Taking a bath or shower is for hygiene , it serves to refresh , contributes to well-being , it can be a way to start the day more awake or to fall asleep better at night, or it can be just another routine of everyday life. Bathing habits and frequency vary according to countries, cultures, and even professional activity. The country climate is important, and the season of the year is important as well. The higher the temperature and/or humidity, the more sweat we produce and taking a shower responds to the increased needs for hygiene and refreshment; Among us, a daily shower , in the morning or at the end of the day, is common; When the days are hotter or there is more physical activity , more than a daily shower is also a frequent practice; More than one daily bath is also frequent in people who have close contact with residues , pesticides, and other irritating chemicals. Concerning the frequency of bathing, what is best for our health is what needs to be done . There is no one rule for everyone, not even for the same an age group. Therefore, the advice on the need to shower every day is not always the same. In a general way : Maintaining a good state of skin hydration and health is essential; If so, there is nothing against daily bathing; In specific cases it may not be recommended. There is no rule Water and washing products – soap, lotion or shower gel – when cleaning the skin, remove debris, dead cells, as well as the normal flora and oils that contribute to the skin barrier function. Thus, if bathing is too frequent there may be : Itch; Dry, peeling and scaling skin; Infetions favored by skin lesions and flora imbalance; Hair can become drier and more brittle. These problems are more common in the most sensitive age groups - children and the elderly - but they also happen in people of other ages or with drier skin. Skin diseases or mobility difficulties may also be the reason why daily bathing is not recommended. The reverse is also possible. When the number of baths is not enough , in addition to hygiene problems, especially bad body odor, new skin diseases can appear or worsen existing ones. Protect your skin when you shower Unless otherwise stated , if you like to take a shower every day, or more than one shower a day, do so! And also take some measures to protect your skin : Always prefer a shower to a bath; For children, do not let them play in the water at the end of the bath; Bathe with warm water, hot water dries the skin more; Moderate your time in the shower, 5 minutes is more than enough, many people take half this time and clean their body properly; Prefer mild washing products, without odor or disinfecting properties; Wash yourself well, but do not scrub your skin too much; Rinse well with water at the end to remove washing products completely; After bathing, shake off the water from your body and dry the rest carefully with a towel, without rubbing the towel on your skin; Maintain good skin hydration. In winter, when we prefer to shower with warmer water, cold, dry weather contributes to dryness of the skin. Always drink adequate amount of water. If you need to, apply a moisturizing lotion to your skin after showering. Hydration is important in any season. To make additional savings, of natural resources and in your bills at the end of the month, turn off the tap while you soap up ! Keep an eye on your skin If you start to feel that your skin is tight after a shower, or you feel itchy, it may be because is too dry. Reinforce your hydration care and if it still does not improve, seek for medical care. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
