Why Sweaty People Should Rinse More and Shower Less
Where most people need to wipe their foreheads, my sweat glands trigger an unforgiving rush when it’s hot outside. The technical term for my situation is “sweaty bastard,” and you may be familiar with our breed.
My body regularly gets as smooth as an oil rig in the summer, which is why I have long been a supporter of showering as often as possible. Showering infrequently is perfectly normal under certain circumstances, and people like me have to do the exact opposite in the hotter months in order to maintain any semblance of a normal person.
But showering multiple times a day can seem unnecessary at best and a waste of water at worst, not to mention damaging your skin. To that end, if you are, like me, sweating, I recommend rinsing yourself before showering – and yes, there is a difference.
How is rinsing different from showering?
Showering is partly a leisure activity, at least in some respects; while showering, you can enjoy hot water and high-pressure water. However, rinsing is a purely pragmatic process that aims to rid your body of excess bacteria that may have entered your skin after the last shower.
Rinsing is not a pleasant activity. You do not rinse because you want to – you rinse because you need to. For this, the rinse must be short and precise. There is no dreaming, you are not learning new soaps and exfoliation methods, because rinsing is nothing more than a fight against damage. You can rinse with either hot or cold water, but the duration of the rinse should not exceed two to three minutes.
The beauty of rinsing is that you can do it as many times as you like, as long as you are not overusing the system. You really don’t need to rinse more than twice a day; rinsing is water saving, so the cumulative effect of your rinse regime should be equal to that of a thorough but not overly gentle shower.
How to rinse to avoid sweating?
As mentioned earlier, gargling is a pragmatic ritual. You only rinse to cleanse yourself. (In theory, this is true of the shower, but people do everything in the shower that is not related to bathing.) To rinse, shower and wash with soap – or maybe even skip using soap if you’re concerned about skin irritation and no body odor. You probably don’t need to shampoo your hair unless it’s covered in beach sand or you haven’t washed it for a long time. A good cool rinse is a great way to lower your body temperature.
Gargling is a seasonal practice and should only be used out of extreme caution – taking into account the environment and your sweat glands. Showering too often can harm your skin, and applying too much soap to your skin can kill bacteria that are actually good for you. It’s the same with shampoo, which you should still only do if you need to.
For all of my very sweaty brethren, I implore you to try gargling twice a day during the summer. After all, the Earth, let alone your delicate skin, might shower too hard.