During winter months, cold air freezes our fingers and dries out our skin. A combination of cold weather, America’s love for long showers, and the frequency of showers can do more harm than good to the skin. The upswing is that with a few shifts, we can keep ourselves healthy and help the environment as well.
Showers used to be an inconvenience
Before indoor plumbing and hot water heaters, people found it a hassle to shower frequently, so they just didn’t. It wasn’t until the late 1800s when Edwin Ruud invented the home water heater, providing all the hot water one would ever need. (1,2)
Right around this era came shower designs, and bathing became more of a luxury than a need. Anyone who enjoys taking a long hot shower knows it can be a stress reliever after a long hard day. In fact, one Japanese study measured hormones in saliva, and found that stress levels decreased in individuals post shower. (1)
Showers are beneficial, but what does science actually tell us as to how much shower we truly need?
Study shows we should shower much less than we think
Australians have the reputation for being the ‘cleanest’ population group on the planet. According to a report by SCA, a leading global hygiene company, 90% of women and 80% of men either shower or bathe at least once a day. (3)
Moreover, past research by Energy Australia indicated that 29% of Australians shower twice daily and 9% showered three times a day, wasting water and energy. In contrast, about 50% of the Chinese shower/bathe twice a week, and in Sweden, fewer than 50% of women bother to shower/bathe. (4)
So, how much shower do we really need? According to Associate Professor Stephen Shumack, we should shower only when we really need to. He says, “A sedentary person can get away with a shower once, twice or three times a week, especially in winter. It varies on your skin type and what you are doing.” Babies, people with sensitive skin, and the elderly may need much less showering time. (3)
The skin does a good job of cleaning itself
Dr. Casey Carlos, assistant professor of medicine in the division of dermatology at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, says to forget about over-washing yourself or even using soap unless it’s for the groin, armpits, and other potential smelly places. Generally, you can skip the chest, back, legs, and arms.
“It’s the hardest thing to get people to use soap only where they need it,” Dr. Carlos reports. “People don’t realize that the skin does a pretty good job of cleaning itself.” (5)
When you are in need of a shower, it’s best to use lukewarm water because it helps the skin absorb moisture. A good addition is to exfoliate during the shower, and apply moisturizer after showering. (5)
The bottom line is if you are sweaty or dirty, you need a shower. And when you do, keep it short and sweet to help waste less water and maintain healthy skin.
Sources for this article include:
(1) health.howstuffworks.com
(2) www.ruud.com
(3) www.smh.com.au
(4) www.theguardian.com
(5) www.today.com
Image source: flic.kr
Article originally published on RawFoodWorld.com republished with permission
