In many parts of the world, taking a shower every day tends to be the norm. However, from a strictly medical perspective, it is not necessary for most people to shower this frequently.

Personal hygiene does provide health benefits, and most people do need to shower regularly. In addition to its use for routine washing and grooming, water offers benefits relating to pain relief and treatment in the form of hydrotherapy.

Baths, steam showers, saunas, and other bathing methods can:

• improve immune function
• ease muscle aches and pains
• reduce swelling
• increase blood flow
• improve concentration
• lessen fatigue
• make it easier to breathe

To a lesser extent, spending time in the shower can have these same effects. Showering cleans the skin and removes dead skin cells to help clear the pores and allow the skin cells to function. It washes away bacteria and other irritants that could cause rashes and other skin problems.

However, the main reason why people shower as much as they do is that it helps them meet social standards of cleanliness and personal appearance. Meeting these standards helps people feel at home in their working and social environments and their bodies.

Showering in different seasons

Shortening shower time to no more than 5–10 minutes reduces the likelihood of dry skin.

In most parts of the United States, winters are colder and dryer, while the summer is hotter and more humid.

These changing environmental conditions affect the ideal showering frequency.

In the winter, cold temperatures and indoor heating both contribute to dry skin. Many dermatologists recommend that individuals change their bathing routines during the winter to protect themselves from dry skin.

The following techniques may help people reduce the likelihood of dry skin:

• Shortening shower time to no more than 5–10 minutes.
• Closing the door to the bathroom to capture the steam and increase the humidity.
• Replacing hot water and soap with warm water and gentle cleansers.
• Using the smallest amount of cleanser possible to clean the skin.
• Drying the skin gently after bathing.
• Applying plenty of an oil-based moisturizing cream or ointment within 3 minutes of showering to trap moisture in the skin.

Showering at different ages

A person’s bathing needs change throughout their life.

Babies

The American Academy of Pediatrics say that the common practice of bathing babies daily is not really necessary. They suggest that the time to start regular full body washes is when infants are crawling around and beginning to eat food.

Children

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, although daily bathing is safe for children aged 6–11 years, they only need to take a shower every few days.

Once young people hit puberty, how often they need to shower will vary from person to person. Many people suggest that daily showering is necessary at this time.

Teenagers

Many teenagers are very physically active, and showers are a good idea after strenuous sports events or practices, including swimming, working out, and other physical activities.

Older adults

The previously simple act of taking a shower can sometimes become more challenging for older adults.

Older adults may not require a shower every day to maintain the level of cleanliness necessary to protect their skin, ward off infection, and meet general standards of grooming. Taking a shower once or twice a week can often be sufficient to meet these criteria, and people can use warm washcloths in between to stay feeling fresh.

Older adults who can no longer bathe themselves can still maintain their independence by getting help with their daily activities from caregivers.

Showers and work

People who work in unhygienic conditions need to shower at the end of each of their shifts.

The type of work that people do affects how often they need to shower.

People who work at desk jobs and spend most of their time indoors do not have the same bathing needs as those who work with dangerous substances, animals, or in any jobs that people consider to be unhygienic.

Occupations that people may think of as involving “dirty work” include:

• butcher
• janitor
• exterminator
• miner
• garbage collector

People who work with corrosive materials, dangerous chemicals, disease agents, and radioactive materials need to shower at the end of each of their shifts.

Horticulturalists, arborists, amateur gardeners, and anyone who spends a significant amount of time outdoors around a variety of plants can reduce their risk of rashes and other skin injuries by showering as soon as they come indoors. Doing this will help limit their exposure to plant sap, pollens, and other potential allergens, thus reducing the risk of a reaction.

A Dutch study found that showers can reduce sick days at work, but only if they are cold showers. The researchers reported that individuals who ended their showers with at least a 30-second blast of cold water were absent 29 percent less of the time than people who did not do so.

Can you shower too much?

Showering removes bacteria from the skin, which means that it also washes off the bacteria that help the body protect itself from infection.

The soaps and shampoos that people use when showering can dry out the skin and hair, leading to cracked skin and split ends. How rapidly this happens, which affects how often a person should shower, depends on the individual’s skin type, which could be oily or dry, and the climate in which they live.

If people find that their skin feels tight after they step out of the shower, this is not a sign of being clean. Instead, it indicates that the skin is too dry.

In studies focused on hand washing, researchers found that nurses with skin damage on their hands due to frequent washing and wearing gloves harbored more infectious agents than other nurses. The researchers concluded that when the frequency of washing leads to skin damage, it is counterproductive.

Showering also has a significant effect on the environment. Soaps and shampoos, not to mention added ingredients such as microbeads in some skin care products, can make their way into groundwater, lakes, streams, and oceans. The simple act of showering depletes the vital resources of freshwater.

Takeaway

Although showering offers physical, mental, and emotional benefits, the daily shower that many people in the U.S. are in the habit of taking is probably more than most people need. Showering dries out the skin and hair, uses natural resources, and creates an additional source of water pollution.

Trying to determine how often to shower depends on finding the right balance between using natural resources respectfully and what makes a person feel good and clean and fits with their schedule.

The medical recommendation to meet basic physical and health needs is to shower once or twice a week. People working in certain types of job and those who do lots of exercise are likely to need to shower more often.

By Danielle Dresden
Last reviewed Tue 12 March 2019
Reviewed by J. Keith Fisher, M.D.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324682.php

Taking a shower may be a quick and simple activity or it may be a spa-like indulgence. Most of us rely on showering in order to feel our cleanest and freshest, but many of us don’t know fun facts about showering.

If you want to learn some interesting, shower-related facts, be sure to read our list.

1) Showers are Fairly Lengthy – People in the USA shower for thirteen minutes on average. They would like to spend more time in the shower, just relaxing, but usually don’t, perhaps because of busy schedules or concerns about wasting water. While thirteen minutes is a fairly long time, it’s safe to say that most people step out of the shower a little sooner than they’d like to.

2) Morning Showers are Common – Of course, this fact may not be that surprising. The truth is that most people shower in the morning, probably because they need to get clean before they head out to work. Current statistics show that fifty-eight percent of people take their showers in the morning. Lots of people shower later in the day, too, but the bulk of showering happens earlier, rather than later. Showering is a great way to wake up and start the day fresh!

3) People Wash Their Hair A Lot– People wash their hair 5.7 times every week. This means that most people choose to shampoo every time that they have a shower. They might skip a day, on Sunday for example, but they definitely make shampooing a part of their shower experiences most of the time. This interest in hair care helps to fuel the billion-dollar health and beauty industry!

4) People Get Pensive in the Shower – Since the shower is such a great place to relax and unwind, it makes sense that a lot of people do their best daydreaming while they are under the gentle spray. In fact, sixty-seven percent of people use their shower time to reflect, dream and plan. Showering is definitely therapeutic and it’s a good way to ponder the past, present and future!

5) People Like to Croon While They Get Clean – If you enjoy singing, there’s a sixty-three percent chance that you do some crooning in the shower. Lots of people love to sing songs as they soap up, probably because they shower is a private place to emote and to go for those hard-to-reach high notes! Singing is also a form of therapy, so never be ashamed of singing in the shower. It’s a great way to express yourself and to de-stress!

6) Women May Worry in the Shower – Many women wear a lot of hats in life. This means that they nurture others, while also taking care of any array of career and home-related tasks. For this reason, women are sixteen percent more likely to ruminate over problems and things that they need to do while they get clean. If you’re a woman and you use your shower time to think about all that you need to do, or to ponder problems in relationships, it may be time to clear your mind instead! Daydreaming or singing may help you to manage stress more effectively and to use your downtime to better effect.

7) Showering Isn’t Always a Solo Activity – People who have partners tend to be quite open about sharing their shower time with their significant others. Statistics show that seventy-three percent of men and women have partners around while they shower, shower with their partners or otherwise share their shower spaces with other people.

8) People Step Out of the Shower to Dry Themselves – While some people may towel off while they’re in the shower, after they’ve turned off the water, most vastly prefer to get dry outside of the shower stall. It’s possible that people want more space while they’re drying off, or simply associate the shower stall area with being wet. Whether your bathroom in tiny or huge, you likely step out and grab a towel, like most other people do.

9) Men Don’t Clean Shower Stalls as Much – Women who share shower spaces with guys tend to have issues which relate to their partners or male family members failing to clean their showers after usage. In fact, forty-five percent of ladies find that men don’t pull their weight in terms of cleaning showers! If you’re a guy and you haven’t been doing your share of the cleaning, it may be time to take the pressure off of her by doing a little scrubbing, rinsing and polishing.

10) Most People Wish for Bigger Showers – In the age of HGTV, we see dream homes on a regular basis and these typically have huge and glamorous shower stalls. In real life, most people don’t have these luxurious and roomy shower spaces…but they wish that they did. Forty-eight percent of people who own their own homes wish that their shower stalls were larger. A home renovation will be the best way to enjoy the ultimate shower experience.

How to Enhance Your Shower Experience

Now that you know ten fun facts about showering, you’ll see how your own shower experience compares to that of other Americans.

If you want more from every shower, consider choosing a brand-new shower head with exciting and practical features. For example, some modern shower heads offer a true spa experience, by providing different settings, from massage spray to gentle “rainfall”. It’s possible to change your mood and enhance your well-being just by choosing the perfect setting.

Also, making your bathroom more beautiful and functional may help you to enjoy showers which are more decadent and pleasurable and less workmanlike.

Energy-efficient shower heads will also help you to enjoy long showers without wasting too much water. These days, a lot of manufacturers make shower heads which provide awesome shower experiences, while also maximizing energy efficiency. There are tons of styles to choose from at an array of price points.

https://showerremedy.com/10-fun-facts-about-showering-you-probably-didnt-know/

Some people like chocolate, others vanilla. Some prefer coffee, others tea. None are wrong. None are right. It’s the same way with shower heads. Designer bathrooms of all kinds have many different styles of shower heads. Some have small nozzles for a more pointed, powerful stream, while others have a rain shower nozzle to provide more of a voluminous, rain-like experience. No option is really “better” than the other. It’s really all about personal preference.

If your personal preference is more of a powerful, massage like spray, you may wish to steer away from the rain shower nozzle. But what if we told you – you could have both?

To take the rain-like experience even further, shower heads have recently began being engineered using airstream technology. This advanced technology draws in air which is then mixed with every droplet of water emerging from the shower head, resulting in an increased volume of water – even more closely mimicking the refreshing and invigorating feel of being in a rain shower. The more voluminous drops of water also allow for an especially efficient cleanse that is still gentle and exfoliating for your skin. So, you get the best of both worlds.

Additionally, it’s most likely a rain shower head would be installed with a hand-held version, so you can get a more direct blast of water instead of standing under the rain shower head, which is all encompassing.

With the increased water flow and the added options of both a rain shower head and handheld, you will have to take increased water flow consumption into consideration. Rain shower heads are larger and produce more water, which leads to an increased need for efficient drainage. To effectively drain the water, linear drains are increasingly being used, especially in new modern luxury residences.

This is because a linear drain not only adds a functional benefit to a bathroom, but also presents a superior level of elegance. These two super-functional items – of designer quality – are being paired in gorgeous bathrooms all over the world. And why not? It’s not often when something which works so well also looks so sweet.

Unless of course, you are talking about a chocolate sundae that satisfies a sweet tooth while looking like a work of art. (Or should that be vanilla?)

http://infinitydrain.com/blog/design-next-bathroom-rain-shower/

We’re all for efficiency, but sometimes a good soak is just what your body ordered.

Here’s the truth: taking a bath is way less practical and efficient than taking a shower. It’s like taking a cross-country sleeper train when you could fly in a fraction of the time, not to mention that you’re basically floating in a mixture of your own dirt and whatever was at the bottom of the tub. Plus your fingers and toes are going to get prune-y. But sometimes the body demands a prescriptive dunk—to calm muscles, nerves, and even skin. And those are the times when filling the tub and taking it slow is absolutely necessary. Here’s your guide to knowing which of them require a good soak:

1. When Your Body Aches

For athletes and the generally achy, an Epsom-salt soak is like aspirin for the entire body. If your muscles or joints are sore, draw a hot bath and pour in some EPSOAK SPORT, or a similar Epsom mixture. The magnesium and sulfate blend reduces inflammation, speeds up the recovery time of sore muscles, and in turn helps minimize future injuries. Take one before bed, go to bed relaxed, and you may wake up the next morning feeling just as calm and pain-free.

2. When Your Skin is Parched

A hot, steamy shower can dry out your skin by stripping its natural, nourishing oils. This happens a lot in winter especially: Guys will counter the cold weather with a piping hot scrubdown, which yields dry, patchy skin. Don’t do that. Instead, take a bath with warm water and skin-soothing bath oils, like from Sisley Paris. The blend of essential oils seeps deep into your skin, hydrating the entire body.

3. When Your Mind is Racing

While bath bombs are also a skin savior, they’re just as good at calming the nerves. If you’re unfamiliar with aromatherapy, the idea is pretty simple: A smell can make you feel instantly better. It’s deeply personalized. So for some it might be lemongrass-scented candles and for others gasoline. But we’re going to endorse a petrol bath. But, imagine soaking your whole body in a pool of Lush’s lemongrass goodness, and then see if you aren’t a billion percent more soothed.

4. When Your Hair is Just Right

It is possible to shower without getting your hair wet. But there’s the splashing and the steam working against you. If it can get wrinkles out of your shirts, it can compromise a good hair day, too. Besides, if your hair is the perfect amount of oily—like a day before you really need to wash it, so that it falls in that perfectly disheveled way—then you may want to preserve the perfection and forego any rinsing. In that case, you should be taking a bath.

5. When Your Throat Needs Whiskey

Shower beers are great in theory. Most of the time you open the beer with the intent of a super chillaxed shower, then you wash, rinse, dry off, and realize you left the beer on the ledge the entire time. Now, it’s just lukewarm and slippery. If you really want to imbibe while you bathe, then do it while literally bathing. Draw a bubble bath, put some whiskey on the rocks, and soak in your own excellence.

By Adam Hurly

March 25, 2017

https://www.gq.com/story/bathing-is-better-than-showering?verso=true

PULSE ShowerSpas will be at the Remodeling Show co-located with DeckExpo, which brings together residential remodeling and building professionals from all over the country to experience the hottest products, learn the newest building techniques, and build their professional reach through fun networking events. The in-depth education program includes hands-on training and business education through live building clinics, on-floor demonstrations, and conference sessions with industry experts. Connect with industry experts and learn new skills to elevate your craft!

Where: Baltimore Convention Center, Maryland

When: October 10 & 11, 2018

Booth #1613

Check out the show’s page: https://www.remodelingdeck.com/en/home.html