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You’re Not A Dirtbag, Daily Showers Are Actually Not Great For You

You're Not A Dirtbag, Daily Showers Are Actually Not Great For You

I have it on good authority that girls hate taking showers. I know that guys are the outwardly gross ones, but I’ve met many a man who showers twice a day, and have literally gotten into battles with roommates over who *had* to shower next.

Frankly, it’s just harder for us. For a guy, a shower is really no more difficult than washing your hands. You go in, rub some soap on your body, you get out, you dry off, and you’re good to go. For a girl, it’s a two-hour process. You have a hundred products to use while you’re in there. You have to endure the grueling process of shaving your body (why does thigh hair grow in so many different directions, though?). And then when you get out, you have to damage your hair with heat and product, when frankly, it was fine before. When all is said and done, it feels like you probably weren’t really dirty enough to warrant all this effort.

And guess what? Science says you weren’t. From Time:

“I think showering is mostly for aesthetic reasons,” says Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing. “People think they’re showering for hygiene or to be cleaner, but bacteriologically, that’s not the case.”

IN FACT, showering daily is not only unnecessary, but it’s actually bad for you. Over-bathing, especially as you age, can lead to dry, “cracked skin opens up gaps for infection-causing germs to slip through” and “may also disrupt the skin’s population of immune system-supporting bacteria.”

The recommended dose of a shower? Only once or twice a week. Experts suggest a poor man’s shower (neck, back, pussy, crack…and pits) in between so you don’t stink, but other than that, you don’t really need to be lathering up on the daily.

Warning: this study will not make you look great, but you’ll be healthy.

[via Time]

Image via Shutterstock

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Veronica Ruckh

Veronica (@VeronicaRuckh) is the Director of Total Sorority Move for Grandex, Inc. After having spent her undergraduate years drinking $4 double LITs on a patio and drunk texting away potential suitors, she managed to graduate with an impressive GPA and an unimpressive engagement ring -- so unimpressive, in fact, some might say it's not there at all. Veronica has since been fulfilling her duties as "America's big," a title she gave to herself with the help of her giant ego. She has recently switched from vodka to wine on weekdays. Email her at [email protected]

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