How often you shower typically falls into one of two (extreme) camps: every day without fail or as little as possible (isn’t that why wipes and dry shampoo were invented?).
But according to dermatologists, there’s actually a right and a wrong number of times to shower each week. And a good general guideline is once a day or once every other day.
However, even that recommendation might vary depending on your workout habits or where you live. Take the three things below into consideration to determine your own personal shower quota.
Your activity level
There are a growing number of on-the-go products you can stash in your gym bag that let you leave the gym smelling fresh without a shower. While these can be huge time-savers, if you’ve really been sweating, you probably want to grab a towel and head to the locker room to rinse off.
We shower to remove oil, skin cells, sweat, bacteria, and dirt. When all that builds up on your skin, it can lead to anything from pimples to bacterial or fungal infections.
For people who are particularly prone to acne, showering right after exercise can help ward off a breakout by clearing out pores—which is especially important if you work out in makeup.
Your skin type
For those with oily skin stick with the once-a-day rule, but if you have sensitive or very dry skin, shower no more than a couple times a week to reduce dryness, itching, and inflammation. If you have dry skin and work out regularly, use a gentle soap and applying moisturizer after you shower.
And don’t forget that your skin type may change as you age. As people get older, they generally tend to make less oil and may have skin troubles if they bathe more than several times a week.
Your environment
If you live in a hot, humid environment, you’re going to want to shower every day to minimise the bacterial build-up (and smell) on your skin. If it’s cooler outside by you, you can get away with showering less.
If you notice your skin is dried out, scaling, or itching more than usual, consider showering less and cutting down on scrubs and exfoliants. Simply using your hand or a washcloth and body soap is best.
Showering correctly is more important than showering often or saving time with dry shampoo. That means using lukewarm (not hot) water, keeping it under 10 minutes, and not using an eHow xfoliant on a regular basis.