Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health. It depends in part on your lifestyle.
Apparently 4 out of 5 women don't shower every day
According to a survey of 2,000 plus females by skincare brand Flint + Flint, 4 out of 5 don't shower every day and a third go for 3 days without washing their bodies. Really?
Really, bathing two or three times a week is fine. In fact, for many kids, even just once or twice a week is fine. You can always do a quick wipe with a wet washcloth to the face, groin area, and any dirty spots. Stinky teenagers might need more bathing or showering, depending on activity level and deodorant use.
According to Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Showering "once every three days is fine." If you have a skin condition, the answer is different, however.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Skin irritation, says Dr. Aishah Muhammad, M.D. “Dead skin and grease naturally gather on the top layer of skin,” she said, “and by not washing, this buildup can leave your skin feeling itchy and dry.” Other skin irritation, like dryness or red, inflamed patches that you don't usually experience, can build.
Rule Out Mental or Physical Health Problems
One of the most important things to consider about kids who have poor hygiene is that refusal to shower, bathe, or brush their teeth can sometimes be a symptom of depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, or another mental health issue.
How often should my 17-year-old shower? Daily showering is important for teenagers because the body changes that happen during puberty can lead to acne or body odor. Daily showering can also help your teen develop lifelong hygiene habits.
Around age 6, your child can shower alone, as long as you are nearby in case he needs help. Until then, make sure you keep an eye on him when he is in the shower.
Great Britain has the lowest rate of showering per week, at 83 percent. However, the English do love their baths: they have the most baths out of every country, with 32 percent of people bathing each week.
From the most showered country in the world (Brazil) to the most commonly bathed country (the UK), we all have our preferences.
Dermatologists recommend keeping showers relatively short (around 5-15 minutes) so you don't dry out your skin. However, if you're washing and conditioning your hair, shaving your legs, or just trying to relax and unwind, it might take a bit longer.
A Reddit user recently polled 562 people and found that most men said they showered daily. Women's bathing rituals were more diffuse, but about 60 percent preferred to shower three, four, or five times weekly. Don't miss what matters. Sign up for The Atlantic Daily newsletter.
Showering cleans the skin and removes dead skin cells to help clear the pores and allow the skin cells to function. It washes away bacteria and other irritants that could cause rashes and other skin problems.
If you stick with daily showers, limit them to five minutes with warm water, not hot. This is likely fine for most people. However, bathing 2-3 times per week is also likely just as healthy and good for the environment too.
“One reason that depression often makes it hard to shower is that decreased energy and motivation are two of the symptoms,” Ballard said. Fatigue involves feeling too tired to do things, even when you want to do them. The added lack of motivation makes it even harder to take care of routine things like showering.
However, the parenting and child development experts do seem to mostly agree that parents bathing with children is normal and healthy up until the child begins to show discomfort or the parent themselves begin to feel concern.
Personal hygiene can be significantly affected for a person with ADHD because of the symptoms we tend to experience. The Mini ADHD Coach Medical Advisor says: "Overwhelming stress, difficulty organizing, and a lack of prioritization – which are typically related to ADHD - can contribute to poor grooming and hygiene.
There are myriad reasons your kid might not handle his hygiene properly. Younger school-agers may lack the dexterity to properly brush, or a loose tooth may make it painful. Some kids are sensitive to strong odours and flavours, and may find minty toothpaste too “spicy” or the smell of their soap or shampoo nauseating.
So, how often do you need to do it? 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.
Some people think a woman shouldn't take a bath or shower when she has her period. Some even think she shouldn't wash your hair. This is not true. There is no reason not to bathe during your period.