Bathing is our second line of defense against some of the nastier bacteria, so if you don't regularly bathe and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes, you're exposing yourself to harmful germs that could get you sick. That balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria on our skin can be upset by not washing enough.
Skipping showers or bathing too infrequently can lead to an accumulation of bacteria and dead skin cells, causing body odor and skin problems like acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema (2). Furthermore, not bathing enough can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells, which can cause hyperpigmentation.
Neglecting regular bathing can lead to the accumulation of dirt, sweat, and oils on your skin, resulting in a strong body odor. It can also cause skin issues such as acne and infections due to clogged pores and increased bacterial presence.
There's no hard and fast rule for this although dermatologists agree that as a society, we shower too often. Many of us do this daily, however, if you're not doing anything too strenuous, you can shower every other day, not smell offensive and ensure your skin retains those vital oils that too much washing depletes.
Bacterial and Fungal Growth: Without regular cleaning, bacteria and fungi can multiply on your skin, increasing the risk of infections like folliculitis (infected hair follicles) or fungal infections like athlete's foot.
If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
You'll smell bad
This is certainly a key point for anyone with friends: if you stop washing, it's pretty likely that you'll start to smell bad. Even if you don't sweat excessively, strong body odor will doubtlessly develop and your refusal to shower will prevent you from eliminating it.
He lived in the village of Dezh Gah in Fars province. He did not bathe for over 60 years, from c. 1957–62 until shortly before his death in 2022, because he feared that soap and water might cause disease.
Washing and exfoliating the skin helps to remove these dead skin cells. If a person does not wash one or more areas of the body, dead skin cells may build up in patches of skin that are hyperpigmented, scaly, and rough. Symptoms may get worse the longer a person does not wash and more buildup occurs.
This can lead to a greasy appearance and unpleasant odours, as well as conditions such as dandruff and an itchy scalp. Scalp build-up as a result of not washing your hair could also lead to the follicles becoming trapped, potentially affecting your hair growth and increasing the chance of ingrown hairs.
Not showering frequently may help preserve the skin's natural oils and microbiome, potentially reducing the risk of skin irritation.
If you don't wash your clothes, these bacteria can build up on the clothing and cause skin issues and even infection. If you don't wear underwear then you should wash your pants every day. Any clothing with stains, sweat, odor, or visible dirt on them should be washed.
Soap isn't needed to clean every part of your body. You need it to clean places like your armpits and feet, but every part of your body doesn't need to be thoroughly scrubbed. Soap can sometimes throw off your pH balance, so be cautious around that area.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
How Often to Wash Bed Sheets. Medical experts recommend washing your bed sheets once per week. This is seen as the standard, although the average person will typically wash them once every two weeks (which is still good).
In general, showering every other day or every few days is enough for most people.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
Unsurprisingly, a person would develop quite a funk after 365 showerless days. Rokhsar said your stench likely would come as a result of the bacteria and dead skin accumulating on you. After a year, he said, you'd have a build-up of skin stratum corneum, or dead skin on top of your skin.
One of the most significant factors influencing the avoidance of showers is mental health. Conditions like depression can severely impact motivation and energy levels. Individuals experiencing depression often find even the simplest tasks daunting, leading to neglect of personal hygiene.
“If you don't wash your back well, you may have to contend with serious sweat and dead skin build-up, which can eventually clog pores,” says Dr Khorana. This could give rise to spots and even back acne (while usually caused by genetics, hormonal changes and certain medications, diet and stress can cause 'bacne', too).
If you decide to shower one day and skip the next, you will likely notice health benefits, including overall healthier skin and hair. How frequently you shower is of course a personal preference, but according to Dr. Brodsky, daily showers are simply not needed for the average person.
Diogenes syndrome is a behavioral-health condition characterized by poor personal hygiene, hoarding, and unkempt living conditions.
Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections and polio. It exacerbates stunting and contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance.