Question for child health experts: Does a tween/teen HAVE TO shower every single day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think what everyone is trying to say is that while it may not be “medically necessary” is is socially/culturally necessary as a teen in the US. Even if no one says anything to her, if she is routinely going 3 days without a shower, people notice. I would see this as a sign of depression, anxiety, adhd, laziness, or some other mental health issue that manifests in not caring about hygiene. This is not normal behavior for a 15 yr old girl.

It's different than what I do = not normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily showering is NOT necessary for good health for most people, and in fact is likely undermining good health in some cases - never mind the waste of water and energy involved. This is entirely an American thing, we have been brainwashed by advertising of products we don’t need to be clean and healthy.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/showering-daily-is-it-necessary-2019062617193

Thank you! It varies from person to person, as some people are naturally sweatier and smellier than others, but many many people do not need to shower daily.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/02/03/science-explains-why-some-people-are-naturally-smellier-than-others/?sh=fc1d81946c17

Showering daily is all positive. Skipping a shower has plenty of downsides. You don't smell as sweet as you think. And even if your body might not be stinky, your hair will give you away.

No, it's not all positive. from the Harvard article, reasons against daily showering:

*Skin may become dry, irritated, or itchy.
*Dry, cracked skin may allow bacteria and allergens to breach the barrier skin is supposed to provide, allowing skin infections and allergic reactions to occur.
*Antibacterial soaps can actually kill off normal bacteria. This upsets the balance of microorganisms on the skin and encourages the emergence of hardier, less friendly organisms that are more resistant to antibiotics.
*Our immune systems need a certain amount of stimulation by normal microorganisms, dirt, and other environmental exposures in order to create protective antibodies and "immune memory." This is one reason why some pediatricians and dermatologists recommend against daily baths for kids. Frequent baths or showers throughout a lifetime may reduce the ability of the immune system to do its job.
*And there could be other reasons to lose your enthusiasm for the daily shower: the water with which we clean ourselves may contain salts, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, and other chemicals. It's possible these may cause problems, too.

Please by all means, shower daily if you really believe in that, but to say it is the only way others should behave is not right, and it's certainly got great for the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many people here are acting as though there are only two options - shower daily or stink.

That’s ridiculous.

Most of the odor created by the human body comes from pits and privates. On the days a person doesn’t shower, of course they should wash their pits and privates - leaving all the other non-smelly areas of skin free from over washing and drying out. Dry shampoo works wonders for hair that is a little too shiny between washes.

Honestly some of you are obsessive to an unhealthy degree.

And most definitely the therapist was WAY out of line to suggest to a 15 year old patient that there is something wrong with her for showering every other day.

A lazy teen that doesn’t feel like showering is definitely not going to be washing their pits and privates at the sink. Get real.

This. I myself am not sure how I would thoroughly wash my pits and privates without getting into thw shower or making a big mess of the bathroom.

How about body wipes? Or wet face cloth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens and adults I know who only shower every other day or third day do in fact smell. They think they don’t, but they do.

Didn't take you long. You must have an alert set for shower posts.

Admit it, you're the 3 times a day underwear changer.

OP, it's perfectly fine to not shower every day. Ignore these nutjobs.

Look, just because you are nose blind to your own pungent funk doesn't mean others don't notice it.

DP here. I have one teen that needs a daily shower and one that doesn’t. Sorry nuance is hard for you.

Just says one of your kids is inactive and lazy.

Jesus woman. You are a massive b1tch.

x1 million

WTF is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

Every other day is probably okay in the winter if they aren’t in a sport. But a lot of teens struggle with hygiene so pushing them to shower daily knowing that they may end up skipping a day bc they are too tired or sleep in etc is better than telling them every 3rd day is ok when that can stretch out more days. For girls they need a shower cap bc sometimes it’s dealing with hair that’s time intensive.

Being shocked about not showering daily is a bit weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily showering is NOT necessary for good health for most people, and in fact is likely undermining good health in some cases - never mind the waste of water and energy involved. This is entirely an American thing, we have been brainwashed by advertising of products we don’t need to be clean and healthy.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/showering-daily-is-it-necessary-2019062617193

Thank you! It varies from person to person, as some people are naturally sweatier and smellier than others, but many many people do not need to shower daily.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/02/03/science-explains-why-some-people-are-naturally-smellier-than-others/?sh=fc1d81946c17

Showering daily is all positive. Skipping a shower has plenty of downsides. You don't smell as sweet as you think. And even if your body might not be stinky, your hair will give you away.

No, it's not all positive. from the Harvard article, reasons against daily showering:

*Skin may become dry, irritated, or itchy.
*Dry, cracked skin may allow bacteria and allergens to breach the barrier skin is supposed to provide, allowing skin infections and allergic reactions to occur.
*Antibacterial soaps can actually kill off normal bacteria. This upsets the balance of microorganisms on the skin and encourages the emergence of hardier, less friendly organisms that are more resistant to antibiotics.
*Our immune systems need a certain amount of stimulation by normal microorganisms, dirt, and other environmental exposures in order to create protective antibodies and "immune memory." This is one reason why some pediatricians and dermatologists recommend against daily baths for kids. Frequent baths or showers throughout a lifetime may reduce the ability of the immune system to do its job.
*And there could be other reasons to lose your enthusiasm for the daily shower: the water with which we clean ourselves may contain salts, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, and other chemicals. It's possible these may cause problems, too.

Please by all means, shower daily if you really believe in that, but to say it is the only way others should behave is not right, and it's certainly got great for the environment.

Sorry, derms recoomend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens and adults I know who only shower every other day or third day do in fact smell. They think they don’t, but they do.

Didn't take you long. You must have an alert set for shower posts.

Admit it, you're the 3 times a day underwear changer.

OP, it's perfectly fine to not shower every day. Ignore these nutjobs.

Look, just because you are nose blind to your own pungent funk doesn't mean others don't notice it.

DP here. I have one teen that needs a daily shower and one that doesn’t. Sorry nuance is hard for you.

Just says one of your kids is inactive and lazy.

Jesus woman. You are a massive b1tch.

x1 million

WTF is wrong with you?

Facts. If you are sweating then shower. Get some exercise it will help you! Many more benefits than being so lazy you never break a sweat and would rarely need a shower. That is nothing to brag about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens and adults I know who only shower every other day or third day do in fact smell. They think they don’t, but they do.

Didn't take you long. You must have an alert set for shower posts.

Admit it, you're the 3 times a day underwear changer.

OP, it's perfectly fine to not shower every day. Ignore these nutjobs.

Look, just because you are nose blind to your own pungent funk doesn't mean others don't notice it.

DP here. I have one teen that needs a daily shower and one that doesn’t. Sorry nuance is hard for you.

Just says one of your kids is inactive and lazy.

Jesus woman. You are a massive b1tch.

x1 million

WTF is wrong with you?

Facts. If you are sweating then shower. Get some exercise it will help you! Many more benefits than being so lazy you never break a sweat and would rarely need a shower. That is nothing to brag about.

I would MUCH rather be around someone who doesn't shower daily than ever be around you. You are just horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens and adults I know who only shower every other day or third day do in fact smell. They think they don’t, but they do.

Didn't take you long. You must have an alert set for shower posts.

Admit it, you're the 3 times a day underwear changer.

OP, it's perfectly fine to not shower every day. Ignore these nutjobs.

Look, just because you are nose blind to your own pungent funk doesn't mean others don't notice it.

DP here. I have one teen that needs a daily shower and one that doesn’t. Sorry nuance is hard for you.

Just says one of your kids is inactive and lazy.

Jesus woman. You are a massive b1tch.

x1 million

WTF is wrong with you?

Facts. If you are sweating then shower. Get some exercise it will help you! Many more benefits than being so lazy you never break a sweat and would rarely need a shower. That is nothing to brag about.

I would MUCH rather be around someone who doesn't shower daily than ever be around you. You are just horrible.

Same, but people already keep a wide berth around you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really dislike this woman? Are you gathering evidence against her?

Because your reaction to her comment is bananas.

Completely disagree. This therapist is wrong and out of line. She should stay in her lane

[Anonymous]

goodness gracious. this is disgusting. teens have all kinds of odors. gender doesnt matter. showering is a must! especially boys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really dislike this woman? Are you gathering evidence against her?

Because your reaction to her comment is bananas.

Completely disagree. This therapist is wrong and out of line. She should stay in her lane

Exactly!!!! Her message and her delivery are borderline abusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the teens and adults I know who only shower every other day or third day do in fact smell. They think they don’t, but they do.

Didn't take you long. You must have an alert set for shower posts.

Admit it, you're the 3 times a day underwear changer.

OP, it's perfectly fine to not shower every day. Ignore these nutjobs.

Look, just because you are nose blind to your own pungent funk doesn't mean others don't notice it.

DP here. I have one teen that needs a daily shower and one that doesn’t. Sorry nuance is hard for you.

Just says one of your kids is inactive and lazy.

Jesus woman. You are a massive b1tch.

x1 million

WTF is wrong with you?

Facts. If you are sweating then shower. Get some exercise it will help you! Many more benefits than being so lazy you never break a sweat and would rarely need a shower. That is nothing to brag about.

NP. How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:goodness gracious. this is disgusting. teens have all kinds of odors. gender doesnt matter. showering is a must! especially boys

Wow, I hope you're a lot more filtered when talking to your teens. Some of you really need to get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Daily showering is NOT necessary for good health for most people, and in fact is likely undermining good health in some cases - never mind the waste of water and energy involved. This is entirely an American thing, we have been brainwashed by advertising of products we don’t need to be clean and healthy.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/showering-daily-is-it-necessary-2019062617193

It is the cultural norm and expectation here. In other countries, various unpleasant body odors are common place. They aren’t here and you will stand out in a negative way. Especially in a group where no one else smells, it’s obvious where the smell is coming from

So then we agree that it's not medically necessary and if there is no BO it's not culturally necessary either. I just don't give a rats ass that you think I should smell like Dove every day.

Except medical professionals DO recommend daily showering. Where did you get the idea that they don't? OP doesn't say what her qualifications are or why she was even "supporting" the teen in her OP. Maybe she should stick to her day job and not question the professionals in charge of helping said teen.

Literally from various of my doctors (dermatologists).

Stop making sweeping generalizations for something that's nothing more than a personal preference.

Please stop repeating what your dermatologist recommends for your old-lady dry skin. No one cares and it isn’t applicable here