Does less washing do more?
Less is more - at least the followers of the so-called Cleansing Reduction believe. They assume that it is better for skin and hair not to wash them as often or only with water. This is to protect the natural protective coat of the skin, hair should produce less sebum and not so quickly greasy.
"Cleansing Reduction" has long been a topic in the US and the UK, and it is now being discussed more and more frequently how often one should wash oneself in this country. Our editor dared with her hair already the self-experiment and also in the community, our survey met with great interest and presented interesting results: About 34 percent of the almost 6000 participants wash their hair every other day. With 28 percent each daily hair washing and two to three times a week are the same. After all, 300 respondents said they only wash their hair a few times a month.
We have with dermatologist Dr. med. med. Asked Corinna Peter what "cleansing reduction" is all about.
is is a specialist in skin and venereal diseases. In her practice in Hamburg, she offers a hair consultation and laser therapies.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde: Does it really make sense to wash less to protect the skin flora?
Dr. med. Corinna Peter: In principle, yes. In our practice, we see many problems caused by too much washing or creaming. Healthy skin is basically able to protect itself from external influences.
From a dermatologist point of view, is there a recommendation on how often you should take a shower?
This can not be said flat rate, because it depends on many factors - the skin texture, how much you sweat, etc. I would not radicalize a trend as a way of life. You should just deal with the skin sensibly: too much is not good, but not enough.
What do you think about washing with water or seldom with soap?
Again, it depends on the external circumstances. Basically, it is good to do without shower gel, because it degreases the skin. But fat or make-up can not be removed with water alone. In these cases, soap is necessary and also good.
Are there any body regions that should be washed daily?
Hands can transmit germs. You have to wash them often, so that the hygiene is right. But you should not overdo it.
Especially for people with a tendency to pimples "Cleansing Reduction" is a big topic. Can less washing or the omission of products really lead to pure skin?
The most common cause of skin blemishes is the excessive use of creams. And the more one washes the skin and thus degreases, the more it tries to counteract in the form of sebum production. In case of bad skin a renouncement or the reduction of products can make sense.
Hair should not be so quickly greasy by not shampoo. Is that correct?
Each shampoo contains surfactants that dissolve fat. The fat is not only released from the hair, but also from the scalp. If you wash your hair every day, there is a certain habituation effect, because the sebaceous glands have to produce new fat every day. If you go over to no longer wash your hair daily, you will notice after a few weeks that the hair does not so much greasy.
Can dry shampoo be a substitute for daily shampooing?
For in between, it is certainly practical. But since many residues remain in the hair, it can not be a substitute for a proper hair wash in the long run.
