Could Bathing Have Negative Effects on Your Health?
Written by Susan Parker | Updated on June 22, 2025
Reviewed by Susan Parker
11 sources cited
Overview
Have your personal cleanliness routines shifted since the start of the pandemic? It appears that many people have made adjustments. According to a report by The New York Times, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to some Americans adopting a more minimalist approach to bathing. While this decline in hygiene practices may be off-putting to some, it might be worth reconsidering. Recent studies indicate that those who are less enthusiastic about bathing could be onto something. Our bodies harbor a multitude of bacteria. The significance of bacteria in the gut microbiome and its impact on health and disease have been extensively studied over the past decade. However, there is another intricate and diverse ecosystem that also houses trillions of bacteria. This ecosystem may be just as crucial as the gut microbiome, particularly because it encompasses our largest organ - the skin.Excessive Bathing Could Harm Your Well-being
By constantly eliminating various bacterial, fungal, and viral species with soap, we run the risk of compromising our immune system, increasing susceptibility to allergies, and worsening - or even causing - skin conditions. One doctor has embraced this concept, abandoned the routine use of soap, and claims that his skin has never been healthier. James Hamblin, a lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health and the author of Clean: The New Science of Skin and The Beauty of Doing Less, only uses soap to wash his hands multiple times a day. Apart from that, he has stopped using shampoo, conditioner, soap, exfoliants, moisturizers, and deodorants. Dr. Hamblin writes, "The majority of microbes on our skin appear to be not only harmless but also essential for the skin's function and, consequently, for our immune systems." The most prevalent microbes we carry are mites.You Harbor Mites... and that's Beneficial
Demodex are tiny creatures measuring half a millimeter in length, possessing four pairs of legs, and residing deep within our pores, including those on our faces. Biologist Michelle Trautwein explains, "They are a common aspect of human existence." Demodex feed on dead skin cells and serve as a natural exfoliant for our skin. Another beneficial microbe is a type of fungus commonly found on the feet, known as Bacillus subtilis, which produces substances that are lethal to fungi causing infections like athlete's foot and toenail fungus. Additionally, Staphylococci release compounds that inhibit the colonization of other microbes. There are also bacteria that consume skin oils and release acids to maintain the skin's ideal pH levels. Research conducted on mice even suggests that a skin bacterium may help prevent skin cancer.Vigorous Scrubbing Might Trigger Eczema
Dr. Hamblin discussed various topics for his book, including a conversation with microbiologist and dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki. Dr. Skotnicki mentioned that she often advises her male patients against using shower gel all over their bodies and recommends focusing on washing only the underarms, groin, and feet. By following this advice, the condition of the skin outside these areas improves. Excessive washing removes natural oils, leaving the skin drier and more porous, increasing the likelihood of reactions to irritants and allergens. She believes this raises the risk of flare-ups in individuals with eczema. Alterations in the microbial community can activate the immune system, leading to rapid proliferation of skin cells and the accumulation of inflammatory proteins. She speculates, "Could excessive washing actually be a contributing factor to the development of eczema in society?" Julie Segre, from the National Institutes of Health, the first individual to map the skin microbiome, concurs that we tend to overuse soaps. Conditions like eczema and acne "are clearly linked to microbial imbalances," she affirms. In an article published in 2012, she emphasized the importance of microbes by stating that the microbes on and within us contribute to genetic diversity, influence disease development, are vital for immunity, and affect metabolism and drug interactions. If you find this information challenging to accept, Dr. Hamblin reminds you of a medical truth...Cleanliness and Hygiene are Not Synonymous
Dr. Hamblin contends that when we cleanse, bathe, and apply skincare products, we are essentially participating in recreational and social practices unrelated to good hygiene. "I'm not here to criticize anyone. Some individuals are passionate about beauty. If someone has the resources, time, and enjoys these cleansing rituals, that's their prerogative. However, these practices are not synonymous with health or disease prevention." One of the experts Dr. Hamblin interviewed for his book was a chemical engineer who had not used soap in 15 years, although Dr. Hamblin has not gone to such extremes. "I prefer brief, lukewarm showers using only water. It provides a rinse, tames my hair, and establishes a distinction between day and night, particularly in these pandemic times." While his routine may differ from ours, perhaps we should all contemplate adopting a similar approach to washing - or at the very least, reducing soap usage. Our skin's microbiome would likely benefit from this change.- Read more on The New York Times
- Find out on The Telegraph
- Clean: The New Science of Skin by James Hamblin The Bodley Head 2020
