How Often Should A Teenager Shower? (Explained!)

Showering is an essential part of good personal hygiene. Teenagers tend to shower once or twice per day as they are likely to engage in activities such as sports or gym workouts, which makes them sweat.

This post will discuss the recommended showering frequency for teens and answer some interesting questions about a teenager’s personal hygiene.

How Often Should A Teenager Shower?

 

Showering every day is probably a good idea. However, there is nothing wrong with skipping a day or two here and there. How often you shower depends on your level of activity. When you play soccer all day, you should not skip having a shower.

Teenagers are generally more active than other age groups, so showering should become a habit. Teens often engage in physically exerting activities such as workouts or sports. Some may even have part-time jobs after school. These activities typically involve sweating or being exposed to strong odors (like in a fast-food kitchen) which can cause an unpleasant smell if a teen does not shower or bathe. Daily showers or baths are therefore essential.

Biologically, when a person hits puberty, their sweat glands become more active, altering their sweat’s chemical composition and making their smell stronger. So, if you begin noticing strong odors, especially after your teen plays sports or does intense activities, you should encourage them to shower and get them a natural deodorant or antiperspirant.

When washing the dirt and grime off their bodies, they need to focus on their groin, armpits, face, feet, and hands. Many teens like to shower at night to wash off dirt and sweat, which also keeps their bed cleaner for longer. 

Some parents have a hard time getting their teens to shower every day. Aside from removing dirt and body odor, here are some more benefits of daily showering or bathing:

• Boosts blood circulation – Getting into a bathtub full of water improves blood circulation to various parts of your body and facilitates the repair of damaged cells. In addition, it reduces blood pressure, keeping your heart healthy.
• Gets rid of skin bacteria – When you are dirty, toxins build up on your skin. Skin bacteria feed on sweat, which can lead to body odors and infections such as rashes and acne. Showering daily helps get rid of these bacteria from your body.
• It makes you sleep better. According to studies, showering at night can help some people fall asleep easily and can be a natural way of treating insomnia.

What Happens If You Don’t Shower Enough?

If your teen is not showering enough, it can be difficult to make them understand why they should shower. Here are some things that typically happen that you can discuss with your teen if they don’t shower enough:

1. Body Odor

The main reason to shower regularly is to avoid and remove sweat and body odor from your skin. Bacteria on the skin break down protein molecules within sweat to produce body odor. Therefore, if you don’t shower after sweating, you give the bacteria a chance to make you smell bad.

2. Buildup Of Dead Skin Cells

Humans produce dead skin cells every day. These skin cells will not just fall off your skin. If left, there will be a buildup of these dead skin cells leading to irritation. 

3. Development Of Acne

A significant number of teens develop acne. If your teen has acne, insufficient showering can worsen this skin condition. The oils, makeup, and dirt usually pile up on the face as teens do their daily activities. These elements clog the pores and result in blackheads or acne.

4. Development Of Patches On Your Skin

When sweat, oils, and dirt accumulate after days of not showering or doing it infrequently, brown patches can form on the skin. This condition is known as dermatitis neglecta. So, if your teen isn’t enthusiastic about showering daily, you can ask them if they’ll fancy having brown patches on parts of their skin.

5. You Become Prone To Fungal Infections

Our skin traps dirt and toxins every day to help prevent the body from contracting dangerous diseases. But the skin cannot protect you if you let these toxins pile up. You need to shower regularly to remove the bacteria your skin picks when in the gym, subway, or other areas where you are likely to pick up bugs and bacteria. Bathing regularly enables you to remove these disease-causing organisms.

Psychological Reasons For Not Showering

If you notice that your teen isn’t showering enough, washing their hair, brushing their teeth, or wearing clean clothes, they could be battling mental conditions. Here are some common psychological reasons why your teenager might have changed or drastically reduced their personal daily hygiene routine.

1. Lack Of Energy To Get In The Shower

Refusal to shower can be an indication of a mental illness. Avoiding many activities is one of the major signs of a person who has a mental illness. Your teen will lose interest in showering or will not have the energy to do it even if they wanted to. You will also notice that they’ve stopped doing other things, such as hanging out with friends or attending events.

2. They Don’t Want To Be By Themselves

Most people with mental problems do things that help them forget what’s bothering them. For instance, if your teen has low self-esteem, they will not want to be alone in the shower and think about how worthless they are. Most will prefer doing more exciting things like playing video games which allow them to forget the bad thoughts. Also, if they underwent traumatic experiences like physical or sexual assault, they probably wouldn’t want the insecurity or anxiety brought about by being alone in the shower.

3. They Feel Showering Doesn’t Help

Teens who can’t find ways to deal with their mental health issues may resort to not showering because they feel it won’t benefit them. Showering is all about removing the dirt and grime on your body but won’t wash away the psychological “dirt.” Showering reminds such teens that they still have a lot of issues they need to deal with. For this reason, your teen may dread regular showers.

How To Convince Someone To Take A Shower

If your teenager is not showering enough, you shouldn’t insult or shame them. As we have seen above, there could be multiple reasons why they don’t clean their bodies. Here are some tactics to get your stubborn teen to maintain good personal hygiene:

1. Be a good example

Kids usually follow what you do, not what you tell them. So, ensure you maintain good personal hygiene habits such as showering daily and flossing. Your teens learn by following your regular routine.

2. Explain the benefits of showering daily

If your teen hates showering daily, even when they do intense activities during the day, you need to tell them the benefits of regular showers. When your teen understands the advantages of showering often, they might start taking it more seriously.

3. Don’t wait until they are teens

Changing a habit can be difficult. If your kid is used to poor hygiene standards, you will find it challenging to make them change. So, start talking about hygiene early as possible to carry the habit to their teenage years.

4. Don’t push them too hard

Teenagers usually feel they are grown-ups and often want to be treated as adults. That means not being too hard on them. Teens are typically rebels. If your reaction to a habit you don’t like is condescending, they will probably keep it to annoy you further. When you notice they are not showering enough, gently ask them to shower more often. Hopefully, they’ll change their bad hygiene habit quickly. 

5. Seek professional help

In some instances, kids won’t listen to you however much you try to make them see the advantages of showering regularly. If this is the case, seek the help of a reputable pediatrician or licensed psychologist.

Related Questions About Showering For Teens

Here are answers to some common questions about showering for teens:

Can you shower too much?

Yes, you can shower too much. Dr. C. Brandon Mitchell, an assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University, believes that most people over-bathe.  If you shower too often, and on days when you are not sweaty and dirty, you can wash away healthy bacteria and oils, leading to flaky, dry skin and could trigger itching. Avoid showering too frequently as it can break down the skin barrier. Dry, cracked skin can let in bacteria. Showering too much can also cause flare-ups of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Should you shower less if you have dry skin?

Experts recommend not showering too much if you have dry skin. People with dry skin should only shower enough to keep them clean and remove unpleasant odors since excessive showering causes irritation and inflammation. They should only take 5 minutes or less when showering and avoid showing with hot water.

Is it normal for teenagers to not shower?

Some teenagers shower a lot, while others might not shower because they’re lazy and would rather be doing something else. They may also not be interested in good hygiene. However, some teens may lack the energy and interest to shower mainly due to mental issues such as depression. It is vital to investigate the real reason your teen refuses to shower and find ways to help them maintain good hygiene.

Is a 20 minute shower too long?

Health experts agree that showering for 20 minutes is too long because it can lead to skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. The recommended showering duration is 5-10 minutes. Even if you enjoy the feel of the warm water, avoid spending too much time in the shower.

What do you call someone who doesn’t shower?

People who don’t shower are referred to as ablutophobic. Ablutophobia is a disorder that induces fear of showering, bathing, or washing. People can become ablutophobic for various reasons. For instance, people who have faced traumatic experiences involving water can develop a fear of showering.

Why does my daughter not want to shower?

Your daughter could refuse to bathe or shower because they don’t understand the benefits of good hygiene or simply prefer doing other activities. However, your daughter’s refusal to shower could indicate a mental health issue such as depression or having experienced trauma, which makes them lack the energy to shower.

Teenage Hygiene Tips

Teenagers are usually physically active, so they need to maintain proper hygiene habits such as bathing daily or showering. This helps teens avoid skin diseases and remove body odor. Let’s discuss some basic teen hygiene tips.

How often should teens wash their hair?

Teens should wash their hair when it looks greasy or smells unpleasant. Washing their hair daily or every other day will help control oily hair. During puberty, the sebaceous glands in teenagers produce excessive oil, making their hair greasy, shiny, or oily more frequently, so teens should strive to wash their hair when needed. Washing every 2-3 days is acceptable if your teen has healthy hair.

How often should teens wash their face?

Teens with normal skin should wash their faces in the morning and night. Teens with oily or acne-prone skin might need to wash their face 2-3 times per day. Children in puberty produce more sebum, so there are the most likely to have oily skin and acne. Washing your face frequently unblocks your pores and prevents skin conditions such as acne from getting worse.

🤓 You might also find the post Best Face Wash For Teen Boys a useful read.

How often should teens shower if they play sport?

Playing sports involves heavy sweating, which causes body odors. Sweat can also combine with bacteria and oils, blocking the pores and causing skin conditions. Experts recommend that teens who play sports should shower daily.

Should teens use deodorant or antiperspirant?

When kids hit puberty, you may notice that they tend to have a strong smell, especially after engaging in intense activities. Some kids realize this and become self-conscious, which can lower their self-esteem. Teens can use deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent body odor throughout the day.

🤓 You might also find the post Best Deodorant For Teen Boys an interesting read. 

How often should teens change their clothes?

Teens should change their clothes daily. During puberty, kids sweat more, and wearing the same clothes again causes bad smells. This can also lead to itchy skin and skin disorders when bacteria from the already-worn clothes rub on the skin.

How do teens prevent acne?

The most common way teens can prevent acne is to wash their face with soap and water. Over-the-counter medication, especially those with benzoyl peroxide, can also help prevent acne in some kids. Showering after exercising is another excellent way to prevent acne development.

In a previous post, I share the best acne face wash for teen boys, whether they have normal, oily, acne-prone, dry, or sensitive skin.

How often should teen boys shave?

Teen boys should shave depending on how fast their facial hair grows. In the beginning, they may only need to shave every couple of weeks. They should avoid shaving too often as this can cause irritation. As they become older and their beards become fuller, teenage boys can start shaving more often as they need to. Teen boys need to learn how to shave correctly to avoid cutting themselves or damaging their skin.

🤓 Suggested reading: How To Teach A Kid To Shave – Tips & Tools For Boys & Girls 

How often should teen girls shave?

Teenage girls can begin shaving once or twice a week. When teen girls first start shaving, they should only do it when necessary because the hair will not be thick. Remember, shaving removes a layer of skin cells, so it’s crucial to wait a day or two if you shave more frequently.

How often should teens brush their teeth?

The rule of thumb is to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for teens. They should brush their teeth immediately after they wake up in the morning and before going to bed. Brushing teeth frequently helps your teen maintain good dental hygiene. Flossing should also be part of their hygiene routine.

How often should I wash my black daughter’s hair?

You should wash your black daughter’s hair once every two weeks or every 7 to 10 days using a gentle conditioner and cleansing shampoo. Natural black hair is typically dry but gets greasy when dirt builds up over time. She can also wash with just conditioner once a week, also known as co-washing. Co-washing helps moisturize the hair, making it more manageable.

When considering how often should a teenager shower, it’s best to use conventional wisdom and look at their level of physical activity, do they suffer from body odor, and is their skin healthy.

A teen’s activity level will differ from person to person, and depending on the kids ages, their daily hygiene routine will vary as well.

You should strive to have a basic hygiene discussion with your children at a young age and discuss teen hygiene issues to establish bathing guidelines early on.