There’s a country where around 38% of the population does not shower every day. Research shows that, as a result of not showering every day, this 38% probably has the happiest and healthiest skin in the world. Whereas showering keeps your skin clean, and you smelling nice, apparently there is a downside to scrubbing your skin every day. You see, our skin has a very delicate top layer, known as the epidermis, that’s covered in a type of oil that protects our skin from the elements. It’s prone to wrinkling, laugh lines, tearing, cutting, grazing, you name it, it is subjected to it. Some of these things happen in the course of our daily lives, things we cannot avoid doing. But one act that really affects the epidermis is the act of washing it on a daily basis.

Daily washing can rid our skins of that vital protective layer of oil and topmost skin. But it should be noted that it’s not the act of washing per se but the way we wash. Scrubbing is bad for the skin, if you do it every day. By vigorously scrubbing you are stripping off the oil, that keeps your skin supple, as well as the uppermost layer of skin on the epidermis which can lead to various skin conditions such as eczema.

The solution, therefore, is not that you shouldn’t wash at all but that you should wash only a certain number of times a week. Many dermatologists suggest that washing three times a week is sufficient to maintain cleanliness. It gives the skin a chance to rest from the scrubbing action.

I’m sure that not everyone will agree with dermatologists when they say stick to three washes a week. Some might cringe at the thought of someone not washing every day. But to be fair, how often people wash depends largely on where they live and what they do for a living. In some countries where the temperature and humidity is high most of the year round, you feel you need to have not just one shower a day but two.

One in the morning before going out and another when you return. The same applies to people who work in a job that requires a lot of physical exertion that always results in profuse sweating.

Who wants to feel sticky all day and then not shower it off? Then there are countries that are so bitingly cold that the thought of getting in the shower might put people off, even if the water is hot. In fact, I think that people shower more frequently in hotter climates than cold ones, regardless of the sort of jobs they do.

I learnt recently, and to be honest I’m not sure I believe all of it, that many high profile celebrities claim that they do not wash so frequently. Some claim they wash only certain parts of their bodies while others do it if they see visible dirt on their skin or when they feel they start to ‘smell’ their own body odour! One celebrity claims that a wet wipe is sufficient to wipe under the arms and he’s good to go.

But are these celebrities right? We’ve heard that if you don’t wash your hair, don’t worry, it will clean itself and eventually, its texture will improve resulting in shiny locks. But unfortunately, our skin doesn’t do the same; it doesn’t clean itself. So if bathing and showering every day is your thing then if you follow some simple washing rules, your daily washing will not only get your skin clean but help keep the epidermis intact.

Dermatologists say wash with warm water, not hot, and use a gentle cleansing soap or shower gel. A once a week scrub is fine because our skin sheds dead skin cells which, if not removed regularly, will build up on the surface and clog the pores resulting in itching, spots and pimples. But, according to dermatologists, scrubbing every day is a definite no.

They also tell us not to tamper or touch your skins unnecessarily by applying lotions and potions galore because that can result in flareups.

The best thing for your skin, especially your face, is washing with just water and applying petroleum jelly afterwards.