Before you next take a shower, read this...

As hygiene habits have changed through lockdown, experts are noting the environmental and physical benefits of showering less

Thread ~

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/next-take-shower-read/

A YouGov survey showed our shower routines have changed significantly:

17% are showering less
1/4 wash their hair less
1/3 are less likely to put clean clothes on daily
Only 1/10 were showering more

With many still working from home, the trend could be here to stay

'The idea that we need to use soap all over our body... is not founded in any type of science' says James Hamblin, lecturer at Yale School of Public Health.

Hamblin only washes with water and occasionally wets his hair.

He still regularly washes his hands with soap

One argument for showering less centres around the skin microbiome: the trillions of micro-organisms that live on the skin’s surface.

Some microbes feed off the oils in our skin, which is stripped away when we use soap https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/next-take-shower-read/

The skin microbiome plays an important role:

Supports our immune system
Prevents pathogens entering the body
Reduces inflammation
Lessens chances of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global soap market is projected to reach £47.8 billion by 2027.

We weren’t always so addicted to bathing with soap

Regular washing only took off in the second half of the 20th century, experts believe

Now we're more conscious of hand hygiene than ever, it seems that the pandemic has pushed us back towards a more primitive way of washing.

Although we don’t know for certain it is healthier, it couldn’t hurt to save a few pounds on the water bill https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/next-take-shower-read/