The Truth About Skincare, Hygiene, and Over-Cleaning

Is Showering Every Day Bad for You?

Many people believe daily showers are necessary, but Dr. James Hamblin challenges this idea. Washing too often with hot water and soap removes the skin’s natural oils and good bacteria, which help maintain healthy skin. Just like gut bacteria support digestion, skin bacteria protect us from dryness and irritation.

Hamblin compares excessive washing to cutting down a forest—once the balance is lost, it’s hard to restore. Scientists are still studying the long-term effects, but over-cleansing may do more harm than good.

No FDA Rules for Skincare Products

You might think skincare products are strictly regulated, but Hamblin reveals a shocking truth—there are no FDA requirements for testing ingredients or proving safety before selling them. Anyone can launch a skincare brand with just a business license.

Even worse, the FDA cannot force companies to recall unsafe products. This means customers must trust brands to be honest, but in an industry driven by marketing, that’s not always the case.

Bathing vs. Hygiene: What’s the Difference?

Many people confuse hygiene with bathing, but they are not the same. Hygiene is about stopping the spread of germs—like washing hands after using the restroom or covering a sneeze. Bathing, on the other hand, is more about personal comfort and social expectations rather than actual health benefits.

Hamblin points out that while bathing makes people feel fresh, it is not medically necessary. This raises an important question—how much of our personal care routine is truly needed, and how much is influenced by marketing?

Expensive Skincare: Is It Worth It?

Luxury skincare often comes with high price tags, but does it really work better? For example, Gentleman’s Cream, a moisturizer, was originally priced at $300 for a tiny two-ounce jar before dropping to $200—yet not a single jar sold! This highlights how brands rely on premium pricing rather than real science.

Similarly, at a recent skincare event, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic was sold for $166 per ounce, yet studies show it doesn’t do more for your skin than simply eating an orange. Another misleading trend is collagen supplements—companies claim they give you glowing skin, but since the body digests collagen like any other protein, it doesn’t directly improve skin health.

Are We Overusing Disinfectants Like Clorox?

Beyond skincare, Hamblin questions our reliance on disinfectants. For example, most people don’t realize that Clorox needs to sit on a surface for at least ten minutes to work properly—but few follow this rule.

Instead of overusing chemical cleaners, he recommends soap and water for daily cleaning. He also warns that killing too many germs may weaken our immune system. Exposure to some bacteria is actually helpful, and completely removing them could lead to long-term health issues.

The Truth About Body Odor and Soap Marketing

Did you know the idea of “body odor” was largely created by soap companies? In the early days of advertising, brands made people feel embarrassed about their natural scent to sell more products.

For example, foot odor is caused by bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, which actually helps protect against fungal infections. In the past, when people walked barefoot, these microbes may have had health benefits. Today, companies convince people they need endless products to feel clean—even when it’s unnecessary.

As research into skincare and hygiene continues, one thing is becoming clear: sometimes, less is more.