We all can admit to skipping a shower or two. Our reasons vary – running late, no hot water, conserving water, or just plain laziness. Well, one man has not taken a shower in over 12 years, and wants you to follow his lead. Dave Whitlock, a chemical engineer and MIT grad, says foregoing the daily ritual of showering is perfectly healthy, and he has the science to prove it.
“I have not taken a shower in over 12 years,” says Whitlock. “No one did clinical trials on people taking showers every day. So what’s the basis for assuming that that is a healthy practice?”
Skip A Shower, Gain Healthy Bacteria on Skin
The health benefits of maintaining bacteria in the gut are a topic of interest. Grocery store shelves are stocked with probiotic goods such as yogurt, kambucha drinks, and supplements. But what about the bacteria on the outside of our bodies, specifically on our skin?
According to Whitlock, excess cleaning has stripped away all the good bacteria that our ancestors enjoyed from our skin.
Adding A Little Dirt To Our Sterile World
Whitlock wants others to experience the health benefits that are gained from restoring bacteria on the skin. He helped found AOBiome, a company based in Cambridge, MA that produces microbiome products for inflammatory skin conditions.
Jasmine Aganovic, the General Manager of Consumer Products at AOBiome says, “We’ve confused clean with sterile. We’ve taken the dirt out of our lives. We don’t spend as much time outdoors as we used to, even as little children.
To remedy this, AOBiome created Mother Dirt, which offers a product called AO+ Mist. Containing live bacteria, it is meant to replace showers and is sprayed on the skin twice a day.
Many beauty and hygiene products contain a laundry list of chemicals and harsh dyes. The fact that AO+ Mist is completely natural and time saving could appeal to many.
“Our users are able to reduce their dependence on conventional products,” says Aganovic. “Examples include cutting out or cutting down on deodorant, cutting out or cutting down on moisturizers.”
In addition to AO+ Mist, Whitlock takes an occasional sponge bath to remove all the grime.
