Plus, if you're in the shower or bath already, it's the logical thing to do. But unless they are visibly dirty, you probably don't need to wash your legs as thoroughly as areas like your under arms or groin.
Most people should wash their legs just like any other body part. While some of our sweatier body parts get smelly without frequent cleaning, legs are a low-maintenance zone, since they have relatively few sebaceous glands. That said, you should always wash skin that is visibly dirty or sweaty, no matter where it is.
Using Soap Where You Shouldn't
Not all areas of your body need soap in order to get clean. Limit soap to your armpits, groin, feet, hands, and face, and stick to warm water for the rest of your body. This will help keep your skin from getting too dry.
“Water is excellent at washing off sweat and dust and the normal lint that we pick up around us every day, [while] soap is really good at pulling oils out of the skin,” Dr. Greiling says.
That's right! Scrubbing up with your hands is recommended. "It's best to just wash with our hands," suggests Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD. "Loofahs have been well-documented reservoirs of bacteria.
In fact, in most cases, you're forgetting to wash one body part every time you shower: your feet. But there's plenty of reason to give them some extra attention. Read on to find out more, and for the spot you should skip, here's The One Body Part You Should Never Clean, According to Doctors.
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!"
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.
What should I wash first? Wash from top to bottom. This will allow the soap to rinse off your skin. Focus on the parts of your body that need it the most such as under your arms, breasts, vulva and feet.
Shower users who wash their feet first are typically considered to be very down to earth and humble. On the flip side though, legs and arms denote willpower and strength. So if you cleanse these areas first, it suggests you don't mind ruffling a few feathers in making your voice heard.
However, daily showers do not improve your health, could cause skin problems or other health issues — and, importantly, they waste a lot of water. Also, the oils, perfumes, and other additives in shampoos, conditioners, and soaps may cause problems of their own, such as allergic reactions (not to mention their cost).
Not necessarily, although they do offer gentle exfoliation which can help with cleansing. We have already discussed some of the benefits of washcloths in this article. It is important to understand that at the end of the day, choosing a washcloth, loofah, or just using a bar of soap is a personal choice.
Did you know that your belly button is the dirtiest part of the body, according to the Public Library of Science? “The belly button harbors a high population of bacteria,” Dr. Richardson says.
Dermatitis neglecta is a skin condition characterized by patches of thick, brown plaques that occur when you don't bathe for a very long time, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Dermatitis literally means "neglecting the skin." Dermatitis is a general term that describes a common skin irritation.
In the United States, most people bathe daily but, in other countries, many people bathe only 2-3 times per week or less. Many times it can come down to habit and ritual, as daily showers can help people feel more awake, avoid body odor, relax tight muscles or simply because that's what they've been taught to do.
Bathing once or twice a week is acceptable for older adults, as the purpose is to prevent the skin from breaking down and lower the risk of skin infections. Seniors also tend to be less active than younger adults, so they can get away with fewer baths. However, you don't want your loved one to develop body odor.
However, with age, it can become a struggle to bathe or shower daily. This may be due to mobility or simply not having enough energy. But for the elderly, having a shower once or twice a week is sufficient to keep skin conditions and infections at bay.
How often should I wash my bath towels? Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
“A morning shower can help shake off sleep inertia and get you going, while an evening shower can be a relaxing part of a pre-bed routine,” says Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona.
“Humans tend to perspire at night,” Dr. Goldenberg said. “When you wake up in the morning, there's all this sweat and bacteria from the sheets that's just kind of sitting there on your skin.” So take a quick shower in the morning, he said, “to wash all of that gunk and sweat off that you've been sleeping in all night.”
As with how often you should shower, a morning or evening rinse entirely depends on your lifestyle habits. "It is a total personal preference and can shift from day to day depending on activities," Ciraldo says. (You may even shower morning and night, depending on your environment, skin type, and activity level.)
Generally, she says, "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.