When it comes to washing oneself, one tends to think that the daily practice of bathing is common throughout the world. But reality says otherwise. 66% of Americans bathe daily, compared to 80% of Australians. Meanwhile, that figure reaches only 50% in China.
So, faced with these numbers, it is worth asking: How many times do you have to bathe a week to be healthy? Do you have to shower every day?
Different investigations try to answer these questions, among which one carried out by scientists at Harvard University in the United States stands out.
According to the School of Medicine of this prestigious academic institution, bathing every day is not as healthy as it seems and could even be harmful to our body.
Experts explain that human skin maintains a layer of oil and “good” bacteria in its normal state. When a person takes a daily bath using hot water, it can have a harmful impact on the dermis, including: dry skin, irritations and itching.
In addition, dry skin allows microorganisms present on it to cause infections and allergic reactions. The use of antibacterial soaps can kill “good” bacteria for the skin, altering the vital balance of these microorganisms and encouraging the appearance of stronger and more resistant bacteria.
A weakening of the immune system can also occur, which needs to be exposed to external pathogens and dirt to generate antibodies and protect the person.
While there is no single answer, Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and current fellow at Harvard Medical School, said the water we clean with can contain salts, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides and other chemicals that also cause health problems.
“Over-cleansing your body is probably not a pressing health concern, and your skin may be drier than it would be if you showered less frequently. This is not a public health threat. However, daily showers do not improve your health, can cause skin problems, and, more importantly, waste a lot of water,” Shmerling said.
Additionally, oils, perfumes and other additives in shampoos, conditioners and soaps can cause their own problems, such as allergic reactions, the researcher added.
In line with this study, Dr. Ariel Vilchis Reyes, an academic at the Department of Public Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), identified three factors to establish the frequency of a bath: climate, biological condition and physical activity that each person does.
“If we live in a cold climate, it is best to bathe two or three times a week, but if we live in a hot climate and sweat a lot, it is recommended to bathe up to two times a day,” explained Vilchis Reyes.
As for biological condition, every body is different. Some people sweat more than others or have more fat on the surface of the skin, which acts as a protector. Removing this layer can lead to dermatitis, cellulite, skin swelling or other dermatological infection.
For people who do more physical activity, it is recommended to take two baths a day to eliminate the bacteria that reproduce with sweating.
The same applies to people who perform jobs that involve physical effort, such as bricklayers or garbage collectors.
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