Does anyone shower with just water?

[nappyaddict]

I have decided to try it. Do you use soap under your arm pits?

[Bunbaker]

I use soap under my armpits, on my feet and in my nether regions. I find that just water doesn't remove the anti-perspirant from under my arms and don't fancy a build up of it.

[nappyaddict]

bump

[gregssausageroll]

sorry, don't get it. why not use soap all over?

[3point14]

I'd guess that not to use some sort of soap or exfoliant would largely defeat the purpose of showering at all.

Same as those who think hair cleans itself after not washing for ages !

[4madboys]

yep i do, cant use soap or bubble bath or any products like that becasue of eczema, have showered without all my life!

[Bunbaker]

"why not use soap all over?"

Because I'm lazy it isn't necessary, unless I am covered in mud.

[lampli]

I'm the same as Bunbaker. Also soap behind ears! Soap all over would dry my skin out.

[tak1ngchances]

Right. Showering with water only will not really get you clean. This is why.

Soap and other cleansing products contain surfactants. Surfactants have a head part and a tail part (a bit like sperm if that helps. If not, stay with me here). The tail part is hydrophobic. It is scared of water and when you apply soap to your body, the surfactant tail clings on to dirt and oil and grease for dear life. But the head part is hydrophilic. It loves water and it's very strong. So when you rinse with water, the head part tugs and tugs to go in the water. And it takes the tail part and the dirt it is attached to with it.

It's particularly good when the water is warm because then the oil and grease breaks down and it's much easier for the surfactant tails to stick on.

But water on its own does not have any surfactancy. It can wash away some soils but it will not break down grease/oil. Bodies produce a lot of oil through sebum. So you really do need some type of soap to get properly clean.

HTH

[mousyfledermaus]

have eczema and only use soap (from a bar) for under the arms and nether regions. and shampoo for the hair.
I figure that the shampoo takes a lot of surface grease with it when rinsing off. I only use soap all over when I have used suncream to prevent an eczema outbreak.

[nappyaddict]

tak1ingchances But surely our body produces oil for a reason? If we strip it all away aren't we just creating an inbalance and so we will end up in a never ending circle of shower, wash oil away, body makes more oil to replace the oil it has lost, shower, wash oil away etc. By not stripping all of the oil away won't our bodies regulate the amount of oil it should produce and then it won't have to overcompensate and makes loads more oil each time after we shower?

[GuillotinedMaryLacey]

tak1ingchances I am utterly fascinated by your soap-sperms :o Showers will never be the same again.

[flipflopflap]

I mainly just use water, I sometimes use a bit of Aveeno, but if I use anything at all soap related then my eczema up flares up. I even wash my hair over the bath first to prevent the shampoo running down my back and making me itch. My skin is so much better since I ditched the soaps.

[4madboys]

flipflop same here, wash my hair leaning over the bath so i dont get shampoo on the rest of me, or else my eczema plays up.

i am clean thanks and using soap just dries out my already dry skin, you dont need soap, hot/warm water and a flannel is all i use and i am clean and dont smell, even if a get really muddy (rarely) then i have a soak in a bath and then shower and the dirt comes off.

skin produces oils etc for a reason, it is NOT good to strip the skin of its natural oils.

[Cartoonjane]

Because of eczema i usually use just water. My skin is very dry, i certainly dont feel as if there are oils left on my skin, far from it. Occasionally I use a bit of shower gel but always regret it as i end up with eczema straight away. Until reading this Id never thought that just using water was any sort of problem. If i smell or look dirty no one has ever told me.

[madammecholet]

are you aggie mackenzie tak1ingchances?

[gregssausageroll]

I love that post tak1ingchances!

[higgle]

using aqueous cream instead of soap is good.

[4madboys]

unless like me you are allergic to aqeous cream!

[tak1ngchances]

Eh no, I am not aggie mackenzie. I just like it when science-y things are explained to me because I find them so interesting! But I don't really have a science-y brain, I am more "creative" (aka very bad at maths and science)

[alemci]

I like to use shower gel or soap all over but you are probably right about overwashing. I would't feel clean otherwise but it is probably just a feeling. I try to use organic products or with little perfume.

I liked the scientific explanation. very interesting

[NewChoos]

Great explanation tak1ing

[JalanJalan]

My OH has never (as long as he can remember) used anything but water to shower due to psoriosis (now cleared up). He has the softest, most beautiful skin - and smells wonderful. I have had girlfriends admire his (facial) skin many a time.

[usualsuspect]

I don't use a lot of soap as my skin is incredibly dry