--- title: Why You Don’t Need to Shower With Soap description: Repeatedly killing off the good bacteria on our skin may actually harm our immunity canonical: https://time.com/4071388/shower-body-wash-soap/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-16T13:45:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:41.048Z article:section: Health og:title: Why You Don’t Need to Shower With Soap og:description: Repeatedly killing off the good bacteria on our skin may harm our immunity og:url: https://time.com/4071388/shower-body-wash-soap/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2c76037761194e28/698868108e0601150c462d4c/shower-head-water.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3400 og:image:height: 1913 og:image:alt: shower-head-water og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Why You Don’t Need to Shower With Soap twitter:description: Repeatedly killing off the good bacteria on our skin may harm our immunity twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2c76037761194e28/698868108e0601150c462d4c/shower-head-water.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Why You Don’t Need to Shower With Soap > Sponsored content. 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All you need is a bit of water and no-rinse shampoo._ by [Lindsey Murray / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Lindsey Murray / Health.com Contributor Oct 16, 2015 1:45 PM UTC  Getty Images by [Lindsey Murray / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Lindsey Murray / Health.com Contributor Oct 16, 2015 1:45 PM UTC Most of us think of germs as ‘dirty’—and dangerous. But as you’ve probably heard, you’re crawling with bugs, and these microbes are crucial for digestion, skin health, and immunity. People now know to take it easy on antibiotics and eat lots of fermented foods, but our squeaky-clean lifestyle is still a big problem, says Robynne Chutkan, M.D., the founder of the Digestive Center for Women in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and author of _The Microbiome Solution_ ($16, [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/The-Microbiome-Solution-Radical-Inside-ebook/dp/B00RW1ZUCS/ref=as%5Fat?tag=healthcom04a-20&linkCode=as2&)). Why? Regular contact with dirt and grime teaches your microbiome how to recognize friendly germs versus foes, Dr. Chutkan explains. She gave us some tips for swapping out our super clean lifestyle for one that’s filled with more bugs. **First things first, what’s wrong with soap?** There’s a role for the occasional bar of soap when we’re particularly grubby, but a mild soap made from organic ingredients, rather than anti-bacterial soaps that are often full of harsh chemicals, is definitely the way to go. By scouring ourselves in the shower every day, we are actually stripping our skin of bacteria that keep us acne- and eczema-free. Unless you’ve just finished a Mud Run, the only places that need daily soaping are your armpits and groin. The rest of your body does fine with a rinse—even after a sweaty workout. Dirt doesn’t cause disease—but repeatedly killing off the good bacteria on our skin may actually harm our immunity. Think about that the next time you swap a little bit of dirt for some body wash. **What is one thing that most people do in terms of cleanliness that is unnecessary?** Harsh hand sanitizers! Unless you’ve been hanging out on an Ebola ward, the vast majority of microbes on your skin and hands are not virulent germs that cause serious infection; they’re harmless bacteria that won’t hurt you. ### You Asked: Your Top 10 Health Questions Answered  You Asked: Are Cleanses Healthy? Potions that claim to clear your body of toxins might sound alluring, but do they deliver? Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Eating Dessert Really That Bad For Me? Bad news for sweet-eaters—except if you end your meals with this kind of treat. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: What’s the Best Way to Whiten My Teeth? Yes, teeth whitening actually works—but here's why you have to dish out major bucks to see results. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Meditation Really Worth It? From easing stress to lowering heart disease risk, focusing your mind can do some amazing things for your body. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: What’s the Healthiest Sweetener? Take a taste of the unsettled science of sweeteners. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Should I Go Paleo? The pros and cons of eating like a caveman. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Cracking Your Knuckles Bad? Here's what really happens to your joints when you snap, crackle and pop. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Running on a Treadmill as Good as Running Outside? You'll fool your body into thinking it's outside with this one small treadmill tweak. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Does Laughing Have Real Health Benefits? Here's proof that everybody could use a belly laugh. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: What Is My Poo Telling Me? If you listen hard enough, you'll hear all kinds of health stories from #2. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME **Even during cold and flu season?** Yes, you should take a _bit_ more precaution when your co-workers are coughing and sneezing non-stop. But you still don’t need anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers; those work against bacteria, and the common cold and flu is caused by a virus. All that’s necessary during cold and flu season is regularly washing hands with all-natural soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This dislodges viruses and bacteria, so they wash down the drain, whereas antibacterial soaps expose you to antibiotics you don’t need in your life. **What are some other ways we can “live dirty” in our everyday lives?** Like I said before, rinse with just water in the tub or shower, and skip the antibacterial soaps and shampoos. Also, spending just one day on a farm can better your microbiome. So volunteer at a community garden, or simply sit in the grass at the park. Even little things can do a lot over time. Open a window in your house or car to let some good microbes in. Buy food from the farmer’s market that you know is grown in real soil, rather than produced in a factory. Try to keep in mind that in general, soil-derived microbes are good! _This interview has been edited and condensed._ [_This article originally appeared on Health.com_](http://news.health.com/2015/10/06/heres-why-you-dont-need-to-shower-with-soap/?xid=time) _More from Health.com:_ * [13 Best Foods for Your Gut Health](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20918991,00.html?xid=time) * [9 Probiotic Foods That Aren’t Yogurt](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20942743,00.html?xid=time) * [The Gentler Way to Kill Germs](http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411978,00.html?xid=time) ### 5 Horrible Habits You Need to Stop Right Now  Do Not Email First Thing in the Morning or Last Thing at Night “The former scrambles your priorities and all your plans for the day and the latter just gives you insomnia,” says Ferriss, who insists “email can wait until 10am” or after you check off at least one substantive to-do list item. Chris Pecoraro—Getty Images  Do Not Agree to Meetings or Calls With No Clear Agenda or End Time “If the desired outcome is defined clearly… and there’s an agenda listing topics–questions to cover–no meeting or call should last more than 30 minutes,” claims Ferriss, so “request them in advance so you can ‘best prepare and make good use of our time together.'” Sam Edwards—Getty Images/Caiaimage  Do Not Check Email Constantly Batch it and check it only periodically at set times (Ferriss goes for twice a day). Your inbox is analogous to a cocaine pellet dispenser, says Ferriss. Don’t be an addict. Tools like strategic use of the auto responder and Boomerang can help. Jetta Productions—Getty Images  Do Not Carry a Digital Leash 24/7 At least one day a week leave you smartphone somewhere where you can’t get easy access to it. If you’re gasping, you’re probably the type of person that most needs to do kick this particular habit. by nacoki ( MEDIA ARC )—Getty Images/Flickr RF  Do Not Let People Ramble Sounds harsh, but it’s necessary, Ferriss believes. “Small talk takes up big time,” he says, so when people start to tell you about their weekends, cut them off politely with something like “I’m in the middle of something, but what’s up?” But be aware, not everyone agrees with this one (and certainly not in every situation), and you may want to pay particularly close attention to norms around chit chat when traveling internationally. 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