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What happens if… You just don’t wash anymore – what does that do to your body?
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Dirt under the nails, greasy hair, the smell of sweat – poor personal hygiene is a social no-go. But how does the body react if we don’t wash?
It has become common practice for people to wash themselves – regularly. And with soap too. There were times when that was out of the question at all. Completely unnecessary and exaggerated posturing! The Romans sat in bathhouses all the time, but more to chat than to wash. Louis XIV, who went down in history as the extravagant Sun King, did not believe in the purifying ability of water. He is said to have only made it into the bathtub twice in his life. Instead, he swore by the masking power of powder and perfume.
And while in the New World even hotel rooms were equipped with bathrooms early on, Europe was still considered a dingy, smelly juggernaut in the 19th century. Those times are over. For the most part. A certain level of personal hygiene is now part of social interaction; most Germans shower every day. Personal hygiene is extremely important. This goes so far that some people literally celebrate daily washing and use a whole arsenal of different products. 15 billion euros are invested in personal care products every year in this country.
Does that really have to be the case?
What would happen if we just stopped washing? Would the body gradually perish in its own filth and stench?
04. November 2024,16:11
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Poor personal hygiene has these effects
- Odor
No surprise: a person who doesn’t wash will eventually stink. This is mainly due to two things. On the one hand, dead skin accumulates on the body. This contains a protein that smells unpleasant. There is also a combination of sweat and bacteria. Although sweat itself does not smell, when it combines with the bacteria that naturally occur on the surface of our skin, molecules develop through their digestive process. Organic acids are formed. Butyric acid and formic acid are particularly odorous. Studies have shown that odors develop most quickly in the armpits. Sometimes more than a million bacteria live there per square centimeter. - rash
The skin itches, becomes red, burns and hurts – a rash. This can also be a result of poor personal hygiene. Rashes often come on quickly and spread just as quickly. The more dirt and bacteria on the skin also means that the hair follicles are more sensitive and become inflamed more quickly. This increases the risk of acne. - clumping
Skin that is not washed becomes greasy – especially at the beginning. In combination with dead skin, lumps can form. These will turn brown over time. The reason for this is contact with dirt particles and pollutants. - Risk of infection
The longer a body is unwashed, the greater the risk of infection due to the increased bacterial and fungal infestation. Even small abrasions and cracks can be an entry point for microorganisms. - itching
If your hair hangs from your head in greasy strands, it’s clear that it’s been a while since you last washed your hair. If you don’t remove dead skin and dirt from your hair for a long time, you don’t just have to expect dandruff. Severe itching on the head is also a result of poor hygiene. - Athlete’s foot
Feet that are not washed form a great base for fungi over time – thanks to dirt, bacteria and sweat. Athlete’s foot can cause the skin to itch, burn, and peel.
The skin actually has self-cleaning mechanisms, starting with the acid mantle, which protects against unwanted pathogens, through to skin flaking. Any intervention with soap etc. disrupts these natural processes. Washing too often and too warm can end up causing similar symptoms to poor personal hygiene: the skin can dry out and the risk of redness, itching or eczema increases.
In an interview with “Deutschlandfunk Nova”, dermatologist Yael Adler advocates not overdoing hygiene. She says: “If you were to ask the skin: Skin, when do you want to have a shower or bath next? Then it would think for a long time and say: I don’t know, maybe next week? Because the skin doesn’t need that level of hygiene. “
So how much washing makes sense? There is no rule of thumb for this. This varies from person to person. However, people with oily skin who sweat a lot usually need more washing than people with dry skin.
03. May 2024, 23:13
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Not too much, not too little: how to do personal hygiene properly?
It is recommended to stick to the so-called 3-K rule.
- Kcold water: Bad news for those who take hot showers; if you shower or bathe too hot, you put a strain on the skin’s protective acid mantle. A temperature of around 38 degrees is better.
- KTake a quick shower or bath: extensive splashing around is rather detrimental to skin health. It is recommended that you shower no longer than three minutes and bathe no longer than 30 minutes.
- KUse soap and other personal care products in moderation. Only five parts of the body need to be treated with soap. These are areas rich in sebaceous glands and those that get a lot of dirt – hands, armpits, feet, the middle of the chest and back. A skin-neutral care product for washing is recommended. Pure water is sufficient for the rest of the body; soap treatment is usually not necessary.
+++ More from the series “What happens if …” +++
How does neglecting personal hygiene impact long-term mental health and self-esteem?
How can poor personal hygiene lead to health problems, and what steps can individuals take to maintain proper hygiene without overdoing it? What are the potential consequences of disrupting the skin’s natural balance with frequent washing and harsh soaps? Can neglecting personal hygiene have long-term effects on physical appearance and mental well-being? What is the recommended frequency and duration of showering or bathing to minimize these risks? How can individuals identify when it’s time to clean different areas of their body, such as the hair or feet, and what products should be used sparingly or avoided altogether? How can we strike a balance between maintaining cleanliness and preserving the skin’s healthy barrier function? How can individuals adapt their personal hygiene routines to their specific skin type or activity level?
