"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."
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.
Keep your hands off your belly button
“The belly button harbors a high population of bacteria,” Dr. Richardson says. “It is largely inaccessible, so it remains dirty even after showering.” The shape of your navel makes it easy to collect dirt, which can even cause a strong smell.
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. Don't forget to wash your legs and get between your toes with soap and water.
Start at the top
Showering top-to-bottom lets the soap work its way down. If you are acne-prone, Ploch suggests washing your face, chest and back after conditioning the hair. “For people with sensitive skin and/or acne prone skin.
Those who wash their privates first…
Psychological studies suggest that if your private parts are your first port of call for shower scrutiny, the likelihood is you are a very shy person. You might be a bit of an introvert who prefers to avoid the attention in larger social groups, for instance.
But just like the rest of your body, they need to be cleaned. In fact, a 2012 study found that 67 different types of bacteria are in the average bellybutton. Most bellybuttons have crevices that can collect dirt and breed bacteria. Aim to clean yours about once a week.
The groin area needs careful cleaning to prevent rashes and infections. Rashes are most likely to form in moist areas where skin touches skin, such as the folds of the groin and on the chest and stomach.
“[Washing] will help remove excess oils and dirt that can build up,” says Zampella. Bacteria and fungus thrive on these oils and, if they are allowed to grow, cause bad odor and infection. Making sure to clean your groin effectively ensures they aren't given that chance.
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.
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.
Cleanse Daily
“Yet, doing so must be approached delicately.” She recommends washing your underarms once a day (no more, unless you have a very athletic or physically demanding job or hobby) and alternating between different pH-balanced body or underarm cleansers.
Just use water - no soap, body-wash or other products. A scourer/exfoliator can be a good way of removing odour from your armpits - residual odour needs more water. Never put soap around your genitals or anal area.
The cleanest part of the human body is often considered to be the eye because of its abilities to clean itself. The eyelid opens and shuts several times every minute in order to keep the eye clean and moist.
Mouth. Mouth is one of the dirtiest places of the human body. There are more than 700 million different types of bacteria living in an average person's mouth. These bacteria feed and multiply in your mouth, especially, the Streptococcus bacteria which feed on sugar and starchy carbohydrate foods that you consume .
Your belly button should be cleaned just like all the other parts of the body; otherwise, the area can develop gnarly smells and infections, often paired with red, itchy, and scabby skin—especially if you have a navel piercing.
A deep hollow belly button typically occurs when the hood of skin casts a shadow on the inside of the button, giving the visual impression of it being quite deep. This shape is also common in people who have some excess belly fat around the abdomen.
Dip your finger or a soft washcloth in a solution of saltwater (about a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water) and gently massage the inside of your navel. This should loosen stubborn germs that can cause odor. Then rinse with plain water and pat it dry.
Poor feminine hygiene can lead to many issues such as fungal infections, reproductive issues, and urinary tract infections. These medical problems won't only affect you physically but can also affect your emotional and mental well-being.
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.
Gently wash your penis each day. Carefully pull back and clean underneath the foreskin, as well as the tip of your penis (the glans) using only water and a very gentle soap. Don't scrub this sensitive area. It is fine to use soap, but using too much could irritate your penis.
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.