Some experts claim that skipping showers might be better for us.
A YouGov survey published in February found that 17% of British people admit that they’ve been showering less throughout the last year.
It certainly makes a lot of sense. With pubs, parties and the office off limits, there’s less pressure to be fresh as a daisy every single day.
Plus, if we’re being honest with ourselves, showering can be such a chore.
Indeed, while hand hygiene has, hopefully, been on the rise over the last year, daily showers have taken a back seat.
However, as the Telegraph recently reported, that is not necessarily a bad thing.
In a now-viral thread on Twitter, the publication caused quite a stir when they cited Yale lecturer James Hamblin who maintains that the need to “use soap over all the body” is “not founded in any type of science”.
❌ Before you next take a shower, read this…
🚿 As hygiene habits have changed through lockdown, experts are noting the environmental and physical benefits of showering less
Thread ~ 🧵👇https://t.co/BsUaKyi23a
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 22, 2021
While Hamblin himself washes his hands with soap, he only uses water to clean his body and his hair.
In his book Clean: The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less, Hamblin advocates for a more minimalist approach to washing.
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.
While Hamblin notes that this isn’t “life-threatening”, the depletion of natural oils may be an issue for some people.
As it stands, the jury is not completely out on daily showering in the science world.
Anjali Mahto from the British Association of Dermatologists maintains that it is important to cleanse the skin properly, in order to remove dirt, grime and sweat.
In any case, thorough hand-washing remains important, both throughout Covid-19 and beyond.
