Is daily showering necessary? Is it too much? Here’s how often you should clean your body.
With warm, humid weather upon us, you may be heading to the shower more often than usual. While the people who come in contact with you are likely appreciative of your love of soap and water, have you ever thought about whether there’s such a thing as showering too much?
When it comes to conversations about cleanliness, you may assume the focus is usually on making sure people shower enough. But the fact is that most adults are more likely to shower too much than to not shower enough.
So how much is too much—or too little—to shower?
Most people are fine showering every day. If you don’t want to shower that often, many people can get away with showering two to three times a week while still maintaining good hygiene. In fact, some health experts suggest that this practice is better for your skin than daily showering. If you’re someone who enjoys showering more than once a day, your skin may start paying the price.
Deciding how often to shower is a personal decision and may be dependent on factors such as your activity level, the weather, your skin type and your own self-care habits.
What happens if you shower too much?
Your skin has an outer layer of oil and good bacteria that protects it from dryness and germs. If you clean your skin too often, it can strip away this protective layer. This can cause your skin to be dry, itchy and irritated. In some cases, your skin may become so dry that it cracks, allowing germs to get in. If this happens, it may lead to skin infections, allergic reactions or more irritation.
How can you protect your skin when you shower?
If you can’t limit the number of showers you take, try to take some precautions to protect your skin, such as:
- Turn down the temp. Hot water can dry out your skin more than cooler water, making it itchy. So dial down the water temp when you shower.
- Take shorter showers. A quick rinse can handle the job of cleaning your body without it drying out your skin too much. Aim for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Don’t use harsh soaps. Try to use the gentlest soap possible, especially if your skin is sensitive. Products labeled as hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free are usually your best bet.
- Avoid scrubbing skin. It’s rare that your skin is so dirty that you really need to scrub it. So go easy on your skin—it’ll still get clean.
- Pat yourself dry. No need to rub yourself vigorously with a towel to dry off. Lightly patting yourself dry will be easier on your skin.
- Don’t forget to moisturize. The best way to combat the drying effects of too much showering is to moisturize your skin every day. The best time to apply moisturizer is right after you get out of the shower, when your skin is still damp.
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Date Last Reviewed: April 20, 2023
Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor
Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD
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