Dr. Casey Carlos, assistant professor of medicine in the division of dermatology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggests that showering too much isn’t good for you. Carlos explains that it’s quite difficult to get people to use soap only when they need to do so.
Skin care science is simple; soaps remove oils from the skin. In turn, your skin becomes dry and gets a rough texture. Carlos also suggests people should use soap only in particular places such as the groin, armpits, and feet. Furthermore, you should skip using soap on chest, back, legs, and arms. Why? It’s because our skin has the amazing ability to clean itself.
Scientific explanation
- Most health and lifestyle outlets today don’t rely too much on scientific explanations that support their claims. Luckily, below you can see why frequent showers aren’t such a great habit:
- The top layer of your skin is composed of dead skin cells that protect underlying skin layers
- The top layer is held together by fats or lipids that are responsible for moisture
- Whenever you shower and scrub, you’re breaking this layer apart
- The more showers you take, the more damage occurs in top layer
- Due to frequent showers, your skin has less time to repair and recover through natural oil production
- It prevents “good” bacteria from growing on your skin. This good bacteria is beneficial for protecting your skin and your body from infections
- It’s bad for your hair too. Negative consequences include dry, dull hair that is prone to dandruff. In some cases, hair can become greasy as scalp tries to overcompensate for dryness
Supplementary benefits
- You’ll save time
- You’ll use less hot water
- You’ll save money on shower gels, lotions, etc.