Bathing Frequency is Crucial for Seniors! Be Careful Not to Wash Away Your Health

Bathing Frequency is Crucial for Seniors! Be Careful Not to Wash Away Your Health"Your fall is directly related to how often you bathe," the doctor said, his voice carrying a serious note as he looked at Mr. Li, who was lying in bed

Bathing Frequency is Crucial for Seniors! Be Careful Not to Wash Away Your Health

"Your fall is directly related to how often you bathe," the doctor said, his voice carrying a serious note as he looked at Mr. Li, who was lying in bed. Mr. Li, a 68-year-old retired carpenter, had been busy renovating his old house a few months ago. He'd done it all himself, from replacing the flooring to installing new cabinets. Once the renovation was complete, he was excited to move into his new home and enjoy life. The house had been vacant for half a year, so he felt it was adequately ventilated and moved in with his wife.

However, shortly after moving in, he felt something was off. He felt weak, occasionally dizzy, and especially after each bath, he felt exhausted, even nearly slipping and falling during one bath. He initially suspected that the formaldehyde in the house hadn't completely dissipated, causing his discomfort. To find out what was wrong, Mr. Li went to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor told him, "It's not the formaldehyde. You're bathing too frequently. Especially as you get older, bathing too often can be bad for your health."

Mr. Li looked confused, "Bathing can be bad for my health? I like to stay clean; I bathe every other day!"

The doctor patiently explained, "Bathing is fine when you're young, but as you age, your skin and body's metabolism slow down. Bathing too often can damage your skin's natural barrier, leading to dryness and even increasing your risk of falling. Moreover, hot water during bathing causes your blood vessels to dilate, leading to blood pressure fluctuations. Especially for someone like you who has some high blood pressure, bathing too often can put extra strain on your blood vessels."

Mr. Li was stunned, "I never thought about that. So bathing can actually cause problems?"

The doctor nodded and continued, "Studies show that if seniors bathe more than a certain frequency, it can lead to skin problems and even accidents. As you get older, it's best to avoid bathing too often. A moderate frequency is healthier."

Mr. Li was curious, "So how often should I bathe then? I thought bathing frequently kept me clean."

The doctor smiled and said, "You might think of bathing as a way to get clean, but excessive cleaning actually damages your skin's natural barrier. This is especially true for seniors, whose skin is already more fragile than younger people's. Their sebum secretion decreases, making their skin prone to dryness. Frequent bathing causes the loss of the protective oils on the skin's surface, leading to itching, cracking, and even infections."

"Especially for you, a carpenter, whose hands and legs are often exposed, working with sawdust and dust. This doesn't mean you need to bathe frequently. On the contrary, as you age, your skin's self-repair ability weakens, and bathing too often can actually cause injuries."

Research shows that the stratum corneum of the skin is thinner in seniors, and the oil glands secrete less sebum. Excessive bathing leads to dry, itchy, and even damaged skin. Once the skin barrier is damaged, bacteria and irritants from outside can easily enter the body, increasing the risk of infection.

To help Mr. Li understand better, the doctor shared a similar case. Mr. Wang, 65, like Mr. Li, enjoyed staying clean after retirement and often bathed every other day. Initially, he felt his skin was smooth and comfortable. However, soon after, his skin started to get dry and itchy, especially in winter, when his skin cracked and hurt after bathing. Mr. Wang had also fainted once while bathing; luckily, his wife found him and rushed him to the hospital.

"Mr. Wang's situation was caused by bathing too often. As you get older, your skin's metabolism slows down, and frequent bathing removes the natural protective layer, making it more susceptible to damage," the doctor explained. "Also, bathing with overly hot water and bathing for too long can worsen blood pressure fluctuations, leading to dizziness and even fainting."

Mr. Wang's experience gave Mr. Li a fright. He suddenly realized that his seemingly normal habits were actually hiding health risks.

The doctor continued to explain, "Besides skin problems, frequent bathing also impacts seniors' other bodily systems. Think about it; every time you bathe, the hot water causes your blood vessels to dilate, lowering your blood pressure. But after bathing, you suddenly encounter cold air, which makes your blood vessels constrict quickly. This blood pressure fluctuation is very dangerous for seniors, especially those with cardiovascular problems."

Mr. Li nodded, recalling that he always felt dizzy after bathing, especially when the weather was cold and he stepped out of the bathroom. It turned out that this wasn't due to formaldehyde in the room not dissipating but because of blood pressure fluctuations.

Research shows that the high temperature during bathing causes blood vessel dilation, leading to blood pressure drops, while rapid cooling after bathing causes blood pressure to rise sharply. This rapid blood pressure fluctuation is very dangerous for seniors, especially those with hypertension and heart disease, as it can easily trigger cardiovascular accidents such as fainting and stroke.

After hearing all this, Mr. Li was a little uneasy, "So how often should I bathe from now on? I can't not bathe, can I?"

The doctor smiled reassuringly, "Of course, you don't have to stop bathing; you just need to control the frequency. Generally, seniors only need to bathe 1 to 2 times a week. If it's hot or you've been sweating a lot after exercising, you can adjust accordingly, but don't bathe every day. Also, don't use overly hot waterkeep it between 37 and 40 degrees Celsiusand don't bathe for more than 15 minutes."

The doctor continued, "If you feel uncomfortable not bathing every day, you can wipe your body with a damp towel to maintain local cleanliness, such as under your arms and feet. This can help you stay fresh without putting extra burden on your body."

Mr. Li suddenly thought, "But I heard that seniors have weaker immunity and are more susceptible to infections. Wouldn't not bathing frequently lead to hygiene problems?"

The answer is that while frequent bathing can damage the skin's natural barrier in seniors, bathing too infrequently can indeed lead to local hygiene problems and increase the risk of infection. Therefore, seniors are advised to mainly use body wipes to maintain cleanliness in key areas instead of frequent full-body bathing. As long as you manage your bathing frequency reasonably, avoid overly hot water and prolonged soaking, seniors can maintain good hygiene while protecting their skin and cardiovascular health. By adopting appropriate lifestyle habits, seniors can enjoy cleanliness while avoiding the health risks associated with bathing.

What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to discuss in the comments!

References

[1] Zhang Changjie. Modifiable Risk Factors Affecting the Life and Longevity of Middle-aged and Elderly People, Chinese Rehabilitation, 2023-05-25