A health expert has doubled down on the importance of showering daily, after celebrity couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis revealed they don't believe in the importance of regular washing.
The A-list duo appeared on Dax Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert, where they revealed they only wash certain body parts on a regular basis, and don't believe in washing their two children every day.
"I wash my armpits and my crotch daily, and nothing else ever," Kutcher revealed in the podcast. "I got a bar of Lever 2000 that delivers every time. Nothing else.'
Kunis added she thought people shouldn't be "getting rid of the natural oil on your skin with a bar of soap every day," and said she only bathes their children when they "look dirty".
But pelvic health expert Stephanie Taylor told Metro that in fact, there are "countless" benefits to washing daily.
"By washing daily, we can ensure that any sweat is washed away to maintain a good scent and remove any bacteria collected throughout the day. By ridding our skin of harmful bacteria we can also prevent any skin issues from occurring.'
Health experts say that leaving perspiration on the skin for hours after exercise can cause bacteria to multiply, leading to rashes, breakouts and fungal infections.
"Allowing the sweat and bacteria to breed can cause a host of problems, like infections or extreme odour,' says Taylor, adding Kutcher's "crotch and pits" method shouldn't be followed.
"Stay on top of daily washing where you can – particularly if you're an active person who is likely to sweat more," she said.
"Pay attention to all areas of the body and use natural, skin-friendly soaps, as bacteria can be collected anywhere and chemically scented products can irritate the skin too."
However, according to Harvard Health, Kutcher may have it right.
In a blog post from 2019, Dr Robert Shmerling wrote there is no ideal frequency for showering, unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often.
"Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice," wrote Shmerling.
