Considering Showering Daily? Reasons You Might Want to Reconsider

From birth, we've been conditioned to bathe or shower daily, but is it necessary to clean ourselves so frequently? The beauty and health industries invest billions annually to convince us that we need their products for hygiene and cleanliness. 

Their marketing has been effective, leading us to believe that daily washing equates to being cleaner, healthier, and more attractive. However, daily showers or baths may actually damage our skin and overall health.

Showers can be relaxing after a strenuous day or make us feel clean following a workout, but one or two showers per week should suffice, perhaps with a quick daily wash at the sink to refresh. Surprised? Continue reading to discover why daily showers may not be advisable, according to scientific findings.

WHY YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER DAILY SHOWERS

Dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, in an Essence article, states that daily showers are not beneficial for the body. Showers not only consume a significant amount of water but also remove healthy bacteria from the skin, leading to dryness in the skin, nails, and hair, and potentially weakening the immune system.

"We bathe too much in this country," Hirsch remarks. "It's crucial to understand that societal norms largely drive this behavior."

1. YOU'RE NOT AS DIRTY AS YOU BELIEVE

Daily exercise or a physically demanding job that causes hours of sweating may not necessitate a daily bath or shower.

Dr. Casey Carlos, an assistant professor of medicine in dermatology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, mentioned in a today.com article that many soaps can dry out the skin by stripping away essential oils.

Furthermore, Carlos notes that our skin is quite efficient at self-cleaning, suggesting that frequent washing may not be as necessary as once thought.

Considering our ancestral practices, humans naturally bathed in rivers or creeks without soaps or harsh chemicals. This raises the question of why we believe our bodies require these products today.

2. IT WASHES AWAY GOOD BACTERIA

An interview with BuzzFeed featured two dermatologists who pointed out that daily skin washing can remove beneficial bacteria vital to our health. Additionally, regular showers can lead to small cracks in the skin, which may increase the risk of infection, particularly when good bacteria levels are reduced.

3. YOU’RE DRYING OUT YOUR HAIR

Similarly, daily hair washing can deplete it of its natural oils, leading to a dry, damaged, and frizzy appearance. Andrea L. Hayden, the Director of the International Association of Trichologists, advises washing your hair no more than once or twice a week, which includes wetting it. However, on non-wash days, conditioning is recommended to maintain moisture.

4. YOU’RE DRYING OUT YOUR SKIN

Frequent hot showers can lead to dry, peeling, or flaking skin. Washing too often strips the skin of moisture and oils, causing it to dry out. WebMD suggests limiting showers to no more than 10 minutes daily and using cold water to prevent skin dryness.

5. NAIL DAMAGE

Hot water causes nails to expand, leading to potential chipping and cracking. The loss of moisture and oils results in dry, flaky nails.

6. WATER WASTAGE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that a typical family of four consumes around 400 gallons of water daily. 

Daily showers contribute significantly to this usage, with a 10-minute shower consuming about 60 liters of water. While baths might seem more water-efficient, they actually use nearly three times more water than showers, as per Stanford University.

Source: powerofpositivity.com