For most adults, once a day is the usual habit, and it's fine. But dermatologists say you don't need a full shower every day if you aren't sweaty or dirty. A few times a week is plenty for a lot of people, as long as you wash your face, underarms and groin daily. What matters more is how you shower: keep it short, use warm water instead of hot, and soap only the places that need it. Shower more after a workout, a hot day or a dirty job. If your skin is dry, itchy or flaky, try showering a little less.
This one gets asked a lot, sometimes a little sheepishly, as if there's a right answer and everyone else knows it. There isn't one magic number. How often you need to shower depends on your day, your skin and the weather. Here's what dermatologists actually say, and the habits that make the bigger difference.
Do you really need to shower every day?
Not always. About two-thirds of Americans shower daily, according to Harvard Health, but that's more habit than medical need. Harvard's Dr. Robert Shmerling notes that there's no ideal frequency, and that a few times a week is plenty for most people, unless you're grimy or sweaty or have another reason to wash more.
Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal puts it this way: once a day is the general guideline most people follow, and you can skip a day here and there. It's best not to skip too many, though.
So a daily shower isn't wrong. It just isn't required if your skin is happier with fewer.
What do you actually need to wash every day?
Less than you might think. Dr. Khetarpal says the only areas you need to wash consistently are your face, underarms and groin. Those are where sweat and odor build up. Your arms, legs and back usually don't need soap every day. Rinsing them with water is often enough.
Your face gets its own routine: most people do best washing it twice a day. I wrote more about that in how often you should wash your face.
Can you shower too much?
Yes. Every shower, especially a long, hot one, washes away some of the natural oils that keep your skin soft. Do that too often and skin can get dry, tight and itchy. Harvard Health also points out that dry, cracked skin is easier for germs and irritants to get into.
Signs you might be overdoing it:
- Skin that feels tight or itchy after you get out
- Flaking or rough patches, especially on your shins and arms
- What Dr. Khetarpal calls "lizard skin": dry, cracked-looking skin
If that sounds familiar, cut back a little, or keep showering daily and change how you shower (below). I covered the tight feeling in why skin feels tight after a shower.
When should you shower more often?
- After a sweaty workout or a day of hard physical work
- On hot, sticky days
- When you've gotten dirty or muddy (around here, that's most chore days)
- Any time you notice odor
How to shower so your skin stays comfortable
- Keep it short. Dr. Khetarpal suggests under five minutes. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests 5 to 10 minutes for dry skin. Either way, shorter is kinder.
- Warm, not hot. Very hot water strips more oil and can leave you itchy.
- Soap where it counts. Underarms and groin. Let the rest of you get a rinse.
- Pick a gentle cleanser. Harvard Health notes that antibacterial soaps can kill off the normal, helpful bacteria on your skin. A mild bar or wash is all most people need.
- Pat dry and moisturize. Blot with a towel, then put on a cream or lotion while your skin is still a little damp.
What about your hair? You don't need to wash it every time you shower. Every other day is typical, and some people go longer, depending on how oily or dry your hair is. And there's no real reason to "lather, rinse, repeat." One wash is enough.
What about kids?
Little ones need less than you'd think. Cleveland Clinic says babies, toddlers and young kids usually do well with two or three baths a week, plus extra after a messy day. Kids around 6 to 11 need at least two or three a week, and more when they've been muddy or sweaty. Once the teen years hit, a daily shower usually becomes the norm.
So, how often should you shower?
As often as you need to feel clean, and not so often that your skin pays for it. For most adults, that's somewhere between every day and every other day, with a quick, warm shower and soap only where it's needed. If your skin is dry or itchy, try fewer or shorter showers before reaching for anything else.
If your skin stays dry, cracked or itchy no matter what you change, it's worth seeing a dermatologist.
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