Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Showering is like morning coffee for some, providing the stimulation it takes to wake up and start the day. Others take usual showers to wind down and relax after a tough day or difficult workout.

But how often we really need to shower? Should we have a shower every day or skip some days? Who can give us answers?

Although, showering is about hygiene and personal preference, how frequently we shower and what we perceive as body odor is also a cultural phenomenon,

Historically, bathing was a part of daily life in the Eastern countries. Although today bathing is regarded as a private activity, the public bath, or hammam, was a vital social institution in any Middle Eastern state for centuries before the advent of modern showers.

Hammams played a central role in promoting hygiene and public health along serving as meeting places where people could relax and socialize. They were generally single-sex, with men and women having separate bathhouses or bathing times.

Baths were common throughout the Roman empire in a geographic range stretching from Europe to North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. The tradition of public baths popularized under the Romans slowly died out in the West, giving way to private showers.

But... there is still no exact answer about the frequency of showering.

Usually, having shower is a part of our daily routine and can be honestly called one of the best moments of the day. Having a shower is a necessary chore and a simple pleasure.

Doctors agree that if you have a labor-intensive job, live in a hot, humid climate, or exercise—basically, if anything makes you sweat—then yes, medical professionals recommend showering daily.

Bathing on a regular basis is very important for several reasons. It can indeed help to prevent disease and promote good hygiene. Clean water helps our bodies to get rid of microbes and some doctors even advise to take a wash the wound with water, so that it get healed.

But why should you not shower too often?

Dermatologists also warn that if you shower every day, it might not be good for you. Showers disrupt natural processes that occur on your skin and in your hair and nails. And although you might be washing off some of the smells of the day you're also washing off natural oils that your skin produces.

Often showering also removes the good, useful bacteria that keep your skin healthy. This bacteria acts like a shield against harmful bacteria, keep out toxins from chemical soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other personal care products.

Bathing will remove odor if you’re stinky or have been to the gym, but when it comes to protecting yourself from illness, washing your hands is the way to do it.

Don’t forget that the daily bath or shower is terrible for the environment and our bank balances. Often showering is waste of clean water, which so many people in the world lack access to.

Showering right is more important than showering often, dermatologists say. Avoid harsh bar soaps that strip natural oils off your skin and use lukewarm water.

Don’t forget that too much bathing can make your skin dry and harsh. The American Academy of Dermatology says that small children and the elderly need to shower less often. The skin of small children is more delicate and elderly skin is naturally drier.

Of course, if you are being intimate with somebody it is nicer to be fresh and clean. But that can just involve a quick sink-wash.

So let’s not ignore recommendations and revert to the traditional weekly shower or bath, plus a daily sink-wash. Apart from anything else, think of how much extra time you'll have if you skip your full body wash daily.

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