How often do you shower/bathe?

[fandemic]

Out of curiosity: how often do you bathe/shower? And if less than every day, do you so any maintenance in between?

I've always been a germphobe and used to be quite phobic about it - like, if for some reason I couldn't shower one morning, I would feel gross and uncomfortable all day. I'm not so bad now but still, until this week, showering every day. At the same time I have always suffered with dry skin and use a body lotion every day. I cut out products with sulphates a couple of years ago and switched to bars of soap, which I prefer, but even so - lots of washing.

I read this interview and have started experimenting with showering less: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/28/soap-dodger-meet-the-doctor-who-says-we-have-been-showering-wrong I was really interested in what this guy says about how if you wean yourself off showering frequently, your skin builds up a layer of useful bacteria which metabolise the sweat for you, so that you no longer smell. This was a bizarre idea to me as I usually think of sweat = dirt. I've just reduced to a shower every 2 days, using soap only on the smelly bits, and rubbing down with a plain flannel and water over the rest. I might reduce further if things go well. One issue I'm having, though, is what to do about dry skin and especially ingrowing hairs from shaved areas - I'm definitely not ready to stop shaving my legs, underarms, and bikini line and I usually use exfoliating gloves to wash daily in the shower. I'm also accustomed to the softness of skin you get from using body lotion every day and am wondering what to do about that ... basically I'm wondering if my skin will eventually settle down and be soft without the need for lotions.

Interested to hear other people's thoughts about all this!

I shower every morning - I couldn't possibly leave the house without a shower.
I will shower again in the evening if I have been at work (Im a nurse) and will wash my hair if I've been looking after a patient with something contagious.
On my days off, I will not shower a second time unless I've been out for a run.

I use dove body wash and either E45 or Cerave moisturiser after every shower and that keeps my skin very soft.

Do what works for you and what makes you feel clean. I think most people are quite aware if they are starting to smell, you know your body best so everyone to their own

I’m not going to lie. When I wake up I take a quick sniff of my armpit and if I smell of nothing I don’t bother. If it smells sweaty then I will have a shower or if I’m in a rush put a bit extra perfume on that day. It’s a simple approach but it’s what my own mother did

I love my nightly bath! Feel fresh and clean and nicely relaxed before bed.Always a little suspicious of those people who dont need to wash very often (esp in this weather really?!)

I simply never understand anyone who doesn’t shower daily, it’s the minimum adults should do

Says who? Genuine question. Nobody “needs” to shower daily. If you want to then fine no problem but it isn’t a necessity in the same way as say brushing your teeth.

I wfh, have done for a long time now. I don’t like showers so I generally have a bath every other day. I will always have a bath if I’m leaving the house but I don’t have a partner to offend, don’t do strenuous sweaty exercise etc so why would I need to change that to daily because randoms on the internet have decided that’s the “rule”. On my non bathing days I don’t come into contact with anyone else so it’s not affecting anyone.

Twice a week.
No reasons or excuses, in all honesty I'm just not that bothered and have always been the same way.
I have definitely smelt myself at points and it hasn't been a fresh smell and a shower ensues shortly after but the majority of time I would just say I smell neutral .

Will shower after cleaning/DIY/exercise and if I'm going out somewhere nice meeting up with people.

Says who? Genuine question. Nobody “needs” to shower daily. If you want to then fine no problem but it isn’t a necessity in the same way as say brushing your teeth.

If I don’t shower at least once a day I get sweat rashes that cause sore skin. Even if that wasn’t the case, if I don’t shower daily I get raging BO.

At least once a day. Perhaps, our habits are excessive and not actually good for skin etc. but once you're used to a daily shower/bath, it feels horrible not to.

I shower every day, sometimes twice especially when working out. I do sweat and find that with age I don't ever wake up fresh and perfumed as I used to even if I washed before bed time. The night sweats are part of my disabilities and they are potent.

I also find that I just need the maintenance of it all as it no longer comes naturally. A d I also wash my hair daily.

I would never be comfortable sleeping with the muck of the day on me, especially if out and about so it's also a bit of an OCD and comfort thing.

Every day, but I get sweaty working out, especially in this heat. Plus it's refreshing

Plus my ex would only shower every three days, and he stank

Once a year, whether I need it or not.

Every day. I don't think feeling gross when you haven't had a shower makes you a germ phobe! I feel the same and I don't think I'm that clean!!!!

@SimonJT

What you’re describing is a need to wash every day. Showers don’t have some magical powers over tap water! Sure it’s easier and it works for you so that’s fine but I’m saying specifically it doesn’t need to be a shower or bath but people seem to not feel clean unless they do. That’s a psychological thing but it’s not necessary for health. Keeping clean is, Showering/bathing daily isn’t.

[quote Meruem]@SimonJT

What you’re describing is a need to wash every day. Showers don’t have some magical powers over tap water! Sure it’s easier and it works for you so that’s fine but I’m saying specifically it doesn’t need to be a shower or bath but people seem to not feel clean unless they do. That’s a psychological thing but it’s not necessary for health. Keeping clean is, Showering/bathing daily isn’t.[/quote]
My dermo ‘prescribes’ a shower or a bath as a sink wash etc isn’t suitable as a flannel etc is too rough for my skin and I need a high level of water exposure without the use of a flannel, shower puff thing etc and I have to air dry. If I don’t do it I end up with sore patches of skin that end up weeping, particularly on my back. Daily showers or baths are most definitely needed for my health.

Every morning.
Honestly, I feel like I could do with another one this evening but I'm too lazy...

@fandemic, if you exercise and eat a healthy diet, your skin will be softer.

I had no idea people washed themselves so much. I shower and wash my hair every other day. I don’t use any soap or shower gel, just water.

Probably depends what you’ve been doing all day. If you live in a city and use public transport I can understand needing to shower every night. I live very rurally so never get that grimy pollution feeling.

I normally shower or bath every day, if I'm going out I'll do it again and when I was work I usually did it at each end of the day.

However I had two accidents, two years running, which meant i had to stay downstairs where there is only a loo. For many weeks.

During that time I did not bathe though did wash and husband helped me. I also hardly washed my hair. You hear about people who never wash their hair and it's fine, the natural grease cleans it, so I combed it well every day.

I smelled quite often and dreadfully. My hair was absolutely minging.

People can say what they like but we need to shower and wash hair; if there's an emergency such as the boiler packs up, we can boil up water, wash thoroughly with a sponge, jug for hair, and that works well. However you have to be able bodied for that.

Every day and I was my hair most days. During lockdown my hair got long and is thick and dry so I went to every other day.

As I am not going out much I have cut my morning prep to a short shower, moisturise face and body, rough dry hair, put on clean clothes (bra not compulsory) make a coffee and turn on computer. Max 30 mins so can roll out of bed as later as 9am. And if I am really late I can skip everything until after morning briefing and then shower.

Today as it is so hot I am about to take my 3rd shower just to cool down and was of the sweat before going to bed

Ahower every evening and freshen up at the sink in the morning. Hair every second day. A colleague showers 3 times a week and honestly she smells a bit off

Every morning....and then a bath most evenings. Sometimes an extra shower in between if I’ve been to the gym. I know it’s a bit excessive, but I really enjoy it....

Every day

Today, 38 degrees, x 7 🥵

Every morning, but I don;t go crazy with the soap- just armpits, groin, under breasts etc get a lather. Otherwise it's just plain water spraying over most of my body. My skin is a little dry and most areas don't need a lather up.

Every morning. I seem to stink when I wake up

Every morning.

It's a wake up habit now, but I do feel grubby if I ever miss it.