Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Bathing every day bad for your health: Experts

The experts did not specify whether or not their recommendations were applicable to individuals on the basis of skin colour and texture.

• December 27, 2020

Showering every day may be just as harmful as not bathing at all, new findings by medical experts suggest.

The centuries-old norm of taking a daily shower to feel good and refreshed has, however, been found to be impotent in fending off infections.

In fact, frequent bathing especially with antibacterial products could rupture microbes — beneficial bacteria on the skin, a professor at New York-based Columbia University School of Nursing, Elaine Larson, was quoted by the Wall Street Journal to have said.

Ms. Larson, a hygiene expert, recommends a three- to seven-day shower routine for adults, particularly those working from home, and others above 60 who have less moisture in their skin.

A renowned dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Monika Kiripolsky believes that daily showers are best suited for individuals with physically demanding jobs, profuse sweating, as well as those who live in hot and humid climates.

“If you don’t sweat that often, you could probably go two to three days without stepping into the shower,” Ms. Kiripolsky said in a recent statement on popular men’s magazine, Men’s Health.

A senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, Amesh Adalja, however, noted that younger kids and babies, the obese, diabetics with skin vulnerability and anyone prone to skin or soft-tissue infections may still require daily baths and washing.

The experts did not specify whether or not their recommendations were applicable to individuals on the basis of skin colour and texture. It is widely held that people in hot regions of the world usually frequent the shower more because they are likely to sweat more than those in temperate or cold continents.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Nigerian Army logo

NationWide

Troops rescue 16 kidnap victims in Kaduna, says Army

Mr Nwachukwu said troops on Sunday responded to actionable intelligence at about 10:30 pm.

U.S., Niger flags

World

U.S. hopeful of continued military presence in Niger: Pentagon

Ms Singh said the U.S. had different lines of communications at all levels of government with Niger.

Aliyu Wamakko

States

Wamakko sympathises with traders at Sokoto motorcycle market gutted by fire

Some of the affected items included motorcycles, bicycles, and herbal medicine worth millions of naira.

Society for Family Health

Health

Society for family health trains 100 enforcement officers in HIV service delivery

Mr Salihu restated SFH’s commitment to continue to support the law enforcement agents.

Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun (Credit: @policeng)

NationWide

IG presents N1.6 billion to families of late cops

The IG said the presentation of the insurance claim is the fifth since his appointment in 2023.