Should You Shower Daily?

By Randi Morse

There are a number of things that seem to be consistently debated in my home: if it's OK to leave opened beverage containers in the fridge, if you have to make your bed every morning, and if it's necessary to shower daily. There are those of us in our home who believe that showering every day is a requirement, while there are others (namely teenage boys) who think that showering every day is completely irrational. But what does science say about showering daily?

Cultural Roots

Did you know that around two-thirds of people who live in America shower daily? The percentage changes when we look at Australia, where over 80 percent of people shower daily. China, however, reports that half of their population bathes only twice a week. Why is there such a difference between countries? It has a lot to do with cultural roots. We tend to do what we see our parents doing, so if we grew up with parents who washed every day, we're more likely to do the same. 

Showering Daily

There are a number of reasons why people choose to shower once a day. Some do it because they are very worried about body odor, while others shower daily because they need help waking up. There are also those who exercise daily and need a shower after their workout to feel fresh. Each of these reasons are sound, worrying about personal hygiene and body odor is important, but have you ever noticed how much of our daily routine is influenced by marketing? How many times have you seen commercials about shampoo, conditioner, or body wash? And look at the shampoo bottle in your shower, it likely says, "lather, rinse, repeat." There is no reason why you need to wash your hair twice during a single shower session, but the company is able to sell more shampoo if they tell you to do so.

While there are a number of reasons why you should shower regularly, there are also many arguments against showering daily. Washing your body daily can remove essential oils, which can change the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria on your body. This is especially true if you use antibacterial soap. Washing every day can also dry out your skin severely which can cause a number of uncomfortable skin conditions to occur. 

Should you shower daily? Most experts say that you shouldn't shower unless there's a real reason for it, and if you do shower regularly, make sure you use gentle soap.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Bothell, Wash.