You’d think that there is only one possible answer to that question, and as Asians, it’s twice daily. On normal days, an average Malaysian will shower once in the morning and once more in the evening or night, depending on when they get home.
According to dermatologists, if you’re experiencing skin issues such as dry skin, or other issues such as excessive body odour, you may have to rethink the number of times you take a shower.
Your bathing/showering needs might vary depending on your workout habits or where you live, explains dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf, MD, a member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society. Take the three things below into consideration to determine your own personal shower quota. Trust us, your skin will thank you.
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,” says Dr. Waldorf. When all that builds up on your skin, it can lead to anything from pimples to bacterial or fungal infections, she explains. For people who are particularly prone to acne, Dr. Waldorf says, showering right after exercise can help ward off a breakout by clearing out pores—which is especially important if you work out in makeup. If you’re really short on time, at least wipe down with a washcloth and water, suggests Clay Cockerell, MD, founder of Cockerell Dermatopathology
Your environment
Exercise and work meetings aren’t the only things that make you sweat. If you live in a hot, humid environment, you’re going to want to shower every day to minimize the bacterial buildup (that leads to odour) on your skin.
If your environment is more to the cooler side, you can get away with showering less. It’s good to note too, that air conditioning also dries out your skin, and if you happen to be spending a lot of time in an air-conditioned room/office, it’s best to shower less frequently. In any given situation, overdoing it when it comes to taking showers, might actually dry out the skin more.
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, followed by a good body moisturizers.
