Silver and Gold Magazine Winter 2014-2015 | Page 14

You can wash less and be cleaner
Many people love the act of getting clean. In fact, the
popular series Orange is the New Black begins its first episode
with a voiceover from the central character, Piper Chapman,
extolling the virtues of bathing and showering.
These acts are comforting ones that many people truly enjoy,
and use as much for relaxation as for cleaning their bodies.
However, a little-known fact is that washing too much can
actually hinder cleanliness. The key for people of all ages is
learning how to wash correctly so as to keep the body clean,
balanced, and odour-free.

– By Dr. Charlene Brannon

cleansing agent, why not use that regardless, and be extra
clean? The problem with this is that washing can strip the body
of things that keep it balanced and nourished. For example,
our skin contains good bacteria that are actually necessary
in keeping it clean and odour-free. Washing less frequently
preserves this bacteria; washing daily strips it away.

Our bodies also have natural oils that don’t cause odour
or result in any negative effects. Instead, they keep the body
moisturized. Washing too frequently strips the body of this
moisture, making skin dry. When this happens, the body
When washing the body, the practice of “less is more” should often kicks oil production into over-drive, which then may
be remembered. While the phrase often refe