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Show Caption There’s no bad day that a hot shower can’t fix. But is there a such thing as showering ... too much ? Skin experts say yes.
Dermatologist Dr. Joel Spitz , co-founder and chief medical officer at Honeydew, says there is a limit to the benefits of showering when it comes to skin health, and that if you’re showering too much, it becomes obvious through dry and cracked skin. Here’s what to consider if you love taking more than a daily shower.
How many showers are too much in a day? What counts as excessive showering? Daily showering is fine, though most people don’t even need to shower every single day, Spitz says.
Instead, he recommends making sure the "warm, moist folds" of the body do get attention every day – feet, groin, armpits and any other sweaty or dirty skin. But that cracked and dry skin from showering more than daily can lead to inflammation and even itching. "Long, hot showers will definitely worsen dryness and increase itch," he adds.
The issue is that over-showering strips skin of natural lipids that serve as a protective barrier, preventing infection and helping to keep your skin healthy, "dewy and bright," he says. "When the skin dries out, the skin barrier becomes compromised, which allows bacteria into the deeper layers of the skin and can make eczema worse." How to keep skin safe as a frequent showerer If you can’t give up your more-than-daily showers, try modifying them slightly to protect your skin with these suggestions from Spitz: Take shorter showers, which he calls "in-and-outs." Turn the temperature down a bit. Pat skin dry after.
Lock in moisture with a fragrance-free moisturizer. Use soap that is frangrance-free and protects the skin barrier while still cleansing. Consider other causes and effects of overshowering Your skin is one consideration, but it’s worth examining why you want to shower frequently.
Excessive showering, bathing and other types of grooming can be an example of a compulsion associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, according to the International OCD Foundation . They also point out that these types of compulsions aren’t something that people with OCD really want to do, but feel they have to do. If you suspect there might be a mental health component associated with showering too much for you, they offer a variety of resources for treatment and support , in addition to recommending you reach out to a primary care and/or mental health provider.
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Source: USA Today
