The thought of stepping out of your warm blanket to take a shower can sound frightening in the winter. Unless it’s a burning hot shower accompanied by some karaoke during bath time. But is it really necessary to take a bath every day in this freezing cold weather? Well, the answer varies from person to person depending on different factors. So, here’s how often you should shower when the world is freezing outside and your blanket feels like heaven!

What determines the time gap between your showers?

Showering is necessary to get rid of dead skin cells, odour, and dirt from the skin. But should you be stepping in for a bath daily? Well, a normal person can usually go without taking a shower for two to three days. It is not unhealthy, and in fact, it helps in keeping the natural barrier of oils and lipids on your body intact. But here are some of the main factors that will help you determine the frequency of your baths.

1. Age

Age is one of the main factors that determine how often you should be showering. Infants don’t need daily baths and only need to be bathed once a week. Kids can also do with two showers a week if they aren’t getting dirty. But if you are a teenager, the probability of engaging in physical activity increases which means you should bathe after strenuous activities. And lastly, adults need to shower two to three times a week. That is enough to maintain acceptable levels of personal hygiene.

2. Sweat

Depending on the regularity of your physical activities and sweat, you can time your showers to stay healthy and clean. If you are someone who sweats too much, you should shower every day to protect yourself from germs and bacteria. And skipping a shower after physical activities isn’t a good idea, so get going.

3. Oil

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should stick to showering every single day. This will help you keep your sebum production under control and prevent breakouts. But if you’re not in the mood for a full-on bath on some days, you should at least wash your face with a gentle cleanser once a day.

4. Body odour

Body odour can help you determine how often you need to shower. Usually, sweat glands in the armpits and groin areas can leave you with body odour and make you feel like showering. So, sniff your underarms every now and then to know when you need to have a good, long shower. However, even if the smell is minimal, don’t go more than two days at a time without a shower.

5. Type of job

If you are working from home and don’t have a field job that gets you stinky or dirty, you can stick to showering twice or thrice a week. But if you are a chef, working in a factory, dealing with chemicals, etc, it is imperative that you take a shower daily.

6. Certain skin conditions

If you have certain skin conditions like body acne or deal with excess sweating, it is suggested to take a shower every day. Whereas if you have skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea, it is suggested to take a shower every two to three days. This will help your skin maintain its natural barrier of oils and lipids and not irritate your sensitive or dry skin.

Tips to keep your skin happy and healthy in the winter

Now that you’re aware of how often you should shower, here are some tips to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and happy in the colder months.

1. Say no to extremely hot showers

You may love the idea of taking a bath with extremely hot water to keep the cold at bay, but your skin doesn’t love it. It can irritate the skin by ripping the natural oils and leaving it dry and cracked. So, take lukewarm showers and don’t shower for more than 15 minutes.

2. Skip the harsh soaps

Usually, people rush into hot showers and use harsh soaps to give themselves a good scrubbing. This is not healthy for your skin at all as it will leave the skin dry and dehydrated. Opt for gentle cleansers that don’t have harsh chemicals in them and are skin-friendly.

3. Use a moisturiser right after your bath

Apply a hydrating moisturiser and skin oil while your skin is still damp. This will help in trapping the moisture into the skin and will keep it hydrated and nourished throughout the day. Don’t skip lathering yourself up unless you want dull, flaky, and cracked skin.

4. Dry your skin gently with a soft towel

Skip rubbing and wiping your skin as if it is made of rubber. You should always gently dab your body after a shower as it will prevent it from getting microscopic tears that can lead to redness and irritation. Use a soft fluffy towel to dry your skin.

5. Clean your loofahs

If you are using loofahs, make sure you are cleaning them and discarding them in time. Loofahs can store endless bacteria which isn’t good for your skin. And avoid using harsh loofahs that can scratch and irritate your skin.

6. Skip the skin exfoliators

You don’t need harsh skin exfoliators and scrubs, especially those DIY sugar scrubs to keep your skin healthy. They tend to cause redness, inflammation, and irritation and leave the skin dry and itchy. Stick to gentle cleansers only for the cold months.

Related: To Wash Or Not To Wash: How Often Should You Be Washing Your Hair In The Winter?