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How Often Should You Shower Here's What Dermatologists Say

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26 views1 page

How Often Should You Shower Here's What Dermatologists Say

bad man ti ng

Uploaded by

jpc4ra
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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In This Article
STYLE SKINCARE BATH AND BODY

How Often Should You


Shower? Here's What
Dermatologists Say
Experts weigh in on the shower
frequency sweet spot.

By Jennifer Benjamin |
Updated on February 12, 2024

Reviewed by Hadley King, MD

Fact checked by Emily Peterson

In This Article

Overview

Exceptions

Showering Tips

FAQs

A long, luxuriating shower before


bedtime can be one of the best ways to
relax a!er a long day. But sometimes,
we're not in the mood to deal with
soaping, scrubbing, and shampooing.
While there are other ways to address
body odor, it begs the question, how o!en
should you shower?

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And is there a right way to take a shower?


We asked dermatologists to share their
advice on how frequently you should
shower, what happens if you don't shower
every day, and how to know when you
need to hop in for a wash.

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MEET THE EXPERT

Michele Green, MD, is a New


York City–based cosmetic
dermatologist.

Lisa Chipps, MD, is a Los


Angeles–based dermatologist.

Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, is


a dermatologist at Schweiger
Dermatology Group in New
York City.

Ideal Shower Frequency


Everybody has different needs, but you
should not go more than a couple of days
without a shower. "Frequency of
showering depends on many different
factors that vary from person to person:
oil production, sweating and activity
level, exposure to bacteria, underlying
skin conditions, etc. Generally speaking, I
would recommend showering daily, or at
least 2 to 3 times weekly," says
dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD,
FAAD.

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"While the importance of personal


hygiene can't be understated, everyone's
skin is different," says cosmetic
dermatologist Michele Green, MD.
"Depending on the season, your skin, and
your preferences, the frequency of your
showers may vary throughout the year."

Signs You Need a Shower


According to Nazarian, there are some
signs to look for that indicate it's time to
shower. "Body odor and flaring of flaky,
yeast-based conditions such as seborrheic
dermatitis are signs that bacteria and
yeast levels and oil/sweat are increasing
and need to be cleansed off the skin more
frequently," says Nazarian. "For people
who are showering far more infrequently
than necessary, skin may start to turn
darker and thicker as dead skin cells and
dirt accumulates."

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KEEP IT SIMPLE

Don't go more than a couple of


days without a shower. For some
people, the ideal frequency is every
other day. For others,
dermatologists recommend
showering every day. Shower daily
if you display any of the signs
above or have any of the concerns
listed below.

Who Should Definitely


Shower Every Day
While Nazarian says that every other day
is about the longest you'll want to wait to
shower, there are those who need to
shower everyday.

Those Who Are Active and


Sweat
Even though you're not submerging your
body in water, that doesn't mean that
certain parts need to be freshened daily,
like your face, armpits, and private areas,
especially when you sweat profusely.

"Those who work out consistently should


probably shower a!erwards, which, if
done properly, isn't harmful to the skin
but may require a change in habits," adds
dermatologist Lisa Chipps, MD.

When washing your face, a splash with


"lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser"
will cleanse just fine, says Nazarian.

As for your armpits, depending on the


type of deodorant you use—deodorants
range from traditional to natural
aluminum-free formulas—you may need
to wash your armpits more frequently
with soap and water.

Those With Skin Issues


If you have skin issues or are prone to
sensitive skin, you will most likely need a
quick shower daily. "Aside from odor,
you'll need to be concerned about a host
of different skin issues like acne,
irritation, flare-ups of existing skin
conditions, and even yeast or fungal
infections," says Green.

Even patients with eczema can wash daily


but should be diligent in using "gentle,
unscented cleansers, tepid temperatures,
and moisturizing liberally following each
shower," says Nazarian.

Those Who Are Acne-Prone


Nazarian says that acne patients, or those
with seborrheic dermatitis, can certainly
benefit from daily showers, "both to keep
yeast and bacteria levels low, but also if
they are using acne or seborrheic
dermatitis medicated products that are
o!en applied in the shower."

"Acne forms when there is a blockage and


inflammation of sebaceous follicles, not
only on the face but on the chest and
back, as well," says Green. "Shower too
little, and there's greater potential for
acne-causing bacteria to become trapped
inside the pores."

To clear up any body skin breakouts, you


should shower more o!en than you are
now, as "acne body washes and seborrheic
dermatitis shampoos work more
effectively when used daily to reduce
flares," says Nazarian.

TIP

If you want to use a loofah to


remove the buildup of dead skin
cells and keep pores clear, Green
adds that it's important to rinse the
loofah and hang it to dry between
uses to prevent the spread of
bacteria.

Tips for Taking a Daily


Shower
It’s definitely not bad to shower daily if
you’re showering with appropriate
cleansing habits, says Nazarian, who notes
that "for many people it’s necessary to
shower daily."

"Some people need to shower once or


twice a day a!er working up a sweat,
while others who aren't as active may
only need to shower several times a
week," adds Green. Here are some
showering techniques to consider to
minimize potential skin damage from
daily showers.

Keep the Water Temperature


Lukewarm
The perfect shower temperature is
lukewarm—not cold, not hot, and steamy,
according to Nazarian. "Cold showers are
unnecessary for appropriate cleansing,
and hot water strips excessive amounts of
natural hydrators from skin, leading to
overdrying," she says.

"While long, hot showers may feel


great, they can break down the skin's
natural barrier and lead to dry and
irritated skin."
—LISA CHIPPS, MD

Use a Gentle Cleanser and


Moisturizer
Experts recommend sticking to gentle
cleansers and shying away from
exfoliative body cleansers so you
maintain the pH balance and don't strip
the skin of natural oils. A favorite body
wash is Dove Deep Moisture ($9;
amazon.com). "A!er bathing, blot (don't
scrub) your skin dry and apply a gentle
moisturizer to any areas that are prone to
dry skin," Chipps adds.

Avoid Washing Your Hair Every


Day
Just because you shower every day doesn't
necessarily mean that you have to wash
your hair as frequently, too. "Hair is
similar—it varies depending on the level
of scalp and oil production, and also
lifestyle and habit," says Nazarian. "Many
people need and should wash daily, while
others are fine to wash their hair once a
week or even once every 10 days."

Those with coarse, curly textured hair can


get away with shampooing every few days
or co-washing.

Frequently Asked
Questions
How long should a shower be?
According to experts, a shower
should last between 5 and 10
minutes, which is just long enough
to properly cleanse. Showering too
long with the wrong water
temperature can strip your skin of
natural oils, while showering too
quickly can lead to a build-up of
dirt and excess sebum that wasn't
washed long enough.

Is it better to shower in the


morning or at night?
When you shower is entirely a
matter of preference, as long as you
get a good cleanse. "If showering is
done properly (quick showers that
are a few minutes long, with
tepid/lukewarm water, using a
gentle cleanser on primarily
bacteria-harboring areas of the
armpits, groin, and feet), most
people can shower daily without
issue," says Nazarian, regardless of
the time of day.

How o!en should I take an


Everything Shower?
An everything shower should be
performed at most once a week.
The process itself is extremely long
(about four hours!) and includes a
pre- and post-shower routine, as
well as the shower itself. Everything
showers are reserved for thorough,
deep cleans that wash every part of
your body and use a variety of
products such as scrubs, cleansers,
shampoos, serums, and creams.

RELATED: How to Take the Most Relaxing Bath,


According to Science

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