to think it wrong not to wash everyday?

[happyclappy]

I went to see my GP yesterday, I have some eczema on my legs and the usual creams are not doing the trick. he asked if I wash/ take a shower everyday, I said of corse, and he advised me to keep it to once a week! AIBU? instead of prescribing me some steroid cream which will ease the itching enough, so i can control it with moisturiser, he gives me useless advise which I'm not going to follow.
but seriously who would only wash their body onlt once a week?

I wouldn´t call a shower every day excessive.

If I have a "pit & bits" wash I don´t feel properly washed.

But OP, it´s obviously worth trying what Dr has said,-and I would think he means a shower/bath once a week, not a wash once a week.

Do you have the shower hot/are under for a long time?

I also grew up not bathing/showering everyday, but got to about 14 & then started.

I thought it was a generational thing.
My parents & ILs don´t shower every day,but husband & I wouldn´t dream of not doing.

YABU - If I shower/bath everyday I get dreadful dry skin and eczema. I only bath 2-3 times a week and the rest of the time do 'pits & bits'.
There's nothing 'wrong' with not having a full body wash everyday.
FWIW I also don't use shampoo on my hair and it's in far better condition than when I did.

I shower daily, but only soap armpits, bits and feet. My GP advised me to have the water warm, rather than hot, and it has made a hell of a difference, my eczema rarely flares up.

I get horrible eczema on my shins through the winter and if I shower/bathe daily it really flares up, so I do a bits n' pits wash morning & night and wash my hair over the bath (v. oily so it does need an every day wash) - bubble bath on Friday night to wash off the week and a full on shower on a Sunday night so I feel clean all over for the week ahead!

When my nephew had eczema as a child - horrible, weeping sores that needed wet bandaging - the Dr recommended once a week bathing. My SIL was a bit but it helped him no end.

YANBU
That would freak me out too. I shower twice a day but I do live in a very tropical area.

How about you have a quick shower every day but don't use soap / shower gel on your skin?

I bathe the dc's 3 times a week as any more makes their ecxema worse.

But if I don't shower every day I get spots, yuck.

Lovecat, I don't see why you'd subject your body to bubble bath once a week if you have eczema. Doesn't that just defeat the idea of avoidance for the rest of the week?

And CastleDouglas...soap on your bits? that's just wrong IMO/E.

How about a strip wash as suggested? Fanny/tush and pits and feet, you could always try it and see how you get on.

I agree that overwashing can make your skin worse.

However over many years I've found what works for me, as I do like to shower every day or I feel grubby. I have a very quick warm (definitely not hot) shower using a small amount of Sanex shower gel (the only product I've found that doesn't "strip" my skin - aqueous cream as "soap" worked in that respect too, but always made me spotty?) and loads of emolient afterwards.

It's definitely worth looking at your washing regime to see if you can find changes that will help your skin - I'm with the others, steroid cream is an absolute last resort for me due to the long term problems from regular use.

You don't need to wash your legs every day, get a grip. Armpits, hands, face, bum and fanny, YES, every day, or you'll smell.

Not legs.

God it makes me feel physically sick to think of leaving the house wihout showering - I would feel filthy!

I would have a shower everyday but not use any products - if you have to wash your hair do it over the bath before you shower and maybe change your moisturiser and clothes/linen washing products but not washing is a tad extreme and rather disturbing IMO.

I shower once a day, sometimes twice a day, personally I couldn't go any longer between showers. I don't tend to wash my legs in the shower.

I have had flare ups of bad eczema and I find the only shower creme I can use is Johnsons baby. I also find a dab of elemis sos cream stops a flare up in its tracks.

What´s wrong with soap on bits?

You can wash your hair over the bath/sink, wash really well other bits maybe standing in the (empty) bath with a flannel and/or scrubbing brush. DS gets quite dry skin and is alot better when he bathes less. Also oilatum (sp?) in the bath seems to help.

Don't put soap round your fanny - it makes it all 10 times worse. FemFresh do a fanny shower gel that keeps the Ph Levels right, but TBH water is better and femfresh occasionally when you feel you need a good scrub

the eyes and the vagina are self cleaning

Please enlighten me. I shower every day but only cos I can't get my head round the logistics of a pits 'n' bits wash. Don't you get water everywhere? Or is it like grown up topping and tailing in the non sexual sense? i.e. with a flannel.

Lemonade, you are psychic!

It isn't just about the soap to those who are suggesting shnowering without it, it is also about soaking your skin every day. Water is very drying in itself.

Another whores bath girl here.

Unless you have a problem with excess sweating/BO I really do not see the point in washing your entire body everyday.

why not try washing or showering using aqueous cream instead of soap/shower gel ? it has really improved my skin and I have saved loads of money as the don't need body lotion or shower stuff and a big tub lasts 2 months for £2.99

Never use aqueous cream as a moisturiser. It is meant to be used as a soap substitue. Not many GP's know this and prescribe it for the former. It will irritate eczema and make it worse if it is left on the skin.

Start by having one every other day. That's what I do and as yet I haven't died.

I don't see the problem with using soap around your vulva. I would never use it on my vagina though. Plain water wouldn't get it very clean, there are secretions down there that are oily in nature and need washing away otherwise they will start to smell. Soap does it just fine for me. No problems with my PH levels either. I hate this Femfresh/Vagisil marketing aimed at making women feel insecure about their natural odours. You never see a 'cockfresh' or 'penisil' aimed at men do you?