Neither daily nor weekly: What is the ideal shower frequency for people over 65

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# Neither Daily nor Weekly: What Is the Ideal Shower Frequency for People Over 65?

For decades, daily showering has been treated as a universal rule of good hygiene. Miss a day, and it can feel like you’re breaking some unspoken social contract. But as we age, our bodies change—and so should some of our habits.

For people over 65, the question isn’t **“Should I shower every day?”**
It’s **“What shower routine keeps me clean *without* harming my skin or health?”**

The surprising answer for many older adults is this:
**Neither daily nor weekly showering is ideal for most people over 65.**

Instead, the best shower frequency falls somewhere in between—and depends on several important factors.

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## How Aging Changes the Skin

To understand why shower frequency matters more after 65, we need to start with what happens to the skin as we age.

### 1. Skin Becomes Thinner

As we grow older, the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) becomes thinner and more fragile. This makes it more prone to irritation, tearing, and injury.

### 2. Natural Oils Decrease

Sebum—the oil that keeps skin moisturized—declines significantly with age. Less oil means drier skin and a weaker protective barrier.

### 3. Slower Skin Repair
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