The skin is the largest organ in the human body, covering between 1.4 and 1.9 square meters of our surface. There are those who estimate that their area is much larger if they are considered the small nooks formed by the hair follicles and the sweat glands. In addition to being our main protective barrier, the skin has the essential function of maintaining the interior of our body protected from the outside. In this article, we will tell you about a theme that generates many doubts among people: should we or not take a shower every day?
Skin hygiene
Keeping the skin clean is an essential habit for many people. The hygiene and beauty market, which includes from soaps and shampoos to creams and perfumes, moved more than $ 100 billion in the United States in 2024. And forecasts point to continuous growth in this sector in the coming years.
However, are all the products we use in everyday life and bath in the bath? That was the issue that intrigued James Hamblin, a doctor specializing in public health and writer of the magazine. At Podcast Chasing Life, he asks: “How many of these products are really essential to health? And how many are just a matter of personal taste? Will I waste money and time?
To try to answer these questions, Hallin decided to have a radical experience: for five years, he stopped bathing in a traditional way. Before they get hasty conclusions, it is worth clarifying that the doctor has not been without washing five years, but has tested different forms of hygiene and reduced to the use of soaps and shampoos.
His experience gave rise to the book Clean: The New Science of Skin, published in 2020, where he explores the history of cleaning habits and analyzes the real need for so many personal hygiene products.
HAMBLIN’S CONCLUSIONS
Hamblin believes there is a widespread idea that all hygiene products are fundamental to health. This is because many packaging use scientific terms and medical expressions that convey this sensation. However, he warns that most of these products only make us feel cooler and smelly, with no significant impact on disease prevention.
Soap, for example, is useful for removing skin dirt and fats, but in most cases simply water friction already helps a lot in cleaning. Of course there are situations where soap washing is indispensable, such as health or food professionals, but in everyday life, rubbing hands under water already eliminates many impurities, thus reducing the need to bathe.
The inspiration for writing the book came up when Hamblin realized that people were increasingly paying attention to the health of the gut through probiotic consumption. He wondered if the skin should not receive the same kind of care, as it also houses a great diversity of microorganisms.
As in the gut, the skin has its own microbiome, consisting of thousands of bacteria and fungi that help maintain the balance of our health. The problem is that excessive use of cleaning products can disturb this balance. Skin washing repeatedly with soap can eliminate beneficial microorganisms and remove natural oils that help protect it and may increase problems such as acne and eczema.
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Hamblin compares this process to deforestation of a forest: As we remove everything indiscriminately, we are unbalanced an ecosystem. And while science is still learning more about skin microbiome, it is already known that this balance is fundamental to our health.
If anyone wants to try to reduce the use of hygiene products, Hamblin suggests that you have some important issues in mind. First, it is essential to differentiate cleaning hygiene. Hygiene is related to disease prevention, such as washing hands after going to the bathroom or covering your mouth at coughing. Cleaning is more of a matter of habit and personal comfort.
The absence of a single rule
Also, there is no unique rule about the ideal frequency for baths. Some people prefer to take quick showers just to feel awake and refreshed, while others like a more complete routine, with products specific to each part of the body. Both habits are valid and depend on individual preferences.
Advertising also plays an important role in our choices. From an early age, we have learned to associate certain products with ideas of freshness and hygiene. However, many of the products available on the market are quite similar to each other, with minimal differences in the ingredients. According to Hamblin, in most cases, choosing a cheaper soap or shampoo may be sufficient because the practical effects tend to be the same.
During the 2020 pandemic, the concern with the elimination of germs increased and the idea of preserving the skin’s microbiome lost strength. It was a necessity in that context. However, now that the situation is more controlled, people are interested in more natural ways to take care of their skin.
Respect for the skin
Hamblin does not intend to impose rules or tell people how they should take care of their hygiene. But it believes that by questioning the habits we automatically follow, we can find out more balanced and healthy ways to take care of our body. After all, the skin has a natural protection system that deserves to be respected.
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