The Surprising Reason You May Be Showering Too Often

How often should you take a shower? The question is, surprisingly, debatable. When asked, most people say: “every day, of course!” But, as it turns out, that may not be the answer. You could be showering too often.

I grew up showering every day. It was drilled into my brain as a kid. Any parent knows that getting your child to shower regularly is quite the daunting task, until adolescence, that is. Then, it seems like you can’t keep the kid out of the shower.

I must admit, I was that kid. The fear of becoming “the smelly kid in class” had me in the shower religiously. Then, I grew up.

I read somewhere that men should skip a day or two to let their natural pheromones do whatever it is natural pheromones do. There’s some science behind it but the only thing that mattered to me at the time was, natural pheromones may help make you more attractive to the opposite sex. That’s all I needed to hear. What can I say, I was young and had simple needs.

After a quick survey of 20 people (10 men, 10 women), most people answered “every day (or night),” with a common “Unless it’s the weekend, then I might let it slide a day or so.” One person I asked said they are more lenient with their own showers, as well as their children’s, if they had been swimming in the pool that day.

I was most surprised to find that many people shower twice a day. That’s not to say that I’ve never done it, if there’s a need for that second shower. During southern summers, that need is a little more common.

While everyone has their opinion, the science behind it may surprise you. I decided to check with an authority: I opened my computer and typed in WebMD. I got a familiar answer to my previous WebMD searches: I’m dying.

Ok, I’m kidding. This is the ONE time my symptoms didn’t lead me to that conclusion. The website said that showering too much can be a bad thing. Too frequent showers can dry out your skin and strip it of natural, protective layers, leading to dry, irritated and itchy skin. Add in some harsh soaps and scrubbing and it can cause cracks in the skin, paving the way for allergens and, yes, germs, resulting in skin infections or allergic reactions. Who knew showering could actually attract germs?

Additionally, the germs that naturally collect on your skin and in it’s oils stimulate your immune system. Showering too much can takes away your immune system’s opportunity to fight those germs. And, in a child with a developing immune system, it could be more detrimental.

Now, for the argument TO shower more: If you don’t shower enough, the most obvious problem will be stank. If you’re not aware of it, your friends and coworkers probably are. You should absolutely shower before the stank sets in. Don’t try the ‘mask the stank with perfume/ cologne’ bit, it doesn’t work. Additionally, don’t try to mask the smell of cigarettes with perfume/ cologne. It’s unrelated but it’s just as bad. Maybe worse.

The buildup of oils can also cause acne. Dirt and make-up add to the problem. It can clog your pores and cause more acne. Oil buildup can also lead to dandruff and flareups of existing skin conditions such as eczema.

The bottom line is there isn’t really a correct number of showers you should take. Most doctors will say a shower a day is fine for most. But, if you skip a day here or there, don’t panic. Two or three times a week is just fine and, for some people, maybe better to maintain good skin health.

Just pay attention to your skin. If you have something weird going on, then you might need to alter your shower habits - maybe you're showering too often, or not enough. If you have a more active lifestyle, or just an active day including sweat and/ or dirt, use common sense and take a shower. Your loved ones will thank you for it.

Oh & I feel like it needs to be said: No, swimming in the pool does not equal a shower. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

To bathe or not to bathe: that is the question fans are curious about when it comes to Hollywood's elite. With millions of dollars earned over the course of their careers, one would think that celebrities are as clean as they look in public. That is certainly not the case for all famous people, as there have been plenty of reports of stinky stars on sets. Some celebrities have even admitted how rarely they bathe.

According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School in 2021, approximately two-thirds of Americans shower daily. Societal norms and the idea that showering daily is considered healthy. Additionally, people find it beneficial to shower on a daily basis to remove body odor, help wake up, and as part of their routine. However, it is unclear if a daily shower accomplishes much and may even be bad for your health and the environment.

With excessive washing and scrubbing under hot water, our body's natural oils and "good bacteria" are removed. Showering in this manner can cause skin to be itchy, dry, and irritated. Cracked, dry skin may allow bacteria and allergens to breach the barrier skin, leading to skin infections and allergic reactions. Using antibacterial soaps upsets the balance of microorganisms on the skin. Our immune systems need a certain amount of stimulation by normal microorganisms, dirt, and other environmental exposures in order to create protective antibodies and "immune memory." Additionally, the water supply we clean ourselves may contain salts, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, and other chemicals that can cause problems, too. Also, the oils, perfumes, and other additives in shampoos, conditioners, and soaps can cause problems like allergic reactions.

Unless you are sweaty and dirty on a daily basis, whether it is from your job, working out, or naturally, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people. Showers should last around three to four minutes, with a focus on the armpits and groin.

Take a look below at which celebrities have questionable hygiene habits.