Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAverage FrequencyWho Needs Daily Showers?How Long Is Too Long To Not Shower?Healthy Shower TipsFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Average Frequency
Who Needs Daily Showers?
How Long Is Too Long To Not Shower?
Healthy Shower Tips
FAQs
How often you should shower is based on your health needs, what you do for work, your lifestyle, and your preferences. For example, if you’re physically active or have a messy job, you might need to shower every day.
This article will help you figure out how often you should shower compared to how often most people in the United States shower or bathe. It also looks at what happens if you don’t shower enough and how to protect your skin when you do shower.
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How Often Should Adults Shower?
People in the United States shower a lot. According to Harvard Medical School, approximately 2/3 of Americans shower daily.
Showering daily is not necessarily “unhealthy,” but you may not need to. For many people, a full-body shower every other day or even every third day is enough.
That said, just because you don’t shower daily does not mean you want to skip out on personal care.
On the days when you do not shower, use a clean washcloth to wipe yourself down. It will also help if you washyour faceevery night to remove dirt, makeup, and sunscreen—all of which can clog pores.
One of the most importantpersonal hygiene stepsyou can take is washing your hands. Proper, frequent hand washing is key for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe from illness.
Who Needs to Shower Every Day?
Showering daily would be necessary if you get dirty, sweaty, or are exposed to allergens or dangerous chemicals at work or in your typical activities.
People who may want to take a shower every day include:
Multiple showers a day is probably not necessary, though there might be times when you need to bathe more than once a day if you get dirtier than usual or are exposed to something like a harsh chemical more than once.
Your showering needs can also change throughout the year. For example, if you live in a region that is very hot in the summer, you might prefer to shower daily to clean off the sweat and stay cool.
After exercising or working up a sweat, shower and change into clean, dry clothes as soon as possible. Wearing sweaty, moist clothes can raise your risk of getting bacterial or fungal infections, such asjock itch.
Do Teens Need to Shower Daily?A daily shower is ideal for teens who have hit puberty. They should also shower after swimming, playing sports, or when they’ve been sweating a lot. They also should wash their face daily, as excess oil and dirt can contribute to acne.
Do Teens Need to Shower Daily?
A daily shower is ideal for teens who have hit puberty. They should also shower after swimming, playing sports, or when they’ve been sweating a lot. They also should wash their face daily, as excess oil and dirt can contribute to acne.
How Long Can You Go Without Showering?
How long you can go between showers depends on your day-to-day activities, how dirty or sweaty you get, and what types of allergens or chemicals you are exposed to.
What Happens If You Go Months Without Showering?
If don’t shower for a few days, you may develop body odor. Dead skin cells, sweat, and oil also tend to build up, which can clog pores, which can triggeracne breakoutsin people who are prone to them.
Going months without taking a shower or bathing can lead todermatitis neglecta(DN), a condition where brown patches of dead cells, dirt, sweat, and grime form on the skin. This condition tends to affect people who are unable to adequately clean their bodies because of a physical or mental health condition.
It can also develop after surgery when a patient is afraid to clean the area around the incision or finds it painful to do so.
What Happens If You Shower Too Much?Showering too often can affect thebarrier function of the skin. Healthy skin has a natural layer of oil and bacteria that help keep it from drying out.Excessive exposure to soap and water—especially hot water, may strip away the skin’s protective layer, which can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, and itchy. This can be particularly problematic for people with skin conditions such aspsoriasisoreczema.On the flip side, not showering enough can cause body odor, acne, and evenskin infections.
What Happens If You Shower Too Much?
Showering too often can affect thebarrier function of the skin. Healthy skin has a natural layer of oil and bacteria that help keep it from drying out.Excessive exposure to soap and water—especially hot water, may strip away the skin’s protective layer, which can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, and itchy. This can be particularly problematic for people with skin conditions such aspsoriasisoreczema.On the flip side, not showering enough can cause body odor, acne, and evenskin infections.
Showering too often can affect thebarrier function of the skin. Healthy skin has a natural layer of oil and bacteria that help keep it from drying out.
Excessive exposure to soap and water—especially hot water, may strip away the skin’s protective layer, which can cause the skin to become dry, flaky, and itchy. This can be particularly problematic for people with skin conditions such aspsoriasisoreczema.
On the flip side, not showering enough can cause body odor, acne, and evenskin infections.
An Overview of Dermatitis Neglecta
Healthy Showering Tips
Whenever you take a shower, there are some steps you can take to protect your skin.
Summary
Each person’s bathing needs will differ depending on various factors including the weather, their job, their environment, and hobbies. In general, showering every other day or every few days is enough for most people.
Keep in mind that showering twice a day or frequently taking hot or long showers can strip your skin of important oils. This can lead to dry, itchy skin. Skipping showers for a long time can also cause infections, acne, and dermatitis neglecta.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIdeally, shower once a day for five to 10 minutes. This will add moisture to your skin. To lock it in, pat your skin gently with a towel, usemedicationon affected areas of your skin, and apply moisturizer to your entire body within the first few minutes of exiting the shower.Learn MoreHow to Keep Skin Hydrated
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, shower once a day for five to 10 minutes. This will add moisture to your skin. To lock it in, pat your skin gently with a towel, usemedicationon affected areas of your skin, and apply moisturizer to your entire body within the first few minutes of exiting the shower.Learn MoreHow to Keep Skin Hydrated
Ideally, shower once a day for five to 10 minutes. This will add moisture to your skin. To lock it in, pat your skin gently with a towel, usemedicationon affected areas of your skin, and apply moisturizer to your entire body within the first few minutes of exiting the shower.
Learn MoreHow to Keep Skin Hydrated
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School Health Publishing.Showering Daily - Is It Necessary.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How To Control Oily Skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Handwashing: clean hands save lives.Virginia Department of Health.Unknown Chemical Exposure.National Library of Medicine.Jock itch.Saha A, Seth J, Sharma A, Biswas D.Dermatitis neglecta – a dirty dermatosis: report of three cases.Indian J Dermatol.2015;60(2):185-187. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.152525American Academy of Dermatology Association.8 WAYS TO STOP BATHS AND SHOWERS FROM WORSENING YOUR PSORIASIS.National Eczema Association.Eczema and bathing.Herrero-Fernandez M, Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Romera-Vilchez M, Buendia-Eisman A, Arias-Santiago S.Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):298. doi:10.3390/jcm11020298University of Washington Medicine.This Is How Often You Should Clean Things, According to a Microbiologist.Twumwaa H, Asumang B, Imoro ZA, Kpordze SW.TOOTHBRUSH AND TOWEL HANDLING AND THEIR MICROBIAL QUALITY: THE CASE OF STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NYANKPALA CAMPUS, GHANA.Afr J Infect Dis. 2020;15(1):41-46. doi:10.21010/ajid.v15i1.5
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School Health Publishing.Showering Daily - Is It Necessary.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How To Control Oily Skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Handwashing: clean hands save lives.Virginia Department of Health.Unknown Chemical Exposure.National Library of Medicine.Jock itch.Saha A, Seth J, Sharma A, Biswas D.Dermatitis neglecta – a dirty dermatosis: report of three cases.Indian J Dermatol.2015;60(2):185-187. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.152525American Academy of Dermatology Association.8 WAYS TO STOP BATHS AND SHOWERS FROM WORSENING YOUR PSORIASIS.National Eczema Association.Eczema and bathing.Herrero-Fernandez M, Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Romera-Vilchez M, Buendia-Eisman A, Arias-Santiago S.Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):298. doi:10.3390/jcm11020298University of Washington Medicine.This Is How Often You Should Clean Things, According to a Microbiologist.Twumwaa H, Asumang B, Imoro ZA, Kpordze SW.TOOTHBRUSH AND TOWEL HANDLING AND THEIR MICROBIAL QUALITY: THE CASE OF STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NYANKPALA CAMPUS, GHANA.Afr J Infect Dis. 2020;15(1):41-46. doi:10.21010/ajid.v15i1.5
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Medical School Health Publishing.Showering Daily - Is It Necessary.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How To Control Oily Skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Handwashing: clean hands save lives.Virginia Department of Health.Unknown Chemical Exposure.National Library of Medicine.Jock itch.Saha A, Seth J, Sharma A, Biswas D.Dermatitis neglecta – a dirty dermatosis: report of three cases.Indian J Dermatol.2015;60(2):185-187. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.152525American Academy of Dermatology Association.8 WAYS TO STOP BATHS AND SHOWERS FROM WORSENING YOUR PSORIASIS.National Eczema Association.Eczema and bathing.Herrero-Fernandez M, Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Romera-Vilchez M, Buendia-Eisman A, Arias-Santiago S.Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):298. doi:10.3390/jcm11020298University of Washington Medicine.This Is How Often You Should Clean Things, According to a Microbiologist.Twumwaa H, Asumang B, Imoro ZA, Kpordze SW.TOOTHBRUSH AND TOWEL HANDLING AND THEIR MICROBIAL QUALITY: THE CASE OF STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NYANKPALA CAMPUS, GHANA.Afr J Infect Dis. 2020;15(1):41-46. doi:10.21010/ajid.v15i1.5
Harvard Medical School Health Publishing.Showering Daily - Is It Necessary.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How To Control Oily Skin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Handwashing: clean hands save lives.
Virginia Department of Health.Unknown Chemical Exposure.
National Library of Medicine.Jock itch.
Saha A, Seth J, Sharma A, Biswas D.Dermatitis neglecta – a dirty dermatosis: report of three cases.Indian J Dermatol.2015;60(2):185-187. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.152525
American Academy of Dermatology Association.8 WAYS TO STOP BATHS AND SHOWERS FROM WORSENING YOUR PSORIASIS.
National Eczema Association.Eczema and bathing.
Herrero-Fernandez M, Montero-Vilchez T, Diaz-Calvillo P, Romera-Vilchez M, Buendia-Eisman A, Arias-Santiago S.Impact of Water Exposure and Temperature Changes on Skin Barrier Function.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):298. doi:10.3390/jcm11020298
Twumwaa H, Asumang B, Imoro ZA, Kpordze SW.TOOTHBRUSH AND TOWEL HANDLING AND THEIR MICROBIAL QUALITY: THE CASE OF STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, NYANKPALA CAMPUS, GHANA.Afr J Infect Dis. 2020;15(1):41-46. doi:10.21010/ajid.v15i1.5
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