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How often should you bathe/shower?
zamphir66
Posts: 582 Member
in Debate Club
This question is at the center of a recent NPR article: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/26/917019912/in-the-era-of-hygiene-clean-author-makes-the-case-for-showering-less
Dr. James Hamblin, the author of "Clean," argues that many of us are showering too often, possibly to the detriment of our skin's microbiome.
Me, I shower just about every day. In the summer, maybe twice some days. Even if I don't "feel" particularly dirty, I just enjoy the feeling of being naked with water flowing over me so much that I need it about every day. It's almost spiritual.
On days when I don't shower, it's either a) I'm mentally way down, or b) I'm completely exhausted, but then being that tired and skipping the shower causes me to feel mentally down, so I try super hard not to let b happen.
So what say you all?
Dr. James Hamblin, the author of "Clean," argues that many of us are showering too often, possibly to the detriment of our skin's microbiome.
Me, I shower just about every day. In the summer, maybe twice some days. Even if I don't "feel" particularly dirty, I just enjoy the feeling of being naked with water flowing over me so much that I need it about every day. It's almost spiritual.
On days when I don't shower, it's either a) I'm mentally way down, or b) I'm completely exhausted, but then being that tired and skipping the shower causes me to feel mentally down, so I try super hard not to let b happen.
So what say you all?
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Replies
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I run just about every day and I'm a heavy sweater. So I'm going to keep showering every day.6
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My bed sheets are white. I shower at least daily before bed.
If I've done a two-a-day training, then I shower at least twice.
Also, my best life affirming thoughts happen in the bathroom 🤷🏿♀️13 -
If you are obese and sweat a lot like me, showering at least once each day is mandatory.4
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Between working out (stink), going to the horse farm (stink or just dusty feeling), having to wash my hair if I actually want it to look nice, and having to shower when leaving certain labs at work, my record so far is 6 in 1 day. 1-3 is my norm, occasionally I am able to skip a day in the winter and still live with myself.
ETA: but I try to only wash my hair 1x a day or every other day.7 -
Jump in the shower and blow the stink off. Stinkin' Thinkin'. If you work in an office and sit next to someone in a tiny little cube, they want you to take a shower and wear deodorant.8
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Once a month whether I need it or not.
It is said that historically only Vikings were regular bathers. I have no idea if that is true or not.
My skin health already sucks from gaining and now losing a million pounds. The skin microbiome is out of luck and down the drain. I am sure there is an expensive pre/post biotic lotion to FIX it.
I shower daily and typically 3 days a week it is twice. I rarely shower 3 times in a day but it does happen in the warmer months. I typically only wash my hair once a day and during the last shower.7 -
People stink and that's a level playing field. My folkaronies always say that fish and company stink after 3 days.
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Twice a day. One will be a full shower, the other will be a quick freshen up.2
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The $600 water bill dictates how many showers I and family get a day or for how many minutes they are. It sucks.6
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Diatonic12 wrote: »People stink and that's a level playing field. My folkaronies always say that fish and company stink after 3 days.
Applause to Folkaronies.2 -
I shower every day that I get physical exercise (bike, yard work, etc). Sometimes more than once a day - say ride in the morning, shower, go be with people, do yard work (or something that makes me sweat) so a shower before bed is required. If I am loafing around the house, then I will skip the shower for that day.9
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L1zardQueen wrote: »The $600 water bill dictates how many showers I and family get a day or for how many minutes they are. It sucks.
A month?
Where are you and how many people in the place for a $600 water bill?0 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »People stink and that's a level playing field. My folkaronies always say that fish and company stink after 3 days.
Applause to Folkaronies.
ROFL. I'm just carrying on in the family tradition. I can't help myself.
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »L1zardQueen wrote: »The $600 water bill dictates how many showers I and family get a day or for how many minutes they are. It sucks.
A month?
Where are you and how many people in the place for a $600 water bill?
Two month bill, sorry I should’ve stated. It’s still a lot of money. There are only three of us in the house. Our new house came with a bunch of well established citrus trees. We are trying to keep the trees alive, but they ain’t looking too happy right now.
San Diego. The price of water keeps going up.
Water conservation is a real problem.
I happened across that article posted in the OP a few days ago and thought, “Oh hell yeah”, I have an excuse for not taking regular showers. Lol4 -
@s131951 The String Theory not to be confused with the Stink Theory. There's someone in my small corner of the world with their nose perpetually in the air. My grandpaw used to say, 'They smell the stink, kids. They smell the stink'. They figure they're a cut above everyone else. This person is still alive but Grandpaw is buried right next to their relatives. When I put flowers on his grave I say 'Look Grandpaw', it's a level playing field now.
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So what say you all?
I guess I say this: we probably should listen to the guy and figure out how to protect the skin's microbiome or we're going to regret it.
We have a gut micro-biome that we are still learning about. Originally, we didn't know about it, and then, we thought it was only important because of what 'bad' bacteria existed in it that we might need to kill off. And now, we know that it can impact weight gain, health, and we've started having problems like antibiotic-resistant bacteria because of how much we ignored the issue.
So...we also have a skin micro-biome, and we know approximately jack-all about it, except that it can be damaged or washed away by heat, soap, and chemicals, of which we get all three during showering. Not to mention the natural protective oils our skin makes are impacted by showers as well.
If someone is saying that maybe we need to be cautious about this part of our bodies that we are very ignorant about, then...honestly? Might be worth thinking of that.
Because in the end, what is healthy for us doesn't mean what we 'want' to be healthy for us, you know? My wanting to shower daily is about as relevant to my skin's health as my wanting to have cake for every meal is relevant to my physical health.
How much I want to do the thing is meaningless. How healthy the thing is FOR me? That's what matters.
And just like I think my eating cake for every meal isn't healthy for me, no matter how much I might like it, I probably should be considering what type of showering is healthy for me, too.
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Diatonic12 wrote: »@s131951 The String Theory not to be confused with the Stink Theory. There's someone in my small corner of the world with their nose perpetually in the air. My grandpaw used to say, 'They smell the stink, kids. They smell the stink'. They figure they're a cut above everyone else. This person is still alive but Grandpaw is buried right next to their relatives. When I put flowers on his grave I say 'Look Grandpaw', it's a level playing field now.
I've encountered that as well.1 -
My skin is dry. I hardly sweat, even if I work out hard and even when I do, I've asked friends if they detect any odor. I used to slather on lotion all the time, but then it would get all over my clothing or I couldn't grip anything well. So the balance I've found is that I shower at least every other day unless I'm particularly dirty (like working out in the yard or etc.) If I just did a moderate workout and walked around the gym, I'll just wipe myself down at night (usually with baby wipes). Again, it's not bad hygiene issue, it's having really sensitive skin and drying out.
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"You should shower every day." -- your coworkers7
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"You should shower every day." -- your coworkers4
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I'm flex-schedule, especially in pandemic isolation. I shower more often, up to multiple times a day, if there's sweating alternated with socializing. Less than daily, sometimes (with some washcloth scrubs in there) if neither of those triggers.
Though I have more modern habits (like daily when no pandemic), my parents (b. 1912, 1917) grew up in the erar of mostly weekly baths, and "sponge baths" from a basin/sink in between as needed: Heating the water on the woodstove, in some cases even drawing it from a well or by hand-pump first, to fill the tin tub . . . that tends to make the baths happen less often. Less stink than you might imagine.
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.7 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
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Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.
Weird trivia I actually know, LOL. First thing is, daily showering is very regional. Over half of Americans shower daily. But in Japan, 5 days a week is more common. British, last I recall, shower about every 2-3 days.
And Brazilians shower around 2 times a day, on average.
From what I've read, WHY we shower/bathe as much as we do actually seems to have less to do with running water, electricity, or anything you'd think it might, and more with a variety of other reasons.
In the USA, our bathing habit changes correlate very specifically with two things.
One, the Civil War. Disease was the main cause of death for all soldiers in the war, and was often caused by unsanitary living conditions and poor hygiene practices. It was such a problem that in 1861, the U.S. Sanitary Commission was made to help ensure good hygiene and sanitation practices. After the war ended, the increased hygiene practices stayed.
And two, advertising. Soap companies ran with the whole hygiene concept and quickly started campaigns to convince Americans that using lots of soap, daily, would make them successful and attractive (pretty much like commercials today) and there was a huge bump in how frequently we showered due to that as well, it seems.12 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
I'm sorry that your child struggles with that - that sounds very difficult.
At the same time, in Ironwood in around 1925 or so, before central heating and cooling among other things, I think someone with such sensitivities would've shown rather dramatic signs quite apart from hair-washing.
One of the benefits of modern life and modern conveniences is - I think - an opportunity for people with a wider range of health conditions or sensitivities to live and thrive. Life in those other places and times was pretty harsh.1 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
Interesting. Two centuries, perhaps, then, in the US? I still think things like REA would've had a meaningful impact.1 -
For about 10 years, 4 showers a day for shingles pain. Now, during pandemic, every 2-3 days.
ALWAYS scrub feet thoroughly immediately after mowing barefoot or in flip flops! I hate green feet!
(A shower, too)1 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
excuse me for interrupting and i don't mean to be rude, but does your child have severe cold or heat related urticaria? i have CU - that's why i'm asking...1 -
Though I have more modern habits (like daily when no pandemic), my parents (b. 1912, 1917) grew up in the era of mostly weekly baths, and "sponge baths" from a basin/sink in between as needed: Heating the water on the woodstove, in some cases even drawing it from a well or by hand-pump first, to fill the tin tub . . . that tends to make the baths happen less often. Less stink than you might imagine.
Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.
I was raised on 'one bath a week' and I'm only 37 (but not from the US). I've seen the shift to (nearly) daily showers in society, though not as 'bad' as in the US. There seems to be a tendency in western society (led by North America) to consider any bodily smell as a bad smell.
Anyway, I refrain from telling people how much (little) I bathe/shower/wash, knowing the judgment will be instantaneous, even though they don't think I stink.
Reading this thread, I'm mostly shocked at the (IMO) excessive water consumption. Living in Belgium, you would think water isn't an issue, but climate change combined with too much urban land cover is wreaking havoc on our water table and water is getting more expensive too.
I'm fully convinced that showering (more than) daily is just cultural and not necessary for our health (or even detrimental). But this is a difficult topic to discuss, since most people will just go 'oh yuck' at the mere idea of showering less than daily.
But even if you feel the need to wash yourself once or several times a day, I'm a big fan of going old-school and just using a washcloth (I hate showering anyway, I much prefer taking a bath) 22 -
How often should you bathe/shower is not going to be universal.
Older people whose skin tends to dry out and who may not be very mobile or active or go outside much ( like the ones I used to visit doing community nursing ) - 2 or 3 times a week was fine. Basic hand basin wash in between.
Young active sports players in hot climates - more often.
Me personally - every morning with very few exceptions. Once in a blue moon, stay at home pyjamas all day, skip the shower.
Occasionally 2 showers if going out to dinner after a hot day or suchlike.0 -
Twice a day in the summer, but you can hardly call them all showers, they are mostly just a minute or two to rinse the sweat off with a hasty go-over with a bath poof and soap. Every other day or so in the winter. I don't work out yet, but if I were to work up a sweat, I would at least hop in long enough to rinse down.2
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