How often should you shower?

I recently came across an article that asked the question “How often should one shower?” As I write this article, it is the middle of July and the answer to this question should be obvious, or is it? This has been a subject we have tackled before but usually during cooler months when the answer is not so clear. 

Dr. Shilpi Kheterapal, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic gives her views on this subject. She first lists the factors behind showering frequency. She makes sure we understand there are no iron clad rules governing this activity of basic hygiene.

Daily plans are the first one mentioned. Now, of course, if you are going to work, going to school or going out for a special event, you will want to look good and smell good. Therefore, a shower is in order. If your activity level has been high such as doing yard work, working out, hard manual labor or cleaning the house all day, a shower is in order.  If the weather is hot, an extra shower is in order but if the weather is cold and you have not been so active, maybe a shower can be skipped.

If your skin is sensitive and dry you may again skip that shower but if your skin is oily, a shower may be mandatory.

One of the major reasons people shower is to manage body odor.  Sweat, dead skin cells and skin oils accumulate on your body.  This is a perfect breeding space for bacteria and fungi. Unfortunately, this can also produce a bad body odor.

We all know that the arm pits, feet, under breast and groin are prone to producing odors because these areas are warm, contain a higher concentration of sweat glands which will promote bacterial growth and a bad smell. Keeping these areas clean with a daily shower or vital to good hygiene and health.

For the health of your skin, Dr. Khetarpal reminds us that germs are everywhere and you may be bringing home unwanted guests on your skin. A good daily scrubbing can often prevent these germs from entering your home.

Remember, the oils on acne prone skin need to be washed away to prevent pimples from forming. Dandruff is nothing more than yeast that lives in the oil glands of your scalp.  Washing away those flakes is a must. Even with eczema’s dry, itchy skin, keeping the skin clean prevents flare-ups.

The average adult is covered in 22 square feet of skin. The body sheds 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells each minute or around 50 million skin cells replaced each day.  Showering helps to get rid of them.

Some of us just like the routine of showering every morning.  It wakes one up and energizes the day. At night, a shower can be the calm of the day by aiding sleep as it helps drop the body temperature.

On the flip side, showering too often can be too much of a good thing. We certainly don’t want to strip the natural skin barrier. Therefore, skipping a shower every now and then can help preserve and protect your natural skin barrier.

Some general shower guidelines are as follows:

Don’t have the water too warm because it can dry out your skin and make it itchy. Get in and out of the shower in under five minutes to minimize the striping of that natural skin barrier. Target key areas consistently such as the face, armpits and groin. Watch out for all those scented products as they can strip moisture from your skin. Look for products that are gentle. Be gentle to your skin when you dry off. Pat yourself dry to prevent friction and dryness. Moisturize right after showering in order to trap the moisture on your skin and keep it hydrated. Lastly, it is helpful to maintain that healthy skin barrier by using scent-free products.

So, skipping a shower every now and then is okay but skip it judiciously.

Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.