What happens if you don't shower for a month, according to the doctors

A daily shower is not always necessary, but how long should you really spend there without?


For many of us, taking a shower is a daily habit - or at least, a daily goal. (Which was not too lazy to take a shower on occasion?) But if you prefer to foam in the morning or at bedtime , the idea of jumping your shower for an extended time does not use much (or perhaps any ) people.

Well, there is at least one person. James Hamblin , MD, is a doctor who has literally spent years without taking a shower - and he thinks that others should also. He told NPR that the daily bath is not "necessary for basic hygiene" And this shower less is better for your body's microbiome (and could relieve things like acne, eczema and psoriasis), your wallet and the environment.

If you feel inspired to take a page of the Hamblin game book and try not to shower, let's say, a month, we decided to investigate what you could expect - being a bit stinking. Read the rest to discover what other doctors say before deciding if you want to try this experience for yourself.

Read this then: Doctor who has not shower for years thinks that others should join him .

This could cause an accumulation of bacteria on your skin.

Woman looking at mirror while touching her face and looking at skin
Floor image / trigger

First and foremost, the non-chewing could cause an accumulation of bacteria on your skin, Certified dermatologist of the Council Dustin Portela , Do, tells Better life . However, it is quick to emphasize that an increase in bacteria is not always harmful and can even be good for us.

"Our skin has a rich complement of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live on the surface, and the things you do to your skin have a daily impact on this microbiome," he explains. "Without shower, you would probably feel a significant change in this microbiome, which is not necessarily a bad thing. This can give the possibility of increased growth in good bacteria that can protect against skin diseases."

If you are injured, however, it can be another story. "Other bacteria could prosper that can contribute to body smell or surface skin infections," notes Portela. "You may have an increased risk of skin infections if you feel a cut or a break. It largely depends on the type of organisms that will flourish on your skin in the absence of a shower or a bath regular. "

Your hair could pay the price.

Young woman with hair loss problem. Hair falling out. Hair brush with hair
Creative Cat Studio / Shutterstock

Expert in skin care Simran Sethi , MD, say that not showering (and therefore not washing your hair) could be wreaking havoc on your scalp, and even drop your hair.

"On the scalp, we have our greatest hair growth, which leads to a sebaceous gland activity," she explains. "Oil, dirt and debris are the ideal environment for fungal growth. Too rarely washing will increase fungal infections on the scalp - and fungal scalp infections will cause hair loss."

And your scalp is not the only area of concern, she underlines: "In the areas of the body where the skin rubs against itself, such as armpits, sweat and bacteria can cause fungal infections Who will then start to spread on the adjacent skin. Although the skin on our arms and legs is less prone to infections, it is important to remember that if this fabric of the skin has a high bacterial burden, it can be subject To the strawberry skin (incarnated hair), "she explains." Do not shower will leave excess oil and dead skin debris on the skin, which will easily obstruct follicles and promote the incarnate hair . "

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Your body order could neutralize.

Portrait of a young woman wearing blue shirt smelling her armpit in an office
Casting of thousands / triggers

"A shower sautéed here or there will probably not trigger body odors, especially if you have not done the exercise," said Healthline experts. But after a month, they note, you would get a little-or maybe a plot —Sinky. "" The body smell is inevitable The longer you go without shower, especially in your armpits and in the groin, "they explain. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Hamblin was not immune: in an article, he wrote for the Atlantic , he admitted that he " was a fatty beast and smelly . "But the thing is that her body smell was only terrible at the beginning, she finally stabilized." But after a while ... your ecosystem reaches a state of balance, and you stop feeling bad, "he wrote." I mean, you don't smell like rose water or body spray with ax, but you don't feel the B.O. You just feel like a person. ""

The time it takes to get to this state can vary for each person, and that will not happen for everyone. Portela says your personal B.O.. The factor may not be the same as that of someone else and "will depend on the complement of bacteria that an individual tends to develop. Some people may experience a smell for a few days before weeks before That things do not normalize. However, it is possible that some people are discovering a persistent body odor which may not disappear. "

You can become more attentive to your body.

Black man walking outdoors taking a deep breath
Pheelings / Shutterstock media

Not showering for a month may not be any bad news. In his book, Clean: New skin science , Hamblin wrote that when he abandoned the shower, he "started to become aware of the models", as an increase in body odor when he was stressed, deprived of sleep or "generally not prosperous".

"Essentially, I became more attentive to what my body was trying to tell me," he wrote. "It seemed not to tell me so much to" wash me "as" go out, move, be social, and this "." So if you are curious about your personal models, it could be worth trying this experience.

You could rethink your long -term hygiene habits.

A woman taking a shower
Istock / FG trade

Stinky or not, passing without shower for a month could encourage you to reconsider your daily habit of shower. "A shower every day could be bad for your skin," reports Healthline. "Some dermatologists only recommend shower every other days , or two to three times a week. ""

And, as Hamblin pointed out in a song to Atlantic ,, You will save money On cosmetic products, as well as the conservation of water and time, if you reduce the frequency of your shower. "Advertisements tell us to remove the oil from our skin with soap, then hydrate with the lotion," he wrote. "Other advertisements tell us to remove the oils from our hair, then hydrate with the revitalizing. It is four products - more water and time - and few people wonder if necessary. ""

However, for many of us, a hot shower is simply too beautiful to do without it - Harvard health reports that Two -thirds of people in the American shower . Fortunately, Portela says that it is not necessary to abandon it: "For most people, a daily shower is entirely healthy," he said. "If you tend to dry skin, I recommend that you only use your soap or body washing on the areas of the skin, such as armpits, groin and buttocks. The rest of your skin."

Are all these shower speeches ready to jump in one right now? While you're in it, don't forget to wash these parts of the body !


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