Those of you who shower barehanded: Do you lather and then use your hand, or just shove the soap wherever it needs to go?

Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 513 points –
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I haven't used soap in the shower for at least five years. Only when cleaning hands, and I do use antiperspirant) I just scrub myself with my hands in the shower top to bottom. (I am bald tho).

No one has ever mentioned me smelling bad, even my current co-workers who do say it if someone is smelling.

What kind of antiperspirant are you using that doesn’t require soap to remove it? They almost always have a residue that keeps them in place that doesn’t normally just wash off.

I have some that is for sensitive skin without any additives. I just scrub my armpits really well for a bit longer under running water.

But now that you mention it, I got a new brand of antiperspirant recently that I've had issues with, so I might just need to use soap for that.

But... Why?

I had a long time of issues with my skin, and when I researched for causes I realised I was using too much soap. So I switched to soap every other day, once a week and eventually just dropped soap altogether when I found I didn't really need it. Haven't had any issues with my skin since.

You talking bar soap? Try body wash with a loofah. Stuff works great for my skin while bar soap dries the crap out of it or makes me itchy.

I love how people say this. Dude, other people will not tell you if you smell bad unless you ask fairly insistently. It’s awkward, and people would just rather ignore it than broach that awkwardness. Tell someone you work with and trust everything you have just written here, and see what they say. My bet is either you are “that smelly guy at the office” or “meh you smell kinda funky, but it’s not horrendous”. Either way: wash ya ayyssssss

My brother, I work in a kitchen. The people there do, (and have) told their fellow workers when they smell. Either when they don't shower enough, or when they use too much deodorant.

Netflix's Explained series actually does a deep dive into this on the "Your Skin" episode. Since watching the episode, I also do not use soap at all and use deodorant. The episode goes on to explain that body wash and body soap is not something doctor recommended or dermatologist recommended at all and not needed. In fact, the episode explains how soap might be doing more damage to certain skin types because it fucks with your microbiome and soap indiscriminately kills both the bad bacteria but also kills the good bacteria which typically eat the odor causing excrement from the bad bacteria on your skin. The only place recommended to wash with soap and water is your hands.

I'm also not labeled stinky or smelly either, circa the coworkers, girlfriends (including current), and other people I know. I shower after I sweat or workout, and I shower every day with only water by using an abrasive cloth to remove my old skin. On my face I use a BHA, Bio Oil, and Lotion for my face routine after scrubbing to open my pours with hot water with a microfiber cloth.

It's what works for me and I don't break out in acne or bumps or anything because my skin feels wonderfully balanced and healthy.