Gregory Robinson
Sharing shower habits on social media is all the rage, mostly because people just can’t seem to agree on the ideal way to do it.
Whether it’s the bits and bobs you ignore when showering, like Taylor Swift who doesn’t wash her legs in the shower, or how many showers one should have each week, everyone has an opinion.
And now a new debate has been sparked about what you should use to clean your body, or if you should use anything at all.
A Reddit thread asked the internet: “Is washing your body in the shower with your hands really that bad?”
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People weighed in with surprising answers.
One Reddit user said they saw a post on X about a popular live streamer who said he washes his body with just his hands, but all the comments in response to this were ‘clowning on him’.
Another said it 'would feel super weird' to wash their body with their hands.
They went on to explain that they decided to switch to just using their hands after realising they were supposed to clean their loofah, which they had not been doing.
In the responses, another Reddit user opined: “I get that some people have skin that needs regular exfoliation. But I find it annoying that some people act like using your hands is gross.”
However, a third said: “I use a cloth/mitt as I use less soap or gel than using my hands.”
And a fourth added that it 'would feel super weird' to use their hands, but said they thought it was 'just what one is raised with'.
A lot of concerns were raised about using a loofah or hands and which option is more hygienic.
Specialist registered consultant dermatologist Dr Karishma Hemmady at Stratum Clinics told Tyla: “I don’t usually advocate the use of loofahs as it can cause skin infections. Loofahs can spread germs if not properly maintained."
Dr. Hemmady says loofahs, 'provide a moist warm environment which is ideal for bacteria and mould to thrive' and highlights the dead skin cells that accumulate in them.
"Using a contaminated loofah can potentially transfer bacteria and fungi to your skin, which can cause infections, especially if you have any cuts or abrasions.
"It is better to use your hands for cleaning your skin as it prevents the infection spread from moist loofahs and also makes it easier to regulate the pressure applied to the skin while cleansing hence preventing abrasions to the skin.”
She adds: “If you do decide to use them, loofahs should be changed regularly to maintain hygiene.
"The general recommendation is to replace a loofah every three to four weeks if it's natural and every two months if it's made of plastic."
Meanwhile, board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin founder Dr. Joel Schlessinger shared advice for the people who opt for a washcloth over a loofah.
“The best way to wash your body with a washcloth is by using a gentle touch, don’t scrub your skin too hard and avoid rubbing body acne or other skin irritations,” he said on LovelySkin.com.
“And as a rule of thumb, never share washcloths and change out your washcloth every single day.”
It’s also fine to use your hands, according to Dr. Schlessinger, who also noted that hands are not very good at exfoliating.
However, using your hands to wash your body should not be ruled out, and he even recommends using circular motions.
“Using your hands is perfectly fine as long as you wash them first to avoid spreading bacteria.”