Comment by eczema_haver | Hacker News Reader

Comment by eczema_haver | Hacker News Reader

I have eczema, and at one point it got so severe from taking (too-)hot showers, that I could hardly sleep for weeks because of the discomfort. Out of desperation I gave up showering altogether so that I could heal. I eventually realized that I didn't really smell. After my skin healed I didn't resume showering. That was about four years ago. I've never had anyone (including my partner whom I live with) tell me I smell under normal circumstances (in fact I asked my partner directly), nor that my skin looks or feels oily or abnormal in any way. Same with my hair. I do smell for a few hours right after vigorous exercise or something, but it's nothing a little deodorant and a fresh shirt can't fix.

I don't know if everybody is this way - I'm sure it varies a lot by body chemistry - but for me at least there have been no downsides. In addition to saving time, I have to think I've saved an enormous amount of water. From the article, it sounds like I may be healthier for it too.

Are you saying you haven't showered for four years and don't smell?

I am sorry, but I do not believe you. What the author is saying is not to use soap, not to avoid showering.

Apparently, people didn't really wash themselves during the renaissance era because they thought it spread disease. And they smelled awful.

https://blog.sylvaine-delacourte.com/perfumes-history-renais...

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Believe what you want, but I've pointedly asked multiple people and I trust that they wouldn't lie to me. Just wanted to add a data point to the discussion. I'm not saying that what I'm doing would work for everybody, but I am saying there's some truth to the general idea of less harsh cleaning of one's skin.

Yeah people are notoriously bad at noticing odours they are acclimatized to (anyone who's given up smoking, been to a convention, or talked to someone living in a smelly area can attest to that).

That's not to say they couldn't smell fine without daily showers but a smell will certainly build up over time. Some might be lucky and it won't smell particularly objectionable but you will smell and will smell stronger over time.

They need to check with someone they don't live with(so they're not used to it) and that someone will need to be willing to be blunt with them.

I've asked my parents too, who I only see 3-4 times a years, and they said there's no smell. And I trust they wouldn't lie to me about something like this. For obvious reasons I haven't brought up the question with people I'm not as close to, like coworkers.

can confirm. I was suffering from atopic dermatitis for years, to the point where my bedsheets were covered with bloodstains every night due to unconsciously scratching my eczema while asleep. I was prescribed topical steroids to control it during flareups. Then I moved from home and stopped daily showering, and the eczema resolved by itself. No lotions, no steroids, no bathing solutions! Imagine my relief. Since then I’m only showering twice a week with plain water (except the groin region where I use a bit of soap) and have been fine.

I do have to wonder if part of it is the way my skin is extra-eager to shed cells on its own (due to the eczema). That could be functioning as a kind of "automatic shower". Which would explain why some people with skin issues can do this without problems, but not everyone can. That's pure speculation though.

I have eczema and only shower every 2-4 days, depending on the season :(

In the cool seasons of the year I'll often go a full week or more between showers. My hair does eventually start looking a bit greasy, but I never really start to smell.

I've been showering every night before bed for about a month now, just to cool off as much as anything because we leave our windows open except on the very hottest days.

The main thing I've noticed since I picked up the habit is that my scalp has been more itchy lately. Also if anything I feel like I'm more smelly now than before. And it's not just a summer thing, because this is the first year I've picked up this habit.

I have no reason to doubt you, you may smell just fine.

But that brings up a question, back when mariners and seamen traversed the seas and didn’t bathe, some came upon the Japanese isles for the purpose of trade, and legend is they got called smelly foreigners... so, how come?

This video explains why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_QKyipj_Y

Interesting! Which means if you have the smelly gene you'll be smelly if you don't wash... (at least areas with pubic/negative hair) but if you have the other allele you'll be fine without washing/bathing/showering.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com