How often should you shower? Here's what a doctor who reduced his shower frequency says.
Beyond a question of water conservation and sustainability , daily showering doesn't seem to be a mandatory habit, according to many health experts. According to the World Health Organization , showering every other day is sufficient to maintain recommended hygiene.
This same global organization also emphasizes that showering three days a week is sufficient, but the time spent "soaking" should never exceed five minutes. In this regard, the latest dissenting and qualified voice has been Dr. James Hamblin, who conducted a self-experiment documenting that daily showering with soap can be harmful.
Frequent showering and alteration of the epidermis microbiota
Those who argue that showering should be a responsible and appropriate form of hygiene, tailored to the real needs of "cleansing" the body rather than the cultural custom that requires doing it every day, speak of the potential danger to the skin of the soaps most of us use.
The skin is the largest organ in our body in terms of area, and the first line of defense that protects us from external aggressions . If we subject the epidermis to constant damage with aggressive products, such as those found in shower gels and soaps, we will, in most cases, be altering the microbiota and weakening the most external defenses.
This is the position of American preventive medicine physician James Hamblin, who personally tested the benefits of skipping daily showers to preserve the skin's lipid layer and natural oils, which are so beneficial to overall health. His findings were broadcast on CNN.
The negative consequences of excessive cleaning
Hamblin has been practicing "minimalist" hygiene for five years, avoiding the use of certain harsh soaps (which happen to be the majority of those found in supermarkets).
Based on the results of her personal experience, she published the book "Clean, The New Science of Skin," demonstrating that showers today go beyond a hygiene gesture that removes dirt and bacteria . "Most personal care products are designed to smell good and feel good, but they're not beneficial to skin health."
The expert has come to the definitive conclusion that "daily showers are by no means necessary, as long as you continue to practice basic hygiene practices such as keeping your hands clean or washing your face ." The effect of excessive cleansing is to eliminate essential microorganisms from the skin, which disrupts its natural balance and can cause conditions such as acne .
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