Question:
I know it’s important to shower, but is there such thing as showering too often or not enough? Should you always use soap? Do I have to wash my hair very often? If you have other hygiene tips, I’d love to hear them.
Answer:
Nebraska Medicine University Health Center provider Szuhua Lambdin, APRN: You ask some great questions. Let’s break things down a bit.
How often should you shower?
It depends. For specific skin conditions, it is possible to shower too often or not enough. For instance, people who have dry skin conditions like eczema do not need to shower daily. And technique matters on dry skin, too. Instead of enthusiastic (and abrasive) scrubbing that can worsen dry skin, try gentle lathering with your hands. Skip loofahs, washcloths and exfoliating products.
However, if your skin is on the oily side, you should shower more often. If you deal with acne you should shower and wash your face daily or a couple of times a day. This will help with breakouts.
It also depends on your personal preference. If you feel better with a daily showering routine, go for it. If you would rather skip some days, that’s OK, but never go more than two or three days without washing your body with soap.
Do you need to use soap when you shower?
Yes, use soap on your groin, your armpits and your feet. These are areas that are prone to bacteria and can get smelly. Any other areas are likely good with water.
How often should you wash your hair?
When it comes to washing your hair, that is very individual. Some people need to wash their hair daily or it becomes too greasy, whereas some only wash their hair once every two weeks. When you need to wash your hair is driven by genetics, as well as the texture and thickness of your hair. For example, African American hair usually needs less frequent washing.
Other hygiene tips
The length and temperature of your shower can affect your skin as well. Don’t shower in too hot of water, and keep showers to about 10 minutes. Otherwise, you can dry out your skin.
Always put moisturizing cream (not lotion) on immediately after stepping out of the shower. This helps to lock in the moisture and rehydrate your skin. Some of the best brands are Cerave, Cetaphil and Aveeno, but there are many great ones.
You can’t train your skin or hair to be less oily or need less showering. There are instances where people have hormones that are out of alignment and, once their hormones get under control, we see improvement in their hair and skin. Otherwise, it’s hard to “train your skin.”
FAQs
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. How often you should shower depends on your physical activity, your age, your occupation, and any medical conditions you may have. Not everyone needs to shower every day. On the other hand, showering once a week might be pushing the limits of good hygiene — and manners.
Is showering every other day bad hygiene? ›
If you feel better with a daily showering routine, go for it. If you would rather skip some days, that's OK, but never go more than two or three days without washing your body with soap.
What are the bad things about showering everyday? ›
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.
What are some hygiene facts about showering? ›
Showering cleans the skin and removes dead skin cells to help clear the pores and allow the skin cells to function. It washes away bacteria and other irritants that could cause rashes and other skin problems.
Is showering every day bad for the environment? ›
The average shower lasts about eight minutes. Since the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute, each shower uses more than 16 gallons of water! Across the United States, we use more than one trillion gallons of water each year just for showering.
Do you really need to shower every day? ›
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.
Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? ›
Benefits to morning showers include feeling more alert in the morning, getting clean after a workout, and washing off any nighttime sweat or skin cell buildup. However, showering at night may be a better option for people with skin conditions or allergies, and it can help prepare the body for sleep.
What are the disadvantages of showering? ›
Washing removes healthy oil and bacteria from your skin, so bathing too often could cause dry, itchy skin and allow bad bacteria to enter through cracked skin. When you expose your body to normal dirt and bacteria, it actually helps strengthen your immune system. Plus, showering too often wastes water.
Should females take baths or showers? ›
Your personal hygiene priorities should determine whether you take a bath or a shower. If you're interested in promoting relaxation, easing fatigue, and treating chronic pain, a bath might be the right choice for you. If you're more interested in an efficient daily cleansing, a shower might be the better choice.
How often do dermatologists recommend showering? ›
Dermatologists universally agree
The idea of needing to shower every 24 hours is great for soap manufacturers, but most people only need to take a few showers a week, depending upon their activities and environment.
Poor hygiene or infrequent showers can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on your skin. This can trigger acne, and possibly exacerbate conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Showering too little can also trigger an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on your skin.
Is it better to shower without soap? ›
The good news, though, is that soap is pretty much unnecessary. Yep. You don't need to use conventional soaps in your daily hygiene routine. All you absolutely need, bare bones, to stay clean is water.
At what age should you stop showering everyday? ›
Older kids ages 6-11 should hit the bath two or three times per week, at a minimum. More showers are in order when they get muddy, sweaty or stinky. Tweens and teens should shower daily. (Their newly stinky pits will probably clue you in when it's time to step up their hygiene game.)
What is the average shower time for a woman? ›
The CDC and dermatologists note the average shower lasts around 8 minutes, aligning with the recommended 5 to 10 minutes for optimal skin health and avoiding over 15 minutes to prevent skin dryness (1). Gender differences in shower time are slight, with women spending just 39 seconds more than men.
What happens when you shower for too long? ›
It's true that long, hot showers may feel restorative, but they can dry and irritate the skin, says Lisa Akintilo, MD, a cosmetic dermatologic surgery fellow at Skin Associates of South Florida in Coral Gables. Hot temperatures can strip away natural oils that are needed to keep the skin hydrated, she says.
How many days can you go without showering before you smell? ›
Generally, she says "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.
Is it bad to skip showers? ›
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. Not brushing your teeth regularly can lead to plaque buildup, tooth decay, and bad breath.
How often does the average person shower? ›
We found out that the average American shower lasts 15 minutes and is taken 5.9 times per week. While the frequency of showers stays fairly consistent, the length of them can vary quite a bit depending on where you live.
