The bottom line. Your legs don't need the same daily washing that other parts of your body do, such as your armpits, but it's important to make sure they're clean if they've gotten really dirty or sweaty.
“Yes, you should wash your legs,” Sperling tells The Manual. “They are a part of your body that should be cleansed just like other areas of the body. While the debate discusses excessive washing, etc., there is no need to scrub and use harsh cleansers. You want to avoid that to prevent skin irritation.
Belly button or the navel is probably the most ignored part of the body. If it is not cleaned regularly, it will not only lead to buildup of dirt but also bacteria. The dark, moist environment of the belly button is ideal for breeding of bacteria.
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
"Unless you've just finished a mud run, the only places that need daily soaping are your armpits and groin," Chutkan adds. "The rest of your body does fine with a rinse—even after a sweaty workout."
What's the worst that can happen if you leave a few dead skin cells lingering on your back? The most likely consequence will be a dull complexion. Again, it won't kill you. But it can lead to back acne, better known as bacne.
The growth of bacteria is the highest in the skin folds like armpits. It will make your armpit smell a lot and lead to itching and inflammation. Cleaning your armpit with soap and water daily will kill the bacteria and prevent its growth. It will reduce the risk of skin problems and make your smell good.
“Areas like your legs don't necessarily require daily washing, but you always should cleanse the skin if there is any visible soiling,” says Dr. Ziechner, who's director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
The three areas, according to one doctor, you really only need to wash with soap are your armpits, groin and feet. The rest of your body is good with a simple rinse of water.
All you absolutely need, bare bones, to stay clean is water. Just water. Water does a fine job of rinsing away dirt without stripping vital oils from your skin. Also, avoid those luxurious long, hot showers.
In fact, dermatologists recommend showering in water that's lukewarm or slightly warm. Do a quick rinse to wet your skin before applying any soap. Using a loofah, washcloth, or just your hands, apply bar soap or bodywash to your body. Start at your neck and shoulders, and work your way down the length of your body.
This leaves 20 percent (roughly 120,000 people) who don't wash their legs when they're in the shower — a statistic which prompted horrified reactions. One reply reads: "Do you only wash half your car?", while another says: "Everyone who voted no, think about all the toilet seats you've sat on and wash those thighs!"
Using your hands will get your body clean (as long as you wash them first) and is a good option for people who have sensitive skin, according to the AAD. Plus, you don't have to worry about how often you change out your cloth or loofah.
When it comes to how you're showering, you may be surprised to hear that you actually don't need to wash your entire body. "What people tend to do is they soap up their entire body, which is really not necessary," Stevenson said. "You really only need soap in your armpits, your groin and your feet.
A healthy body eliminates unhealthy substances naturally, a self-cleaning system – the kidneys filter toxins from the blood and excretes them in urine, the liver helps remove unwanted substances from the body, the lungs breathe out toxins and the digestive tract absorbs the nutrition from food while letting unhealthy ...
According to dermatologists, you should exfoliate first, then wash your hair, and then wash your body. This will ensure that each shower product you use has time to work. If you have concerns about your skin, you should follow this order as closely as you can. This will help prevent acne, razor burn, or dry hair.
“Some adults who go longer than 3-4 days between showers run the risk of accumulating patches of dark, scaly skin, especially in oily areas, and an accumulation of 'bad' bacteria which can lead to fungal or bacterial infections,” adds Dr. Young.
Currently, 80% of respondents wash their legs in the shower, while 20% do not. The discussion hinges on the argument for and against relying on the "trickle down" effect, whereby shower gel and shampoo used on the upper body falls down, washing the legs in the process.
P.S. - Not everyone needs to shower every day
Every two, three or even four days is acceptable as long as you don't stink up the place. She said, generally, the organisms naturally found on her skin protect us from picking up harmful germs.
Wash the area with warm water daily, even if you skip a shower. Avoid using scented soaps and gels. The scents can irritate the area and will only serve as a mask to cover up an actual issue that might be causing odor.
Stick to cleaning once a day. If you wash any less, you might not be getting rid of the buildup of sweat and secretions; if you do it any more than once a day, you could be disrupting the delicate balance of your vaginal area.
For people with ablutophobia, that means trying to avoid bathing and washing, which can lead to different problems for health, well-being, and social acceptance.
A daily shower isn't necessary. ' Mitchell suggested showering or bathing once or twice a week, and experts generally say a few times a week rather than daily is plenty. Also, keep showers short and lukewarm, as too much water, particularly hot water, dries out the skin.
In addition to depression, anxiety disorders and sensory processing disorders can make it difficult to shower and maintain personal hygiene.