How Often You Should Be Showering, According to Dermatologists

4 min read

I WAS RECENTLY chatting about TV with a buddy of mine who said Lost was the most overrated series of all time, which reminded me of one universal truth: some people just have inherently bad takes. For most of my life, this mental notification was saved for those who picked LeBron over Jordan, preferred pineapple on pizza, or argued daily showers were unnecessary. However, recent developments have forced me to reconsider that last bit.

As both a grooming editor and a dude who doesn’t want to smell bad, foregoing bathing is a tough habit to advocate for, but—at least for your skin—it’s not that simple. “Most healthy adults do not need to shower every single day from a dermatologic standpoint,” says dermatologist Dr. Aziz Khan, MD, FAAD, “The daily shower is more cultural habit than medical necessity.”

To be clear, I’m not suggesting you should give up showering altogether or consider a once-a-week strategy. This would not only be even more harmful to your skin and health, but likely offend those around you.

Showering isn’t like reapplying sunscreen, where the ideal frequency is universal (at least every two hours outside!). Instead, how often you bathe depends on several factors unique to the individual, including activity level, climate, occupation, and skin type, says dermatologist Dr. Brenden Camp, MD. Here’s how to tell what’s right for you.

Signs You’re Showering Too Much

Just like washing your hair, overshowering can be seriously detrimental to your skin. According to dermatologist Dr. Danny Guo, MD, showering too often—especially with hot water—can lead to dry skin, irritation, itch, and flaring of skin conditions like eczema. This is because it strips the protective oils of the skin, weakening the skin barrier—and the hotter the water, the more it strips your skin, Dr. Guo says.

A lot of this comes down to lifestyle, specifically how active you are. For most healthy adults with sedentary to moderately active lifestyles, showering every other day is enough, as long as you wash your armpits, groin, and feet with a gentle cleanser on off days, Dr. Khan says.

If you exercise (read: get sweaty) most days, you’ll need to shower daily to wash away sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria. But try to keep it short (ten minutes tops), use lukewarm water, and be sure to moisturize afterward to help minimize the risk of drying.

Dr. Khan adds that older men may also want to shower less frequently, as aging skin produces less sebum and has a thinner, more fragile epidermis. The same goes if you live in a cold, dry climate, because low humidity already stresses the skin barrier.

Signs You’re Not Showering Enough

All that being said, you also don’t want to overcorrect and forgo bathing too often. Look, as someone who regularly spends time on the New York City subway, I can confirm that if you avoid showering, it’ll be noticeable—and unpleasant. But there is more to worry about than your scent when it comes to missing showers.

Skipping showers too often can lead to clogged pores, body acne, irritated skin, and a buildup of sweat, oil, and dead skin that leaves your skin looking dull and can encourage bacteria and fungi to thrive, Dr. Camp says. This is especially true for those who are physically active, work outdoors, work in dirty or occupationally hazardous environments, or live in hot, humid climates, Dr. Khan says.

Skipping showers for too long lets sweat, oil, dead skin, and dirt build up, which can trigger body acne—thanks to the clogged pores—especially under tight clothing. That buildup also creates the warm, damp conditions bacteria and fungi love, increasing your risk of itchy rashes and skin infections, Dr. Khan says. On top of that, all those dead skin cells can leave your skin looking dull instead of fresh. So, to be clear, it’s still important to shower regularly. It ultimately comes down to lifestyle.

Dr. Guo adds that while showering too often can strip your skin’s natural oils and weaken its barrier—making issues like acne, rosacea, and dry skin worse—not showering enough can also aggravate body acne by letting sweat, oil, and dead skin build up. If you have oily skin, waiting too long between showers can also encourage the yeast that causes fungal acne and other skin conditions to grow, he says.

In other words, showering isn’t a competition. If you’re active, sweaty, or dirty, hop in. If you’re not, your skin might actually appreciate the occasional day off.

Products for a Better Shower

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Aziz Khan, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology Partners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Dr. Danny Guo, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist.
• Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, NY.

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