away “good” bacteria from your skin, putting you in danger of infections.
Skin health isn’t the only reason to shower less, though. Showers use a lot of water, but you may not recognize how much.
What happens if you don’t shower enough?
Just as you can shower too extensively, you can also shower too little. Although fewer showers may enhance skin health, you should still keep your hygiene in mind.
Sweat glands cover much of your body, producing sweat when you’re overheated, stressed, hormonal, or physically active. Sweat is odorless — until it combines with bacteria that are usually present on the skin.
A skipped shower probably won’t trigger body odor, especially if you haven’t been exercising. However, body odor is unavoidable the longer you go without a shower, especially in your armpits and groin.
Of course, the chance of body odor isn’t the only basis to shower or bathe regularly. Inadequate hygiene or infrequent showers can cause a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat on your skin. This can trigger acne and worsen conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
Showering too little can also trigger an imbalance of good and bad bacteria on your skin. Too much harmful bacteria on your skin also puts you at risk for skin infections. This may lead to dermatitis neglecta, where patches of plaque form on the skin due to insufficient cleaning.
Bathing also removes dead skin cells. These cells can stick to your skin and cause hyperpigmentation when you don’t bathe enough. Continuing good hygiene can fix this condition.
Conclusion
Although personal hygiene is essential for your health, it’s possible to bathe too often. Daily showers might be part of your schedule, but you need to do what’s best for your skin at the end of the day.
If you’re troubled by dry skin and looking for a way to prevent skin inflammation and irritation, experiment with fewer showers. Or, at the very least, restrict your showers to five minutes and miss the hot water.