Showering: It's likely you're doing it wrong
If you’re one for jumping into a nice hot shower every day after work then you’re in for a shock.
It turns out showering every day is actually bad for you and having the opposite effect than what we thought on your skin.
Yes, you read that right – using soap too often is actually damaging the outer layer of your skin, and impacting what are known as microbes.
Microbes are there to keep our immune systems and heart functioning, and even help protect against acne breakouts, according to Her.
So using soap too often is having a negative effect on your overall skin health.
Dr Casey Carlos, a dermatology professor at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, actually suggests people only use soap in particular places such as the groin, armpits, and feet.
“Our skin has the amazing ability to clean itself,” she told LifeHack.
Studies have shown that the top layer of your skin is composed of dead skin cells that protect underlying skin layers and is held together by fats or lipids that are responsible for moisture.
Whenever you shower and scrub, you’re breaking this layer apart, meaning the more showers you take, the more damage occurs in the top layer.
If you shower too often you are also giving your skin less time to repair between scrubs and preventing good bacteria from growing on your skin.
There is however no official word on how many times one should shower during the week. That would be hard to pin-point given the difference in people’s lifestyles.
Of course, if you work outdoors, in a mechanic workshop, or go to the gym daily, you’re probably going to need a shower.
Sorry microbes.
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