“Areas like your legs don't necessarily require daily washing, but you always should cleanse the skin if there is any visible soiling,” says Dr. Ziechner, who's director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
“Too little washing can lead to a condition called retention hyperkeratosis where a thick layer of built-up skin cells and dust accumulates on the skin over time. ”
The poll, which generated over 852,000 votes, was split 80-20, with the majority of voters stating yes, they wash their legs while showering.
Washing your feet regularly can help prevent irritation, which can contribute to calluses and cracks. It can also help protect you against fungal infections such as toenail fungus and athlete's foot. That makes washing your feet daily an absolute must if you frequent pools and locker rooms.
That's actually wrong, in fact excessive showering or bathing can actually do more harm than good. The three areas, according to one doctor, you really only need to wash with soap are your armpits, groin and feet. The rest of your body is good with a simple rinse of water.
Belly button or the navel is probably the most ignored part of the body. If it is not cleaned regularly, it will not only lead to buildup of dirt but also bacteria. The dark, moist environment of the belly button is ideal for breeding of bacteria.
But just because you're scrubbing up doesn't mean every single hygiene task should happen in the shower. In fact, experts say there's one body part that you shouldn't actually wash in the shower: your face.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
This leaves 20 percent (roughly 120,000 people) who don't wash their legs when they're in the shower — a statistic which prompted horrified reactions.
Skipping this step can make you more prone to calluses, those hardened areas of skin that build up thanks to repeated friction, like the kind from walking around in shoes all day. That's not a dire circumstance, as calluses usually don't cause any tenderness or other real health issues, the Mayo Clinic explains.
"Unless you've just finished a mud run, the only places that need daily soaping are your armpits and groin," Chutkan adds. "The rest of your body does fine with a rinse—even after a sweaty workout."
You don't need to use conventional soaps in your daily hygiene routine. All you absolutely need, bare bones, to stay clean is water. Just water. Water does a fine job of rinsing away dirt without stripping vital oils from your skin.
"Your body does not clean itself," clarifies dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. "The only thing that cleans your body is soap and water."
Those who wash their arms or legs first…
Shower users who wash their feet first are typically considered to be very down to earth and humble. On the flip side though, legs and arms denote willpower and strength.
The argument against washing your legs while taking a shower is that the soap from your upper body will just run down your legs anyway and that your legs have a protective layer of natural oil so they don't need to be cleaned every day. "I do scrub with a lot of soap,'' Savannah said.
The rationale behind this is your legs have a protective layer of natural oil so they don't need to be cleaned every day. “Areas like your legs don't necessarily require daily washing, but you always should cleanse the skin if there is any visible soiling,” says Dr.
Generally, she said, "you should be showering, bathing or cleansing yourself every two to three days." Though, if you're working out or engaging in an activity where you are sweating a lot, you may have to shower more often. The biggest problem that may stem from not showering enough? The stink.
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.
The best way to prevent germs from growing on your bath towel is to let it dry completely between each use, and wash it frequently. The Cleaning Institute recommends washing bath towels after three uses.
According to the Mattress Advisor survey, married couples change their bedclothes about every 19.9 days whereas single people wait 37 days on average. And single men change them less often than single women. Mattress Advisor also found that people usually wait four to 11 days to wash sheets after sexual activity.
Sheets are usually changed between guests, and sometimes state law requires it, but there's no guarantee that they will be. As for bedspreads, forget it. As countless hidden-camera investigative TV programs have confirmed, they aren't washed regularly.
In fact, dermatologists recommend showering in water that's lukewarm or slightly warm. Do a quick rinse to wet your skin before applying any soap. Using a loofah, washcloth, or just your hands, apply bar soap or bodywash to your body. Start at your neck and shoulders, and work your way down the length of your body.
What's the worst that can happen if you leave a few dead skin cells lingering on your back? The most likely consequence will be a dull complexion. Again, it won't kill you. But it can lead to back acne, better known as bacne.
Start by washing the shoulder, upper body, arm, and hand. Move to the hip, legs, and feet. Rinse each area free from soap and pat dry before moving to the next. Check for redness and sores during the bed bath.