To not want a shower everyday?

[Ointb]

I find they dry my skin out if I shower every day, even if I use lukewarm water and emollient creams - I have kept them short, and tried everything I can think of short of seeing a dermatologist. My skin itches like crazy after most showers.

I do feel a lot fresher of course but is it really unhygienic to switch to every other day? (And for my partner is it gross?!)

I know how you feel

I got told off by my mother in law this morning for putting latex gloves on to do the washing up as water dosent set eczema Off!

Some experts say bathing every day is bad for your skin. Maybe just do a quick wash in the sink - worked well for me for many years when I was young. Always a wash before bed. Sink of soapy water and a cloth! I would say though that depending where you are , you can buy emollient - oilatum- which you’re can add to water for bathing when you have dry skin. It’s lovely, makes the water milky, smells like bubblegum and leaves your skin soft and hydrated. Leaves a base film on the skin You can buy it in many supermarkets now.

I shower every other day. Wash on other day. Works for me. When l was a kid we had a bath once a week and washed on the other days. So I'm alot cleaner now than when l was 5🤣

@Smartiepants79

Of course it’s not necessary to shower every day if you are not particularly sweaty or dirty. I shower every other day. My husband everyday and I can tell you now I still smell a damn sight better than him at the end of the day. Too much washing has a negative impact on your body.

Too much washing has a negative impact on your body.

Absurd.

“I am too clean! I smell too nice!”

@MazekeenSmith

It's pretty gross if you share a bed with someone else! Do you have a bath? Baths rather than showers stop me itching especially if I use emollient in the bath

How?? What DO you do to get so filthy

When I was in my early 20s my eczema was so bad I was basically a walking lizard woman.
My dermatologist told me to shower every other day, and I’ve done it ever since. It’s perfectly fine.

@MasterBeth

Actually it’s because you can remove healthy bacteria and oil from your skin, making dry skin and eczema worse.

@Mumoblue

Actually it’s because you can remove healthy bacteria and oil from your skin, making dry skin and eczema worse.

I am perfectly happy to accept that some people’s dry skin conditions or exec a can be exacerbated by too much washing. That is not the same as saying “too much washing has a negative effect on your body.” Not for most people, it doesn’t.

No not unreasonable at all. As long as hands clean you're not harming anyone else. Plus of course face, teeth, genital, bottom, and armpits need a wash every day.
I couldn't do it, though. Drive me nuts not to shower every day.

@MasterBeth well as everyone has beneficial bacteria on their skin, yes it is bad for everyone to wash too frequently even if you don’t have dry skin. For example, S. epidermidis may protect against skin cancer. People are increasingly aware of the importance of supporting your gut bacteria but your skin bacteria are just as important.

Why not. It's your body. If you're having sex it's probably best to wash every day but I don't think a full shower has to be done if it's making you itchy.

@MrsBerthaRochester

I grew up having the one bath a week and in between it was a wash with a flannel. Now I shower two or three times a week and that's fine. But I'm definitely a slattern by MN standards😅

Me too!

Have you been to your GP about your skin itching so severely after showering? That's kind of unusual - has it always been like that or something that developed.

Normally I'm very grossed out by the idea of not showering daily, but if your skin feels like that afterwards then I wouldn't want to shower every day either

You probably know this already, but put your cream on as soon as you get out of the shower and are soaking wet, don’t dry yourself and then put on cream. It looks the moisture in even more, according to my doctor (I have psoriasis). When I lived in the UK I got severe eksema, I couldn’t even touch washing from the washing machine. It disappeared when I moved, I think it’s something to do with the hard water. Maybe you could try a hard water filter.

*Locks not looks

I only bathe every other day. Obviously face, pits and bits get washed daily with soapy flannel but we don't have a shower and I really couldn't be doing with a bath every single day. I'd be scratching my skin off.

If you want to be dirty that's up to you.
If you sleep with another person you are being selfish and gross.

@Daphnise

If you want to be dirty that's up to you. If you sleep with another person you are being selfish and gross.

🤣🤣🤣

@SaturdayRocks

If you have a skin condition that’s being aggravated by a daily shower, then of course you’re not BU to adapt to suit your personal needs. Do what you need to do.

I am very by the whole concept of a ‘strip wash’.

They often come up on Mumsnet - I had never heard of it before coming on here.

Standing naked in the cool bathroom air and faffing about with a face cloth, wetting it under a tap, wringing it out and rubbing it over your body, wetting, wringing, rubbing, repeat ... sounds so deeply unappealing.

As opposed to simply turning on the hot water and standing under it, easily able to get wet, washed and clean with soap or gel, which easily washes off.

I get it if, as in your case, you have a skin condition which necessitates it. Or if you’re elderly or literally immobile, and must be seated.

But if you’re able bodied? It just seems like such a cold, slow, ineffective, very unappealing alternative.

Yeah, this whole 1950s style 'strip wash' thing always cracks me up. Only ever hear about it on MN. All that faff. Much more efficient to have a 2 minute shower.

As for the OP, I do have a shower every day, but that's not really for cleanliness purposes. I just love all that hot water and smelly shower gel - I just don't feel I'm ready to face the day without one. I'm sure I'd get away with not showering for several days before stinking the place out.

Glad I’m not the only one @IcedPurple.

Still more people coming onto the thread to advocate for ‘strip washes’.

It’s touted as some sort of ‘easier’ alternative to a shower, when not only is it anything but easier, it’s less effective and much less enjoyable.

www.her.ie/beauty/were-showering-less-and-apparently-its-making-us-cleaner-522671

“ Earlier this year, he told The Guardian that there is a huge industry built upon the idea that "soap is good, and washing is good and more is better".

However, Hamblin warns that overwashing can "deplete the oils that are naturally secreted" by our skin.

This depletion may in turn exacerbate a number of skin conditions, including acne and eczema.”

I have never showered every day. I don't think that's gross 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think this subject is totally age related. I'd guess many over 50's quietly disregard the current germaphobia and continue with the washing regimes they grew up with :)

Find I need more showers around menopause age. Just feel fresher.