Is Showering Too Often Healthy?

Although this summer season started cool, it is making itself felt these days. As hot weather sometimes becomes oppressive, we have started to shower more frequently to meet our need to cool down and perspire.

This raises the question: how appropriate is frequent showering for our body health? Dermatology Specialist and Altınbaş University Faculty Member Dr. Seher Küçükoğlu Cesur noted that our skin requires care not only during summer months but in every season, and stated that frequent showering can lead to skin dryness, particularly during winter. Dr. Küçükoğlu Cesur, who noted that skin dryness exhibiting symptoms such as itching, skin shedding and discomfort can sometimes develop into eczema, issued a warning stating: "Although skin dryness can occur in every season, it appears more frequently when the weather turns cold. Frequent showering during summer months can lead us to encounter skin dryness when the weather cools down."

What is the ideal water temperature and what are the effects of soap and shower gel on the skin?

Dermatologist Dr. Küçükoğlu Cesur, noting that it is possible to prevent skin dryness through certain protective measures, stated the following: "Showering at frequent intervals, spending long periods in the shower, and excessive scrubbing are among the leading factors that increase skin dryness. Since soaps and shower gels used for washing can cause serious dryness on the skin, cream or oil-type washing products should be preferred during showering. The use of hot water in the shower can also reduce moisture content under the skin, causing the skin to dry out, which is why lukewarm water should be preferred in the shower."

What are the recommendations for healthy showering?

Dermatologist Dr. Küçükoğlu Cesur, stating that moisturizing lotions to be used after showering will be helpful in preventing skin dryness and are especially recommended for people with dry skin, also noted that the age factor is important in this regard. "Skin dryness is seen more frequently as age advances. As age increases, the skin's oil-producing glands decrease in both number and activity. For this reason, elderly people need to pay more attention to precautions taken during showering," stated Dermatologist Dr. Seher Küçükoğlu Cesur, who made the following recommendations to prevent skin dryness: • Plenty of water should be consumed to protect the skin's moisture. • Shower duration should be kept short and bathing should be done with lukewarm water.

• Instead of soaps and gels that will cause dryness on the skin, products such as creams or oils should be preferred.
• After showering, moisturizing creams or lotions must be used. • In places where air conditioning is used, the surrounding environment should be humidified since humidity levels will decrease.