Is Showering Everyday Bad?
For many of us, showering in the morning is just as essential as pouring a cup of coffee. Whether it helps us wake up or makes us feel refreshed and clean, a good shower can make all the difference when starting your day off right.
However, this daily routine might be more of a habit than an actual necessity. Don't get us wrong - personal hygiene is definitely important for yourself and for others around you, but showering too much might actually be doing more harm than good.
Showering Around the World
While you may not even realize it, showering can be considered a priviledge in some areas of the world. In a country like the United States where showering frequently is considered "normal", it may seem out of the ordinary that not everyone follows this habit.
According to a 2021 survey, 51% of American adults shower once a day and only 6% shower every three days.
If you think showering everyday seems excessive, you might be surprised to hear that research shows Brazil has the highest average for showers - 14 times per week.
This is a large gap compared to China, which according to Harvard Health, about 50% of people have reported showering only two times a week.
Although these shower habits could be due to access to clean water, soap, etc., studies suggest that now showering everyday might be the better option.
How COVID Affected Showering
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world in 2020, doctors, scientists, and celebrity endorsers urged us all to wash our hands frequently and for 20 seconds at a time. While this habit shouldn't have been exclusive to a pandemic as our hands touch plenty of germs daily, it became hugely important during this time.
While more people were washing their hands, research shows that people were showering less. This is likely due to lockdowns not allowing us to leave our homes, which meant fewer people to see - and smell.
Although COVID is much less prevalent than it was just a couple years ago, the rise of remote work has also affected people's shower habits. According to a survey, 46% of people are showering less, and 27% are only showering two or less times per week. People are also wearing makeup less, shaving facial less, and changing their underwear less.
Personal Hygiene and Health
Even if you're not leaving your home as frequently as before, personal hygiene is still important as it can affect your physical and mental health.
According to Health Direct, good hygiene can help stop the spread of germs and infectious disease. It can also help you to avoid conditions such as COVID, cold and flu, staph infections, athlete's foot, tooth decay, threadworms, lice, and more.
Personal hygiene can also play a role when it comes to your mental health. Poor hygiene can cause social isolation, which can lead to depression. However, depression can also result in a lack of motivation to perform basic daily tasks such as showering or brushing your teeth.
This association could cause physical appearance issues and lower self-esteem.
All-in-all, personal hygiene should be an important part of your daily life, but that doesn't necessarily mean showering more.
Reasons to Shower Everyday
Just like drinking a cup of coffee or going on a morning run, showering before you start your day might just be out of habit. Whether habit or not, there are legitamite reasons why you might want to shower everyday.
The first is being concerned with personal hygiene. Maybe you sweat at night or just don't feel clean if you don't rinse before putting on your clothes for the day. Whatever the reason, practicing personal hygiene is important and necessary.
The second goes hand-in-hand with personal hygiene but is especially important if you workout everyday. No matter how much you sweat when you workout, you likely feel the need to shower right after, especially before heading to work.
In fact, taking a cold shower after you exercise might even boost your immune system and aid in your post-workout recovery. A shower after your workout can also help rid off bad bacteria, dead skin cells, and clogged pores.
The third reason you might shower everyday is to help wake you up. According to the Sleep Foundation survey with 1,250 people, just over 80% reported showering because it wakes them up. Taking a cold shower has the potential to help improve alertness, circulation, and dopamine levels.
On the contrary, just over 46% of respondents reported they shower to help them fall asleep. Hot showers before bed have the potential to help lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality.
Reasons to Not Shower Everyday
Showering everyday might seem like an unquestionable hygiene habit for you, but is it truly necessary?
First, while showering daily can help remove sweat, dirt, and odor, it can also disrupt the skin's natural oils. Our bodies actually need some exposure to "normal" dirt and germs.
As children, this exposure helps train our immune system to recognize and fight off future threats. Think of it like a workout for your immune system. Just like muscles need some stress to grow stronger, our immune system needs some challenges from everyday germs to build a strong defense.
Showering too much might limit these challenges, potentially weakening the immune system's ability to respond effectively in the long run.
Second, frequent hot showers can leave skin dry and irritated, which could potential make conditions like eczema worse. Cracked or dry skin could allow bacteria and allergens to get in, causing skin infections or allergic reactions.
Third, while not directly related to our health, showering everyday consumes significant water and contributes to greenhouse gasses through hot water heating.
Alternatives to Showering
If you've decided that showering everyday isn't necessary in your lifestyle, but you still want to stay fresh and clean, there are alternatives to showering you can try.
Cleansing Wipes: Whether you don't have time to hop in the shower or you've decided to cut down on your showers per week, cleansing wipes can be a great way to stay fresh and clean. Some of the top-rated body wipes are Combat Wipes Active, Goodwipes Body Wipes, and No-Rinse Bathing Wipes by Cleanlife.
Dry Shampoo: If your hair gets a little greasy on your non-shower or non-hair wash days, you can opt for dry shampoo. Washing your hair everyday can strip away natural oils, causing dry and more vulnerable strands. Some of the top-rated dry shampoos are DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo, Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, and Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo.
Apple Cider Vinegar: If you want to rinse off without soap, properly diluted apple cider vinegar might be the solution. The mild acidity of apple cider vinegar may help restore the skin's natural pH balance, which can be disrupted by harsh soaps or cleansers. Its antimicrobial properties might offer some mild cleansing without stripping away natural oils.
So, Is Showering Everyday Bad?
Depending on your lifestyle, showering everyday might be necessary, especially if you hit the gym 7 days per week. However, it's clear that daily showering might not be needed.
If you want to still feel refreshed, try the showering alternatives instead.