In many parts of the world, daily showers are more the norm. However, from a purely medical point of view, most people don’t need to shower that frequently. Personal hygiene is good for your health and most people need to shower regularly. In addition to its use for routine washing and grooming, the water offers pain relief and treatment benefits in the form of hydrotherapy.
Baths, steam showers, saunas, and other bathing methods can:
– Improving immune function
– Relieving muscle pain
– Reduce swelling
– Increase in blood flow
– Improving concentration
– Reduction of fatigue
– Ease of breathing
To a lesser extent, lingering in the shower can have the same effects. The shower cleanses the skin and removes dead cells to unclog pores and allow skin cells to function. It eliminates bacteria and other irritants that can cause rashes and other skin problems. However, the main reason people shower so often is to help them meet social standards for cleanliness and personal appearance. Compliance with these standards helps people feel comfortable in their professional and social environment and in their bodies.
Take a shower according to the season
In most parts of Europe, due to the climate, winters are colder and drier while summers are hotter and wetter.
These changing environmental conditions affect the ideal shower frequency.
In winter, both cold temperatures and indoor heating contribute to dry skin. Many dermatologists recommend people change up their bathing routine in winter to protect against dry skin.
The following techniques can help reduce the likelihood of dry skin:
– Reduce the duration of the shower to a maximum of 5-10 minutes.
– Close the bathroom door to trap steam and increase humidity.
– Replace hot water and soap with lukewarm water and mild detergent.
– Use the least possible amount of detergent to cleanse the skin.
– Dry the skin gently after bathing.
– Apply enough moisturizing oil-based cream or ointment within 3 minutes after showering to keep skin hydrated.
Showers at different ages
A person’s bathing needs change throughout their lifetime.
Babies shower frequency
The usual practice of bathing babies daily is not really necessary. It is best to start washing the whole body regularly when babies start crawling and eating.
Shower frequency for children
Although daily bathing is safe for children ages 6 to 11, they should only shower every few days. Once teenagers hit puberty, how often they need to shower varies from person to person. Many people suggest that a daily shower is necessary at this time.
Shower frequency for teenagers
Many teens are very physically active, and showering is a good idea after strenuous sports or events, including swimming, weight training, and other physical activities.
Shower frequency for older adults
The once easy shower can sometimes become more difficult for the elderly. Older people may not need to shower every day to maintain the level of cleanliness needed to protect their skin, prevent infection and meet general hygiene standards. Showering once or twice a week can often be enough to meet these criteria, and people can use warm washcloths in between to stay cool. Elderly people who can no longer wash themselves can maintain their independence by enlisting the help of caregivers for everyday chores.
shower and work
People working in unsanitary conditions should shower at the end of each working day. The type of work people do affects how often they need to shower. People who work office jobs and spend most of their time indoors don’t have the same showering needs as people who work with hazardous materials, animals, or other jobs that are perceived as unsanitary.
Occupations that may be considered “dirty work” include:
– Butcher
– Building superintendent
– Exterminator
– irrelevant
– Garbage Collector
People who work with corrosive materials, hazardous chemicals, pathogens, and radioactive materials should shower at the end of each workday. Gardeners, arborists, home gardeners and anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors in contact with various plants can reduce the risk of rashes and other skin injuries by taking a shower as soon as possible. This limits their exposure to plant sap, pollen and other potential allergens, reducing the risk of a reaction. A Dutch study found that showers can reduce sick days at work, but only if they are cold showers. Researchers reported that people who finished their shower with a spurt of cold water for at least 30 seconds spent 29% less time absent than people who didn’t.
Can you shower too often?
Showering removes bacteria from the skin, which means it also washes away bacteria that help the body protect itself from infection. Soaps and shampoos used in the shower can dry out the skin and hair, leading to cracking and split ends. The speed of this phenomenon, which determines the frequency of the showers, depends on the type of skin (oily or dry) and the climate in which you live. If your skin feels tight after a shower, that’s not a sign of cleanliness. Rather, it indicates that the skin is too dry.
In studies that focused on handwashing, researchers found that nurses whose hands were damaged from frequent washing and wearing gloves harbored more infectious agents than other nurses. The researchers concluded that if the frequency of washing causes skin damage, it is counterproductive.
The shower also has a significant impact on the environment. Soaps and shampoos, not to mention added ingredients like microbeads in some skincare products, can end up in groundwater, lakes, streams and oceans. The simple act of showering depletes vital freshwater resources.
The shower also has an impact on the environment
Although showering has physical, mental, and emotional benefits, the daily shower that many people are accustomed to is probably more than most people need. Showering dries out skin and hair, uses up natural resources and creates an additional source of water pollution. Determining shower frequency is about finding the right balance between using natural resources responsibly and what allows a person to feel good and clean while also fitting into their schedule.
The medical recommendation for meeting basic physical and hygienic needs is to shower once or twice a week. Reducing shower time to no more than 5-10 minutes reduces the likelihood of dry skin. People who work in certain jobs and play a lot of sports are likely to need to shower more often.
* Presse Santé strives to convey health knowledge in a language accessible to all. In NO CASE can the information given replace the advice of a doctor.
Like our content?
Receive our latest publications directly in your mailbox every day free of charge
