Yesterday I posted about taking shorter showers, like five minutes or less. I'm going to time my next shower to see how long I'm in there. I'd like to think it's under five minutes, but I honestly don't know and now I'm curious. Part of the reason I haven't timed myself or enforced a strict time limit on my showers is because I take way fewer showers than most Americans.
I was never really a fan of the daily shower. I thought it was excessive and unnecessary, but since I stopped washing my hair with traditional shampoo and conditioner I'm down to only one or two showers a week. The cleaner I eat and the more hydrated I stay, the less odor I emit and any odor that does occur is not terribly offensive. If something is way out of hand, there is always the option of a PTA wash up in the sink. At this point I'm guessing you are either rolling your eyes in disgust, or nodding your head in agreement. If you're nodding your head in agreement then you probably already know that there is research and science to back up the idea of a weekly shower. If you are disgusted, read on!
Similar to taking shorter showers, fewer showers can also save time, water, and money. But there are other reasons one may not want to shower daily. Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing, has done research that shows daily showering and scrubbing does not make us cleaner, bacteriologically speaking. Her research has also shown that all those antibacterial soaps and cleaners are no more effective than regular soap and warm water. Our skin hosts good bacteria and oils. Daily washing disrupts the good bacteria and washes away the oil that keeps our skin soft and moisturized. The good bacteria on the skin creates antibiotics to fight off bad bacteria. Washing all the good bacteria off the skin eliminates one of our first line's of defense against germs. Dr. C. Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University also recommends ditching antibacterial soaps and says most people over bathe. He believes the body is a well oiled machine and doesn't need a daily shower. He recommends only showering once or twice a week.
Another reason to take fewer showers is to give your skin a chance to create and absorb Vitamin D. Vitamin D is created in the oily layer of the skin and then slowly absorbed over the course of a couple of days. Daily washing away of this oil may prevent the skin from creating and absorbing enough Vitamin D.
I know for some people the idea of fewer showers will cause a knee jerk reaction of disgust. All I can say is it works for me and I agree with the doctors referenced above. Feel free to take this information and experiment, or leave it.
I was never really a fan of the daily shower. I thought it was excessive and unnecessary, but since I stopped washing my hair with traditional shampoo and conditioner I'm down to only one or two showers a week. The cleaner I eat and the more hydrated I stay, the less odor I emit and any odor that does occur is not terribly offensive. If something is way out of hand, there is always the option of a PTA wash up in the sink. At this point I'm guessing you are either rolling your eyes in disgust, or nodding your head in agreement. If you're nodding your head in agreement then you probably already know that there is research and science to back up the idea of a weekly shower. If you are disgusted, read on!
Similar to taking shorter showers, fewer showers can also save time, water, and money. But there are other reasons one may not want to shower daily. Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing, has done research that shows daily showering and scrubbing does not make us cleaner, bacteriologically speaking. Her research has also shown that all those antibacterial soaps and cleaners are no more effective than regular soap and warm water. Our skin hosts good bacteria and oils. Daily washing disrupts the good bacteria and washes away the oil that keeps our skin soft and moisturized. The good bacteria on the skin creates antibiotics to fight off bad bacteria. Washing all the good bacteria off the skin eliminates one of our first line's of defense against germs. Dr. C. Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University also recommends ditching antibacterial soaps and says most people over bathe. He believes the body is a well oiled machine and doesn't need a daily shower. He recommends only showering once or twice a week.
Another reason to take fewer showers is to give your skin a chance to create and absorb Vitamin D. Vitamin D is created in the oily layer of the skin and then slowly absorbed over the course of a couple of days. Daily washing away of this oil may prevent the skin from creating and absorbing enough Vitamin D.
I know for some people the idea of fewer showers will cause a knee jerk reaction of disgust. All I can say is it works for me and I agree with the doctors referenced above. Feel free to take this information and experiment, or leave it.