Bathing every day is not as healthy as it seems. Thus concludes a recent study on personal hygiene from Harvard Medical School that exposed the negative consequences” of this practice.
The frequency with which people bathe varies significantly around the world. In the United States, two-thirds of people shower daily, while in Australia, this practice exceeds 80%. In contrast, about half of the population in China does it only twice a week. These differences suggest that hygiene habits are strongly influenced by social and cultural norms rather than health needs.
Reasons for showering daily often include concerns about body odor, the need to wake up in the morning, and morning routines that often include exercise. Although these reasons have their logic, especially in social and work contexts, the idea that showering daily is healthier is nothing more than a myth, explains a Harvard study published by Robert H. Shmerling, the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and current member of the Harvard Medical faculty.
From a health perspective, showering every day can have negative effects on your skin. Healthy skin maintains a layer of oil and a balance of “good” bacteria. Frequent showers, especially with hot water, remove this protective layer, causing dryness, irritation and itching. Throughout life, showering too frequently can reduce the immune system’s ability to adequately respond to environmental challenges.
So how often should we shower? According to Harvard experts, Showering several times a week is enough for most people, unless you get dirty or sweat a lot for specific reasons..
What are the consequences of showering every day, according to Harvard
- The skin can dry outget irritated or itchy when bathing every day.
- Dry, cracked skin can allow bacteria and allergens break the barrier that the skin is supposed to provide, allowing skin infections and allergic reactions to occur.
- The Antibacterial soaps can kill normal bacteria. This disrupts the balance of skin microorganisms and encourages the emergence of tougher, less friendly organisms that are more resistant to antibiotics.
- He immune system needs a certain amount of stimulation by normal microorganisms, dirt, and other environmental exposures to create protective antibodies and “immune memory.” This is one of the reasons why some pediatricians and dermatologists advise against daily baths for children. Frequent baths or showers throughout life can reduce the immune system’s ability to do its job.
