This is what happens to your body

if you don't shower for two days

We don't even think about it. We find showering completely normal. In the morning, in the evening, maybe once again in the bath on the weekend. But is all that splashing under that water jet really necessary?

Well, actually it is. Imagine your bathroom is being renovated. Or your water supply is cut off. Or you overslept. And you can't shower at dawn. Is there a reason to panic? Well, not really. Unless you don't shower the day after either. If you can't shower for two days, a lot of nonsense happens to your body. Look, as a human, you carry about 40 fungi with you. Plus another 1000 different bacteria. That doesn't sound too charming, but in principle, it doesn't hurt. But if you don't wash yourself for more than 48 hours, all these creepy friends can find their way to your mouth, nose, eyes, and face. In short: you get sick faster. And you get blemishes on your face more quickly. Infections are also more likely to lurk, such as those from a cold sore.

Moreover, those bacteria cause your sweat to smell. You always sweat, but as soon as you don't wash yourself, your sweat has a stronger odor. So if you can't shower for a moment or don't have time for that moment, make sure to wash your face well – and your armpits and groin. Most dirt accumulates in those areas. Those spots deserve daily attention to prevent worse. Even if you do it quickly with a wet towel, anything is better than nothing. Especially after exercising, it's necessary (uh, are there people who don't do that? Yes, there are). Those bacteria on your body cause up to 30 different nasty odors, so you've been warned. By the way, showering too long is also not good for your skin. It gets damaged and dries out. Especially if you like a very hot shower, you need to be careful.

Anyway: less is not more. If a renovation takes longer than one day (which they always do), just knock on your friends', neighbor's, or parents' door with your shampoo and shower gel. Even if you bathe for just 1 minute: just do it every day. And that's not a punishment at all.

FACTS

• When you shower hotter than 43 degrees, you damage your skin
• One in three Dutch people likes to shower every day with their partner. At least 53% also has sex
• No less than 50% of people sing in the shower