But is there a magic number of times you should hop under the spray, be it a quick wash or luxurious lather? Here’s what the derms say. Of course, it entirely depends on your lifestyle habits and schedule. To start, there are a few factors to consider: On a similar beat, consider the water in your area: “If you live in an area of hard water, where there is a lot of calcium and other minerals in the water, you may want to limit showering,” says Ciraldo. Hard water can be super drying, and frequently exposing your skin (especially if it’s already prone to dryness) can make those conditions worse. You may even want to shower morning and night, says Ciraldo, if you find yourself out and about throughout the day. Sweat can feel a little dirty, yes, but think about the other ways you expose yourself to bacteria and pollutants: “People who work out at the gym or have a physically challenging job that exposes them to dirty environments may want to shower twice a day,” Ciraldo explains. Even if you have super-dry or eczema-prone skin, you’ll still want to hop under the running water—just make sure it’s not too hot. Hot water can dry the skin further; rather, “take lengthy showers in tepid water, staying under the water until your fingertips get wrinkled,” says Ciraldo. “This is a sign that you have tremendously rehydrated your skin.” Then just pat dry and apply an occlusive agent to seal in the moisture—you should be good to go. On the other hand, if you have oily skin and are prone to body breakouts (especially on your chest and back), you may need to cleanse quite frequently. “Take a cool shower after working out or after any other activities where you may be sweating,” says Ciraldo. If you have no specific skin issues (and you’re not an athlete or need a good after-work shower), Ciraldo says you can pretty much shower—or not—as often as you like; see what works best for your skin type and experiment. Even if you aren’t showering every day, be sure to steer clear of soaps with sulfates or are heavily fragranced fragrance: “These can irritate and dry out even normal skin,” Ciraldo adds. But if we had to choose a camp, it’s the nighttime. Showering at the end of the day can help wash off bacteria and sweat—both of which can lead to clogged pores and oxidative stress. Don’t worry: Even a simple rinse with water can suffice, focusing on sweatier places (like the underarm and groin area) with cleanser, if lathering up daily is too drying for your skin. As always, do what works best for your body: If the plethora of shower-time debates has anything to say for it, it’s that there’s no one right answer.
