After a year, he said, you'd have a build-up of skin stratum corneum, or dead skin on top of your skin. It includes a build-up of a protein our skin produces that has a funky odor to it. Bacteria also would accumulate on the skin, giving off a nasty smell when it mixes with our sweat.
"If your skin tends not to be dry, you could extend it to every other day or so." If you take it from a certified germ expert, though, you can skip showering for as long as you wish.
You'd have to become immune to body odor.
"Provided you aren't overly sweating or getting overly dirty and still washing key body areas, not showering likely won't harm the skin, although, you may develop a body odor you may not like," says Zeichner.
Poor hygiene or infrequent showers can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on your skin. This can trigger acne, and possibly exacerbate conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. Showering too little can also trigger an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on your skin.
What Happens If You Go Months Without Showering? Going months without bathing can lead to dermatitis neglecta (DN), a condition where brown patches of dead cells, dirt, sweat, and grime form on the skin. This condition tends to impact people who are unable to adequately clean their bodies.
After a year, he said, you'd have a build-up of skin stratum corneum, or dead skin on top of your skin. It includes a build-up of a protein our skin produces that has a funky odor to it. Bacteria also would accumulate on the skin, giving off a nasty smell when it mixes with our sweat.
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.
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.
The more you sweat without bathing, the worse you will smell. Under normal conditions, you will start to smell about 40-48 hours without bathing. If you are working in the heat or working out without bathing, you will smell a strong odor of ammonia on your body.
He believes he'll fall sick if he bathes and this has stopped him from taking a shower in over six decades. Amou Haji, an 83-year-old Iranian is labelled as the world's dirtiest man as he has not bathed in 65 years. Haji is terrified of water, thus the aversion to bathing.
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.
"You can't contain the bad bacteria if you don't shower," the site explains. "And if they find their way to your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can get sick." Bacteria is also the cause of body odour. In fact, the gasses given off by bacteria can reportedly lead to around 30 nasty smells from one body.
Dermatologists recommend 2–3 showers a week, or every other day. I shower when I'm dirty. For example, an intense workout, I smell, actually being covered in dirt or food, etc. this amounts to once or twice a month on average for me specifically.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often).
You don't need to use conventional soaps in your daily hygiene routine. 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.
The Takeaway
If you're more active, you'll probably want to shower more often to prevent issues like itchy, dry skin. But if you're more sedentary—working from home or working a desk job—it's likely safe to shower every other day, or 2 to 3 times a week.
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.
A scented bar of soap, body wash, or shower gel offers up just a hint of fresh fragrance. Unscented body wash and soaps without added fragrance do the trick, too. Lingering in the shower for an extra minute or two after you lather up is all you need for all-day freshness.
Use wet wipes to wipe yourself down.
You can use scented moist towelettes or baby wipes, it's up to you. Use the wipes to thoroughly wipe down your armpits, privates and feet, as these are the areas most prone to bad odor. Then, use additional wipes to clean the rest of your body.
While common, there are multiple reasons why someone stop showering depending on the individual. The reasons can range from not feeling secure and in control in the bathroom anymore, to early signs of dementia and psychological issues.
Refusing to bathe is a phobia classified as an anxiety disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about 8 to 12 percent of adults in the United States have a specific phobia. Refusing to bathe is a phobia called ablutophobia in which individuals have an irrational fear of bathing or washing.
What it can mean. People are quick to pass off poor hygiene habits as laziness, but poor hygiene can be a sign of a disease, such as Alzheimer's, or a mental health condition, like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
When you skip showering for a couple days, it can lead to your body releasing potentially unpleasant odors. Dr. Muhammad says, “Body odors form naturally as a result of bacteria on the skin breaking sweat down into acid. By not washing while continuing to sweat, bad smells will just get worse and worse.”