Showering daily — is it necessary?

Do you shower or bathe daily? If you do, you’re not alone. Approximately two-thirds of Americans shower daily. In Australia it’s over 80%. But in China, about half of people report bathing only twice a week. In the US, the daily shower tends to start around puberty and becomes lifelong. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? Perhaps your answer is: “because it’s healthier than showering less often.” Think again. For many — perhaps most — the daily shower is more about habit and societal norms than health. Perhaps that’s why the frequency of bathing or showering varies so much from country to country. Are there reasons to shower every day? Besides considering it healthier, people may choose to shower daily for a number of reasons, including: concerns about body odor help waking up a morning routine that includes working out. Each of these has merit, especially considering that personal or work relationships can be jeopardized by complaints about body odor or personal hygiene. But what is considered acceptable in this regard varies from culture to culture. And some (perhaps a lot) of what we do when it comes to cleaning habits is influenced heavily by marketing. Ever notice that directions on shampoo bottles often say “lather, rinse, repeat”? There is no compelling reason to wash your hair twice with each shower, but it does sell more shampoo if everyone follows these directions. When it comes to concerns about health, however, it’s not at all cl...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Adolescent health Men's Health Skin and Hair Care Women's Health Source Type: blogs