have a job where you sweat), it is sufficient to shower three to four times a week and not every day.
Our skin type guide will show you whether you have sensitive skin. With dry or sensitive skin, the body usually has dry and rough patches and the skin is tight.
@drjennyliu #stitch with @ohemgee.bella yep you should shower daily! #skincaretips #dryskincare #eczemaskincare #winterskincare #dermatologist #skintips #skintok #dermtok ♬ original sound - Dr. Jing (Jenny) Liu
Does temperature and shower length matter?
When should you shower? In both summer and winter, it is particularly important to shower in the evening for the reasons mentioned above. Even if occasional cool-downs under the shower or waking up in the morning with cold water have to be omitted.
"My credo is: not too hot, not too long and with as few chemicals as possible," said Dr. Steinkraus. Even though warm water is particularly conducive to relaxation – stress hormones are reduced in a similar way to a warm bath - the temperature should not exceed 36 degrees. If you have sensitive skin or neurodermatitis, it gets even worse: you should take a very short shower with cold water so as not to damage the skin barrier and possibly avoid soap altogether. In general, both experts advise not to exceed the 5-10 minute mark per day and shower.
“Try alternating showers several times a week! The alternation between heat and cold ensures that the blood vessels alternately dilate and constrict,” said Dr. Ralf Merkert: In addition to anti-ageing effects, this has many other benefits, for example, faster regeneration after sport.
@neenziemd Things they dont tell you pt 226 #bathe #bath #shower #showertok #bathing #hygiene #doctorsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Neenz
Caring for your skin after a shower
Sensitive skin in particular should avoid fragrances in shower gel or soap formulations. The same applies to body lotions, as Dr. Merkert notes: "After showering, you should apply moisturising, mild lotions – this applies to all skin types, but especially to dry skin."
And what about deodorant?
As for the deodorant dispute, Dr Sophie tells us it’s probably a non-negosh, unless you, by some miracle, don’t sweat much. “For most women, a degree of underarm sweating is very normal,” she says. “And anti-perspirant is a good choice. That said, deodorant in its own right doesn’t do an awful lot – it literally means to de-odour, or to neutralise smell. It’s better to try and prevent the smell developing by washing as and when you sweat.” Who knew?
Originally published on Glamour UK.
