Showering too frequently?

For many years, French people suffered from the reputation of having poor bodily hygiene. This seems to originate from the Middle Ages and even into the 19th century, when access to clean water for bathing wasn't readily available, especially for the poor living in crowded cities. There were also medical beliefs and social norms that contributed to these views. 

With advancements in plumbing and sanitation in the late 19th and 20th centuries, bathing habits changed drastically in France to the point that showering has become, in some cases, obsessive and excessive. This is what led me to the recent findings about people showering too much when they do it daily.

Experts now suggest a more moderate approach for most people, because they claim that a daily shower can strip away natural oils from your skin, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and even eczema. These natural oils help maintain a healthy skin barrier that protects you from bacteria and keeps your skin hydrated. 

It’s also said to disrupts microbiome, a group of good bacteria, through over-washing, that can potentially lead to allergies or infections. Finally, daily showers use a significant amount of water, which humanity will soon cease being able to afford, as our water-supply will soon become our next environmental crisis. So the question remains, how often should you shower? 

As usual, it depends on certain factors. For instance, if one’s skin is oily, if one sweats a lot through exercise or hard labor or under hot and humid climates, showering every other day or daily is okay, but on average, we should be content with doing it twice weekly. 

Boy, I just saved myself a hell of a lot of time!