See What Happens When You Don't Shower for Two Days

It's not pleasant.
Having a shower is a daily routine for most of us, but if you've ever been tempted to skip your body-washing session when you're rushed for time one morning, you might want to think again.

According to an article published by TwentyTwoWords, there are a number of pretty gross things that happen to your body when you skip showering for two days straight. The first problem comes down to bacteria.


Humans carry around 1,000 types of bacteria around with them, including 40 types of fungus, reports the website. While most of these are actually good for us, it needs help fighting off the bad bacteria from soap.

"You can't contain the bad bacteria if you don't shower," the site explains. "And if they find their way to your eyes, nose, or mouth, you can get sick."

Bacteria is also the cause of body odor. In fact, the gases given off by bacteria can reportedly lead to around 30 nasty smells from one body. Lovely.

And if that isn't enough to make you take showering seriously, there's another great reason to keep clean, as it's also vital for healthy skin. Showering helps to keep skin blemish-free by preventing oils in the skin from building up, which is particularly important if you regularly work out.

"Keeping moist, salty sweat soaked clothing close to your skin for long periods after working out leads to irritation and the increased risk of small abrasions or skin breakdown," Holly L. Phillips, M.D., a women's health physician told Women's Health. "This can raise your risk of bacterial and fungal infections, like staph bacteria or the fungus that causes jock itch."

If you really must skip a shower, Phillips says it's essential to change out of your gym clothes and dermatologists recommend to always keep the armpits, groin and face clean, as these areas are said to be especially prone to attracting bacteria.

However, fans of really long showers will be disappointed hear these don't do your skin any good either. Too much shower time can strip the oils from your body, which can leave your skin feeling dry and flaky. On the plus side, no one will complain about your funky smell.