It's true that old people don't need to shower more than once a week - but that's for people who are like 80 and over. They don't sweat like they're supposed to and their skin is dry and sensitive, so it can crack and get infected if they bathe too often. At 54? No excuse. Skipping a day here and there is one thing, and counter-intuitively can make your skin healthy and you better smelling, but skipping six in a row on a regular basis makes you, at best, unpleasant company.

I shower about once or twice a week as long as I'm not actually doing anything that's getting me dirty. I dont sweat much so. But then again I've been told I'm a dirty punk too. Ehh.

That's a lie, she's still having hot flashes from metapause, which means shes sweating a lot! ******* disgusting.

first of all, it's "menopause". idfk what "metapause" is. second of all, showering daily is unnecessary unless you're actually dirty. I shower once every 3-4 days or as necessary, and people actually comment on how good I smell. in today's society, we do so little physical activity in a day that showering that often is unneeded, almost unhealthy. you don't begin to smell of sweat and uncleanliness until you're actually unclean or sweaty. insane, I know. it IS perfectly okay to have a full bath once a week and wash the extremities daily - most would be unable to tell the difference.

Stfu, anyone who thinks its okay to shower or bathe once a week is a dirty bitch. That simple.

Not nessicarily. I'm 30 and don't shower daily. I don't go a week, but I do shower only every 3 days or so. I have a medical condition which makes showering more often... Unpleasant to say the least. I do however sponge bath daily!

Holy Crap! A well reasoned and thoughtful response on FML. Was the Mayan calendar off by a few months? Time to start praying.

As much as I agree with you, I think your comment is much more suitable for people who are 75 and older. The woman is 54. She was born in a time when everybody was able to take showers and baths. She had the pleasure to use those big, nice bathtubs. (I so wish I had one! The bathtubs with the claws.) Like I said, I agree with you... If you're talking about people who are 75 and older..

She may not have been born in the USA.

Or born into poverty. Go read the Glass Castle. It does exist in America, despite what you may believe.

I am in my early 30's and went to school with kids who didn't have indoor plumbing. My mother is 60 and her generation did not grow up showering every day. She does now because it's the social norm, but it's not everyone's norm.

I believe that was the French/English solution back in the 17th Century. (Who did it depended on which side of the channel you were on, obviously.)

My contact at work stated employees must shower daily as a hygiene rule.

As a resident of Bumfolk, Ala I resemble your remark!!!! We, the odoriferous, are doing quite well, thank you. The nose plug business has me laughing all the way to the bank.

God, Doc, don't talk nonsens. I normally agree with you, but as a doctor you should know that showering daily is so friggin' bad for the average skin. I don't think OP's mother is doing a lot of excercise nowadays, so if she just wash her armpits daily, she will be perfectly fine. No need to spill water and money if it isn't necesary.

Does it smell were you live 88 because your wearing a gas mask. Maybe it's because everyone doesn't shower everyday

#88 It really depends on your skin. I have dry skin but use a handmade and organic product from Lush, which is excellent for my skin. I also put a moisturizer from head to toe afterwards, and I'm fine. I don't think not washing yourself down there for a week, like OP's mother, is very healthy...

Mouahaha, the old gasmask joke! Brilliant! Didn't see that coming! It's totally not overused by now! I have a sensitive skin and if I take a shower more then two times a week, it will totally be ruined. That being said, why not 1) simply wash your armpits/crotch everyday with water and 2) apply a good-smelling lotion on your skin? Good for the planet, good for your skin, a win-win situation, I would say. Oh, and taking one shower a week is definitely not not (yeah, double negation) unhealthy. We aren't meant to cover our body in chemical products everyday, you know?

#96 Yes, I know, thank you for your concern, hence the "handmade and organic" products from Lush I use. In other words, NOT chemicals.

And if you want to correct me for my double negation, learn the difference between "then" and "than".

I'm sorry 96 it was to good to pass. I knew it was probably over used but i just had too.

Raphanne, why do you think my comment was only meant for you? You may use good products, spendid, but the majority doesn't. And I wasn't correcting you, I was correcting myself so that I wouldn't get a 'omfg, you write it wrong!' shitstorm over me, but it seems I can't avoid my destiny.

#118 Well yes, I assumed that you were talking to me because you posted a second comment, just after I had commented, and it replied to what I said, on every point. I made the mistake to use a double negation, and I don't see another one on this thread (except yours when you jokingly helped me see mine). So, I don't want to sound egocentric, but I don't see how your comment could not be answering mine. But that's alright, let's forget and move on.

DGP - I just knew you'd say that. My comment was actually mainly directed at you. And I'm quite disappointed that you stick with this same old argument despite evidence to the contrary. I've read the research on daily versus weekly showering. The advantage to weekly showering is minimal at best - a slightly lower risk of viral and bacterial infections. The disadvantage is overwhelming - almost as overwhelming as the odor emanating from you. The bottom line is that unless you have extremely sensitive skin, daily showering is perfectly safe if you use mild soap, warm water, and moisturizer afterwards. It's the 21st century. Come join us.

Depends were you are doc. The idea of the 21st century is diffrent for some. For example when I worked Ethiopia for a few months the standards for the 21st centuary were probably that of an American in 1880...

88 you act like 54 is old, I don't know about u but my dad is 52 and he's not an old geezer he still works out and his active 54 is not old