The French spend “far too much” time in the shower, according to dermatologists.
At the risk of ruining the mood if you’re the type to stay in the shower for 15 minutes and hum the entire Celine Dion repertoire, you’re going to have to shorten the time you spend in the cabin. Of course, showers that are too long are really bad from an ecological and economic point of view. But what is less well known is that they are also bad for your health.
According to a survey reported by the daily Ocean Pressthe average shower time for a French person is 9 minutes and 25 seconds. 15% luxuriate in the shower for more than 15 minutes. “It’s way too much” dermatologists agree.When you shower for too long, you remove a large part of the skin’s protective hydrolipidic film and eliminate the “good” bacteria and other microorganisms that protect it., enough to unbalance your skin’s natural defense mechanisms, Dr. Sylvie Meaume, dermatologist and Head of the Geriatrics, Wounds and Healing Department (AP-HP Rothschild), explained to us in a previous interview. There is therefore a greater risk of dryness, irritation, itchy skin and eczema.” Also, dry, cracked skin allows bacteria and allergens to pass through the barrier that the skin is supposed to provide, leading to skin infections and allergic reactions.
“There are other reasons why you might lose enthusiasm for a long daily shower: the water we wash with can contain salts, heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pesticides and other chemicals that can also cause problems.“, confirms Dr. Robert Shmerling, former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and current editor-in-chief at Harvard University (USA).
In his report published on the University website, this doctor wanted to evaluate the maximum duration of a daily shower: “Short showers of 3 to 4 minutes maximum, with lukewarm water and soap (bar soap or liquid) concentrating on the groin area, genitals, armpits and feet, are more than sufficient“, he formalizes.
As a reference, “People are told to take a shower within the time of a song, to use no more than 35 L of water (compared to 100 L for a long shower and up to 300 L for a bath)”, illustrates Florence Clément, head of information for the general public at the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).