So, how often should you shower?
Not as often as you think. Although since skincare needs vary between men and women and from person to person, dermatologists can’t give a magic number that everyone should follow. But what they can agree on is that over-showering can damage your skin.
Our skin is covered in different substances that keep us both safe and healthy. But when we take a shower too often, those essential oils can get washed away, leaving our skin vulnerable to dangerous bacteria and viruses.
We know that sounds a bit scary, but don’t you worry! If you’re wondering how many times a day you should be showering, read on; and find out not only how often you should shower but also how to best care for your skin during a shower.
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How Many Times Should I Be Taking A Shower Per Day?
Let’s start with the biggest question.
Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact answer as different types of skin have different needs. But, what we can tell you is that as long as you’re not covered in sweat or grime every day, you don’t have to take that daily shower. In fact, you’d be surprised how long you can go without washing up. Depending on your lifestyle and the time of year, you can even go a few days without taking a shower.
That being said, you do still need to keep certain parts of your body washed and cleaned. Your hands make contact with literally everything, including other parts of your body, so you should be washing them daily with soap and water. It’s also good to wash your face daily too. Your facial skin has larger pores compared to the rest of your body, so daily cleansing can help prevent breakouts and help keep your skin healthy.
With all that said, if your lifestyle leaves you dirty, sweaty, or smelly often enough, there’s nothing wrong with showering every day. If you’re the type to play a lot of sports or you have a job that keeps you moving around, you might be one of the people that need a daily shower. On that note though, dermatologists recommend that you limit it to only one shower per day.
Any more than that, and you might leave your skin without its natural oils, which can make it too dry and prone to irritation. Over-showering can also mess with your skin’s natural barrier against bad bacteria, leaving you prone to illnesses and other conditions.
That being said, as long as you keep these guidelines in mind, you’re free to do what feels best for you. If showering every day is your thing, feel free to take that daily (but only that one) shower! If you find that you’re still nice and clean after three days without showering, go ahead and wash up only when you need to! Just remember to pay attention to your body and do what you feel is best.
How To Shower
Now that you know how often you should be taking a shower, you can up your shower game with our tips on how to best take those showers.
How Long Should My Showers Be?
The quick answer is ‘shorter than you think’. It’s true that a nice, long, hot shower can feel really good at the end of a long day. But, standing under running water for an extended period of time can speed up the removal of your skin’s natural oils.
If you’re looking for an exact shower length though, you’re out of luck. Dermatologists have suggested lengths as short as five minutes up to a max of 15 minutes. Since average shower time seems to be somewhere between eight and nine minutes, most of you should be good. But, if you wanna make sure that you’re staying in the shower for as long as you only need to, dermatologist Mona Gohara offers this useful guideline:
“If your fingers and toes are wrinkly, you’ve been in for too long.”
How Hot Should The Water Be?
It definitely shouldn’t be too hot. Aside from potentially scalding yourself, showering with hot water can make the removal of your skin’s natural oils faster.
That being said, it’s okay to shower with warm water. If it isn’t that much hotter than your skin’s regular temperature, you should be fine.
Are Cold Showers Good For You?
True, cold showers don’t feel great at first, but they actually offer a lot of benefits, ranging from improved immunity and blood circulation to even relief from the effects of depression.
How often you should be taking cold showers though is up to you. As long as you’re not taking them in the middle of winter or while you have a cold, regular cold showers should be fine.
Baths Or Showers?
It’s up to you, really.
Girls, you all probably know about the greatness of baths, especially ones with good bath bombs. But guys, if you haven’t had a bath in a while, you’re missing out. Not only can baths get you clean, but they can also help you relax and even help rejuvenate your skin.
Of course, if you need to wash your hair or clean off sweat or dirt, showers might be better for you. It’s a lot easier to wash off dirt and gunk with running water after all.
At the end of the day though, your choice really just depends on what you feel like doing and what your body needs at the time. Baths and showers offer different benefits, so really, it’s your call.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips can ease your worries and help you make your showering habits a little bit healthier. Of course, if you’re still not sure about how often you should shower or how to best take those showers, don’t hesitate to consult a dermatologist. Don’t worry – they don’t bite.
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