The CDC and dermatologists note the average shower lasts around 8 minutes, aligning with the recommended 5 to 10 minutes for optimal skin health and avoiding over 15 minutes to prevent skin dryness (1). Gender differences in shower time are slight, with women spending just 39 seconds more than men.
A shower should ideally last 5-15 minutes. In-Depth Explanation: The optimal shower duration varies, but generally, 5-15 minutes is sufficient. Longer showers can lead to water waste and strip your skin of its natural oils, potentially causing dryness, particularly if your shower temperature is hot.
What makes an optimal shower then? Ideally, it should be about 5 to 7 minutes and no longer than 15 minutes, says Yousuf Mohammed, PhD, a senior research fellow in dermatology at the Frazer Institute of the University of Queensland in Australia.
By setting a four-minute timer for their showers, individuals can significantly reduce their annual water consumption, as showering accounts for a significant portion of household water use.
If you have certain skin conditions, staying in the shower too long could have negative effects. Hot water can cause inflammation and worsen dry skin or eczema. These skin conditions can become more of a problem in the winter months, and adding extra stress to your skin with long showers should be avoided.
Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out.
To test the hypothesis, an approach to treating depression is proposed that consists of adapted cold showers (20 °C, 2–3 min, preceded by a 5-min gradual adaptation to make the procedure less shocking) performed once or twice daily. The proposed duration of treatment is several weeks to several months.
A survey found that 53% of Japanese people soak in the bath every day in winter. A warm, relaxing bath can relieve the feelings of tiredness at the end of the day.
A quick daily rinse is not the same as a marathon hour-long shower or soak in the tub. The more time you spend in the water, the worse the effects can be on your hair and skin. Shoot for 3 to 5 minutes and concentrate on the important body parts: armpits, groin, and face.
Spending long periods in the shower can be very mindful and relaxing. Washing, conditioning and getting all the knots out takes me quite a while. I have hair that knots easily.
Dr. Turegano agrees. “I think that showering three to four times a week is plenty for most people,” she says. “We start to see more issues with dry or irritated skin when showering happens more often than once a day.” She says this is especially true for those with already dry or eczema-prone skin.
The total running time of this kind of shower can last less than two minutes – using an initial thirty seconds or so to get wet, followed by shutting off the water, using soap and shampoo and lathering, then rinsing for a minute or less.
The girls do shower longer than boys (averaging at about 10–15 minutes) whereas boys shower for approximately 5–10 minutes. However, boys shower more frequently than girls (6% more boys shower more than once a day).
According to research by Kantar Worldpanel, Brazil takes the top spot as the most shower-loving country in the world, with its residents showering an average of 14 times a week. 🚿
Bathing customs vary across the world, and the time of bathing is also culturally influenced. While Americans and Europeans typically bathe in the morning, many Asian countries prefer night-time showers.
Japanese use their baths not only to get clean but to maintain their health by warming themselves up and stimulating their circulation. Because the body is washed outside the bath, the bath water stays clean and deeply refreshing.
Ever feel like you start a task with gusto, only to get sidetracked by a squirrel outside your window moments later? If you have ADHD, this may sound all too familiar. ADHD can make sticking to routines, including personal hygiene tasks like showering, brushing your teeth and doing laundry, a constant battle.
What's Poor Personal Hygiene? Poor personal hygiene arises from either intentional or unintentional neglect of your body's cleanliness and health requirements. Your body begins to look unhealthy, you experience unwanted health concerns, and your overall well-being is affected.
The shower is a comforting space where we often are alone with just our thoughts, many use this as the opportune moment to reflect on the day, sing Grammy-worthy performances or for some, let out their emotions through shedding tears.
Five to 10 minutes is ideal for showering. If you stay in the water too long, it can dry out your skin. Use non-drying soap. Whether you prefer a bar or liquid body cleanser, choose one labeled as moisturizing to help keep your skin hydrated.
Showers make up a huge share of water and energy consumption. In fact, showering for one minute consumes more energy than using the lights in a 3-person household for an entire day.
Not showering frequently may help preserve the skin's natural oils and microbiome, potentially reducing the risk of skin irritation.