Cat toilet or daily shower? What is the right rhythm for bathing and being clean? Are there hard and fast rules about how often to wash? For Marie Estelle Roux, dermatologist, the key is to find the right rhythm according to our age, our lifestyle and the nature of our skin.
How often should we wash?
There are no rules about how often to shower. This sanitary practice has a simple function: to remove pollutants, dust, the sweat, the fat produced by sebum and eliminate bacteria that multiply on the skin. The regularity of the toilet depends on the age of the person, his lifestyle and his skin.
Infants and the elderly have a hydrolipidic film which regenerates less quickly than that of adolescents and adults. They produce less sebum, so they have less need to wash, especially since they have a less messy life than active people “Everyone must find their washing rhythm according to their lifestyle and their skin” recalls Marie Estelle Roux dermatologist. “As long as the objective is reached, there is no rule to impose”. This principle also works for hair.
The simplest warning to know when you are not washing enough is simply the smell of the skin. It becomes unpleasant when it harbors too many bacteria. “It is okay not to take a shower every day, however, it is important to wash the areas where bacteria proliferate, such as the armpits, feet, legs, and skin every day. hands, genitals and ears ”recalls the dermatologist.
Is there a risk in washing too much?
No, except for people with very dry skin. Indeed, washing with soap attacks the hydrolipidic barrier of the skin and destroys its natural defenses.
“People with very dry skin can protect their skin by only soaping it every other day. In fact, when you wash yourself, you eliminate the hydrolipidic film that builds the skin’s natural defenses and protects it, ”explains Marie Estelle Roux. These people must take care of their skin by applying a moisturizer after each shower, ”recalls Marie Estelle Roux.
Which product to choose for washing?
It is important to choose products without perfume and with the fewest possible ingredients such as Marseille soap but enriched with olive oil. Gentle products are preferred to respect the skin and the hair. And in any case, it is important to rehydrate them after each wash with a body and face cream and a moisturizing hair mask. The use of wipes is absolutely not recommended for cat grooming. “These products packed with preservatives are allergenic. They should only be used in extreme cases and in exceptional circumstances ”recalls Marie Estelle Roux, dermatologist.
Read also:
No poo: the “no shampoo”, a concept to shower?
Moisturizer for penis: is it really useful?
Hygiene: what is a good organic shower gel?
