As if that's not enough to make you want to wash, Shah says it loud for those in the back: "This buildup can potentially clog the pores resulting in dry, irritated skin, and even acne," she says.
Neglecting to wash your face can have drastic effects on your skin. If you have oily skin and stop washing, you might start to experience more breakouts. For those with dry skin, your face might start to look more dull and dry.
So what's the big deal? If you don't wash your face twice a day, your skin is in danger of breakouts due to oil, dirt and makeup clogging pores. Your pores will appear larger and your skin will look dull and textured, instead of having a radiant, youthful glow.
Unhealthy skin can result from not washing your face daily, not using the right skincare routine or rarely showering or bathing. Any of these poor hygiene habits can cause a build-up of dirt and grime on the skin, which can eventually lead to blemishes, clogged pores, dry skin, shallowness and wrinkles.
Your Skin Could Break Out
When you don't remove makeup, dirt, bacteria, excess oil and other impurities from your skin, it can build up in pores and clog them, resulting in breakouts. This is just one reason it's important to give your skin a thorough cleanse morning and night.
Keep your face clean to help prevent some diseases
When you touch your face, the germs on your hands can enter your body through your nose, eyes, and mouth, making you sick. Protect yourself by washing your hands before touching your face and by washing your face regularly.
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.
Washing Your Face Too Often
Over-washing your face can strip away important oils from your skin and may disrupt your skin's protective barrier, which can lead to uncomfortable skin symptoms like itchy, flaky skin.
Poor hygiene can cause sickness and disease. Poor hygiene can also cause social rejection and may also lead to bullying, low confidence and low self-esteem.
Consuming a diet high in processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can lead to inflammation and breakouts. Inadequate sleep disrupts the skin's natural repair processes, resulting in a dull and tired complexion. Alcohol and smoking can dehydrate the skin, cause premature aging, and worsen conditions like rosacea.
However, washing your face with water alone simply isn't sufficient to remove the build-up of dead skin cells, oil, make-up, or other bacteria, which can lead to skin becoming dehydrated, greasy, or blocking pores.
While you definitely want some natural oils to remain in your hair, not washing your hair will allow oil, dirt and grime to build up on your scalp. This can lead to a greasy appearance and unpleasant odours, as well as conditions such as dandruff and an itchy scalp.
Dirt and oils can also clog the pores, and can lead to breakouts – even after only one night. And, of course, this effect multiplies with each day that goes by without washing your face. Sleeping in makeup causes an occlusive effect, meaning there is a “barrier” over the skin.
Oily skin can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, weather, stress, and hormones. Washing with an overly aggressive cleanser can also irritate your skin and potentially trigger increased oil production, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Best Drugstore Cleanser: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
"This fragrance-free, non-comedogenic face wash is super gentle, and you can use it with or without water," says Dr. Park. She loves how it leaves skin feeling super soft and moisturized just from cleansing alone—and she isn't the only one.
What are some common infectious diseases that can result from poor hygiene? Athlete's Foot, body lice, head lice, choric diarrhoea, dental caries, skin diseases, and ringworm are the most common infections.
"Just going overnight without washing your face isn't going to age you five years," Polis says. "It's more of a missed opportunity. There's great blood supply to the skin and a number of different metabolic processes going on at night. So you're losing out on a chance to target problems."
Most people will only need to really wash their face once a day. In the morning, rinsing with warm water before applying moisturizer and sunscreen should suffice, while at night, after a full day of exposure and damage, more dedicated care is recommended.
The majority of respondents have fewer than 8 showers per week - perhaps one per day is the norm? Anecdotal evidence suggests this is because sport and the gym are very important to this age group. The average Gen Z is taking between 4 and 8 minutes in the shower.
It really depends on your lifestyle, skin type, and personal preferences. Here's a quick side by side: Morning Showers: Best for early risers, those with oily skin, or anyone needing a wake-up boost. Night Showers: Ideal for winding down, keeping your bed clean, and reducing hair damage.
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.