Anyone who has never heard of their mother or grandmother should cast the first stone that it is important to wash behind the ears and between the toes when bathing. In many cases we end up not listening to this excellent advice, but it is part of good hygiene habits.
To study bathing behavior, researchers at the Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University conducted a study to find out which important areas of the body are neglected during bathing.
Which areas of the body are washed least during the shower?
The study was based on the evaluation of the skin’s microbiome, i.e. the microorganisms that live on it. Therefore, the focus was on analyzing the areas to which we pay most attention when bathing and others that end up being forgotten in practice.
For the evaluation, 129 students collected samples from certain parts of the body, such as the calf, forearm, behind the ear, between the toes and the navel. After this collection, they had to analyze the oiliest areas and compare them with others that were washed frequently.
The result was that areas washed more frequently developed a healthier microbiome. On the other hand, poorly washed spots showed little diversity of organisms. “Dry regions of the skin (such as the forearm and calf) are richer and more functional in sebum (such as behind the ear) and moist areas (such as the navel and between the fingers),” the researchers wrote in a study report. .
Other good bathing practices
In addition to scrubbing all parts of the body well during the shower, at this time it is necessary to pay attention to some more details. One of these, for example, is the water temperature.
Speaking to the website Itatiaia, dermatologist Julia Melo explained that baths should always be taken with warm to cold water and last five to ten minutes. Another important point: the use of the loofah should not be daily to avoid damaging the skin.
According to the expert, loofah works as an exfoliator for the skin and ends up removing its natural protective layer. For this reason it should only be used to clean the feet better or when extremely necessary to help remove dirt.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
