Nearly 40°C in some regions of France this week. Faced with major heat waves, the body will naturally respond by producing perspiration, which will allow regulate body temperature, in particular by evacuating excess heat. Despite this essential feature, the perspiration can nevertheless prove to be embarrassing.
And in the face of high heat, you might be tempted to increase your number of daily showers. But is it really necessary, if not contraindicated? “You don’t necessarily need to shower or wash your whole body daily. If we wash too much, the hot water can dry out our skin and too many harsh soap products can irritate the skin, compromising the skin barrier.”says Dr. Sophie Shotter, member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicineat UK Glamor.
Excessive washing can also alter the microbiome of our skin, or all the cells that protect against germs and prevent the appearance of diseases. The opposite extreme – i.e. forgetting the shower for a few days – nevertheless remains to be avoided: “We can get dirty, providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and insects like lice, not to mention body odor.”continues the doctor.
More attention to be paid to the groin and armpits
But then what is the ideal frequency? “There is no one answer for everyone”, decides Dr. Shotter. According to her, the frequency of your showers will mainly depend on our activities throughout the day. “If you exercise a lot, sweat naturally or if the weather is warmer, you can shower every day, but otherwise every other day is fine, with washes of particular areas that need more attention to the skin. hygiene between the two days“, details the specialist.
These areas include thegroin and armpitswhich contain more sweat glands and therefore breed more bacteria if not washed when needed.
And what about deodorant to mask disturbing odors between two showers? “Antiperspirant is a good choice. That said, a deodorant by itself doesn’t do much – it literally means to deodorize or neutralize odors.“, she ends. So in summary, it is better to avoid the smell developing too much by washing as you sweat.
Source :
- How often should you actually shower? During this hot weather, an expert reveals when to wash, UK GlamorJuly 9, 2022
Read also:
- What not to eat (or drink) if you don’t want to sweat
- Sweating: when deodorants are no longer enough
- Heat wave: 9 signs that show that you are not drinking enough (and that you are at risk of dehydration)
