Five parts of the body that we don’t usually clean. Doctor: This is the real hotbed of bacteria

How often should you shower? The dispute on this topic continues. “Overall, we live in a society that washes excessively,” says dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner. On the other hand, there are body parts that many people overlook when bathing. Doctors point out five that we should wash more often than before.

1. When bathing, we often overlook the skin behind the ears. This can contribute to dandruff or peeling or itchy skin
2. Washing your feet and hands is not enough. It is also important to thoroughly clean the space between the fingers
3. The navel is also unwashed. This is a mistake because in addition to the fact that dirt and dead skin accumulate in it, it is also an excellent habitat for bacteria
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

“The parts of the body that can smell bad are the parts that need the most careful care,” notes Yale School of Medicine dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara on eatthis.com. This is a good rule of thumb, although there are also exceptions to this rule. What parts of the body do we usually not wash, and should we?

1. Parts of the body that we don’t normally wash. The skin behind the ears

The skin behind the ears usually needs extra care. “The skin behind the ears can become quite greasy, allowing yeast growth on the scalp to grow to higher than normal levels,” says Dr. Zeichner. “It contributes to the formation of dandruff, flaking and itching.”

The dermatologist recommends that you “scrub” the skin behind the ears every time you wash your hair, or more frequently if deemed necessary.

The rest of the text below the video.

2. Parts of the body that we don’t normally wash. Feet and toes

Both Dr. Zeichner and Dr. Gohara believes that people should pay more attention to washing their feet and toes. «You should wash your skin between your fingers every day. The moist environment between the fingers is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi »- emphasizes Dr. Zeichner. “Remember to clean all nooks and crannies,” adds Dr. Gohara.

As for the legs themselves, Joshua Zeichner says they should only be washed when the skin is visibly soiled.

3. Parts of the body that we don’t usually wash. Nails

We should remember about washing our nails every time we wash our hands (hand hygiene is an absolute must, although we also have a problem here). This is very important – it turns out that the spaces under the nails are the largest clusters of bacteria on our body.

However, this shouldn’t make your hand washing routine too complicated – just take a few extra seconds to soap your nails with soap and rinse them with water. A soft nail brush can also help.

We also remind you to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly (we wash them for about 20-30 seconds). Let’s not forget about it, especially after using the bathroom, before, during and after preparing a meal, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

4. Parts of the body that we don’t normally wash. Belly button

This is another place that Dr. Zeichner says often remains unwashed. Apart from the fact that dirt and dead skin accumulate in it, it is also an excellent habitat for bacteria. A few years ago, North Carolina State University shared the results of its work on the gut flora of the navel. 500 volunteers took part in the research. 2368 species of bacteria (including many unknown to science) were isolated from their navels.

Taking all this into account, the navel should be thoroughly washed with soap every day – this is the recommendation of Dr. Zeichner.

5. Parts of the body that we don’t usually wash. Bottom

Dr. Zeichner also reminds you to wash your buttocks regularly, especially after exercise, sitting all day at work, or when you sweat. “Moisture in sweat, combined with the rubbing of clothing against the skin, may increase the risk of folliculitis (red infection)”, the doctor warns.

The second important point Dr. Zeichner points out is washing your bottom after each bowel movement.