We know how important it is to keep yourself clean. In the last few years, this idea has been reinforced to protect yourself from the deadly Coronavirus. We assume that scrubbing our bodies every day is the best way to stay clean and healthy, however, scientists have proven that excessive bathing or showering can cause more harm than good. According to one doctor, only three parts of your body need to be washed with soap on a daily basis. A quick, simple rinse on the rest of the body will do the job. The three body parts that you should consider washing every day with a good soap are your armpits, feet, and groin.
Sarah chai/Pexels | Excessive scrubbing can deprive your skin of helpful microbes
Why Is Excessive Scrubbing A Bad Idea?
Sandy Skotnicki, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto, recently told The Atlantic that excessive scrubbing of your body from head to toe may cause problems such as eczema and other skin conditions. She also said that, instead of scrubbing, it is better to focus on washing the three body parts properly.
Sarah chai/Pexels | Some soaps are too harsh and can kill the good microbes on our skin
If you scrub yourself with soap every day, you may end up destroying useful bacteria that help your microbiome to differentiate between good and bad germs. When you remove these important bacteria from your skin by washing with soap, your body’s immunity to certain viruses decreases, which puts you at a greater risk of falling sick.
Run FFWPU/Pexels | After training or working out you can simply rinse your body and wash your armpits, feet, and groin with soap
Moreover, some microbes produce vitamins in our guts to help us digest food while other microbes cover our skin to protect us from harmful microbes. In 1989, a British epidemiologist suggested that exposure to infection during the early years of life provides a good defense against allergies later in life. This idea is known as the “hygiene hypothesis.” Even if you live in a hot region you can just rinse yourself after a sweaty workout or make it a habit to rinse the body before going to bed to feel fresh!
