Hygiene: How often should you be taking a shower in a week? Expert reveals the answer

Everyone has their own personal hygiene habits. However, certain things, such as showering, too often or too little could be bad for you. Some people prefer to shower every day, others every other day and for some only twice a week is enough for them. Others also have quirky habits in the shower, such as brushing their teeth, which could be bad for you or even peeing in the shower, which can affect women's health.

As with most things, it can always be helpful to ask your doctor or dermatologist, if you want an expert opinion, on the right amount of showers a week. Lucky for you, you can find out here the best frequency to shower.

Time asked Dr Elaine Larson what her opinion was on shower habits, which can also say a lot about your personality, and her answer may surprise you.

Here's how often you should take a shower

We hope for your sake that your deodorant is effective because according to Dr Elaine Larson, the ideal frequency for washing is... Twice a week. Hard to hear for those who shower in the morning and at night.

The professor from Columbia University explains:

I think showering is mostly for aesthetic reasons. People think they’re showering for hygiene or to be cleaner, but bacteriologically, that’s not the case.

Larson explains that most of the antibacterial soaps people buy aren't actually better than regular soaps at reducing the risk of infectious diseases.

Bathing will remove odor if you’re stinky or have been to the gym. But in terms of protecting you from illness, washing your hands regularly is probably adequate.

This doesn't apply to all body parts

The human body generates good bacteria to preserve our skin. Washing too often would destroy them and deprive our bodies of essential oils produced by our organisms. Dr C. Brandon Mitchell agrees that most people bathe themselves too often.

Dr C. Brandon Mitchell adds:

Your body is naturally a well-oiled machine. A daily shower isn’t necessary.

There is, however, a hygiene measure to adopt: if you only wash your body twice a week, your face, private parts and hands require more regular care.

This article was adapted from Ohmymag FR.

Read more:

⋙ Here's how often you should wash your towels

⋙ New photos reveal what your hands look like if you don't wash them after going to the toilet

⋙ Not washing your sheets frequently increases your risk of these three 'deadly' conditions

Sources used:

Time: 'You Asked: How Often Should I Shower?'