Top dermatologists advise that Americans should bathe at least two to three times a week. While experts contend that daily showers aren’t necessary, Al Roker, the nation’s well-known morning-time host, finds the science-backed guidance to be absurd.
Roker, who cleanses twice daily, maintains that people ought to shower every day.
During the third segment of the “Today” show, Roker teamed up with fellow hosts Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones to take part in a multiple-choice game guided by Adrianna Brach, the editorial director of Shop TODAY. Brach posed questions reflecting dermatologist recommendations and challenged the hosts to select the correct option.
The inaugural (and most dramatic) question asked, “How often do you think a person should shower each week?”
The choices were a) Every Day, b) 2-3 Times, c) 5 Times, and d) Once.
Dreyer jumped in first, predicting, “I’m betting they’ll pick C, five times.”
Next, Jones chimed in, agreeing with Dreyer, “I’d go with daily, even though I suspect the answer is C.”
When it was Roker’s turn, the 68-year-old New Yorker snapped, “I don’t care what they say, I’m going with A.”
Brach surprised everyone by revealing that all of them were wrong. The dermatology experts affirmed that the correct answer is two to three times per week.
Roker’s disbelief was plainly written across his face, his reaction speaking louder than words could.
To put the discussion into perspective and keep the segment moving, Brach noted, “It depends on the individual. I’m looking at Al’s expression, like, ‘What is this?’ It depends on the person, your lifestyle, your skin type…”
The weatherman showed little interest in the science, muttering “Lifestyle?!” before adding, “I shower twice a day.”
Dr. Mary Stevenson, an assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health, stated that people “should be showering, bathing or cleansing themselves every two to three days.”
She told Shop TODAY that this guidance is a generalization, though those with physically demanding jobs or daily activities that make them sweat might require more frequent cleansing.
Dr. Angela Lamb, director of the Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology, also weighed in, warning that showering too frequently could dry out the skin.
“Over-washing can actually heighten your risk of infection because the skin relies on a healthy layer of natural bacteria and other protective components that you want to maintain,” Lamb explains.
Even as Brach outlined why daily bathing might be problematic, some experts argue there are benefits to adding a daily shower into a routine.
ImprovingLiveCounseling.com notes that daily showers can lower stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, enhance body image and self-esteem, and encourage self-care.
Medical News Today characterizes showering as a form of hydrotherapy that can aid breathing and bolster immune function.
The site also cited a Dutch study suggesting that introducing cold showers into one’s regimen may reduce the number of sick days at work, though the study did not specify how often the cold showers were taken.
Even without those figures, Roker persisted in advocating daily washing as essential, arguing that showers help you shed grime and odor, especially after you’ve been around other people.
