In my last fews years of adulthood, I’ve begun to start questioning a lot of the beauty myths I’ve been told my whole life. “You don’t need sunscreen inside!” Debunked. “You need to wash your hair every day!” Debunked. “The only way to get rid of a zit is to pop it!” Debunked times one million. “You don’t have to shave past your knees!” Actually, still in-tact.
So when I spent the last three months in my house, I started to question a very common beauty myth: do we actually have to shower every day? I’m sure you’ve wondered too. I mean, I’ve done it before, and my body didn’t implode. But is it actually as important as our moms have told us since we were kids? Let’s explore.
So, do you have to shower every day?
According to Dr. Charlotte Birnbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, nope! Taking a shower removes dirt, pollution, oil, and sweat from our skin, so how often you shower depends on your activity level and your skin type. “If you have dry or sensitive skin, I recommend showering every 2-3 days,” Dr. Birnbaum said. “On the other hand, if you have a more oily skin type and are acne-prone, it is important to rinse off to avoid breakouts.” She explained that typically, showering every other day should be enough to keep your skin clean and irritation-free.
What about when I work out?
Dr. Birnbaum recommended showering any time after excessive sweating to avoid breakouts or skin irritation. However, try to avoid using too much soap. If you know you’re going to work out at 6pm tonight, try not to shower that morning before work. Showering too much can dry out your skin, especially if you’re not using the right products, showering for too long, or the water is too hot (more on all of this in a moment!).
And of course, if you’re visibly dirty, please shower. It’s better to have a little dryness than to smell, of course.
How can I limit skin irritation if I have to shower more often?
Dr. Birnbaum provided a few tips to keep your skin in-check while showering.
- Avoid really hot water. Instead, shower in warm or cool water (which is nice when it’s hot in the summertime!).
- Limit the length of your shower to 5-10 minutes so you’re not standing in the water for too long.
- Use your fingertips to lather and spread soap on the body instead of a washcloth or a loofah. (If not a new or clean one every time, these can harbor lots of bacteria and basically just spread around all the dirt and gunk you removed from your last shower.)
- Opt for a gentle, fragrance-free (or naturally fragranced) soap.
- After showering, blot your skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing. This can lead to extra exfoliation that you don’t want when your skin is wet and vulnerable. If you have a microfiber towel, even better.
- While your skin is still slightly damp, apply any moisturizing lotions or creams.
Fun fact: according to Dr. Birnbaum, you don’t actually have to use soap all over the whole body. Again, if you just went on a week-long camping trip and are visibly dirty, you’ll want to lather up all over. But otherwise, Dr. Birnbaum said you only need soap on the underarms and groin. If your skin gets dry and irritated easily, try this technique during your regular, not-after-workouts-or-camping showers.
Want to take a better shower? Here’s what we recommend:
Lavender Shea Butter & Neem Body Wash
Sudsy Body Wash
Atoderm Cleansing Oil
Yep, it’s a cleansing oil for the body! Perfect for removing dirt, oil, and grime, but can also be used as a shaving oil.
Himalayan Salt Body Scrub
Wet Skin Moisturizer
NoAshAtAll Cocoa Butter Lotion
Whipper Body Butter
If you want a thick, intense body butter to keep your skin soft and supple all year long, look no further. Its whipped texture makes it feel lightweight even though its thick and hydrating. You can even use it as a foot cream!
The post You’re Thinking It, We Said It: Do We Actually Have to Shower Every Day? appeared first on The Everygirl.
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