Dermatologists say many people are overcomplicating showering after seeing elaborate cleansing routines on social media, including daily exfoliation, “double cleansing,” antibacterial soap and extensive scented products. In an AP “Be Well” report published July 9, 2025, dermatologist Dr. Olga Bunimovich said she was “kind of appalled by the shower routines.”
The doctors interviewed for the story said the tendency to add steps can harm the skin instead of helping it. Dr. Nicole Negbenebor, a dermatologic surgeon at University of Iowa Health Care, said, “Your skin is a barrier,” and warned that “sometimes there can be too much of a good thing.”
The basics, dermatologists said, are simpler than online trends suggest. A daily shower with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free hypoallergenic cleanser is described as sufficient for most people, followed by hydrating lotion or oil afterward. They cautioned against staying in the shower too long or using water that is too hot because it can strip skin of its natural oils and leave it vulnerable to dryness and irritation.
On products, experts advised choosing soaps designed for sensitive skin. The story said antibacterial soaps are popular online, but dermatologists said they can dry out skin too much for daily use. The report added that antibacterial soaps can be beneficial for people with hidradenitis suppurativa, an autoimmune skin condition that causes painful boils and abscesses.
Oils, the story said, can be part of a routine once someone is damp and out of the shower, but they work differently from moisturizers. Dr. Negbenebor said, “It’s important to remember that oil isn’t a moisturizer, but a sealant,” adding that “The water hydrates your skin, but the oil will lock in that moisture.” Dr. Lisa Akintilo, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health, said in the report that it is “nice to hear about skincare routines that do involve both cleansing and also providing hydration,” because that element is “missing in a lot of people’s skin care routine.”
The AP report also pushed back on “double cleansing,” a method some influencers recommend after showering. The story said double cleansing is typically reserved for facial skincare, particularly when someone is wearing makeup, and involves using an oil-based cleanser and then a water-based cleanser. Experts said the practice is unnecessary for the rest of the body, with Dr. Bunimovich saying, “Not only do I not think that we need to double cleanse our skin … people overuse soap all the time,” and adding, “You should not be soaping up all of your skin, period.” Bunimovich said people should “wash your privates and your skin folds.”
Exfoliation is another step doctors said is often misused. The story described exfoliation as a way to remove dead skin cells and said it can be good for skin, but cautioned that doing it daily can cause problems, especially for people with dry skin or conditions such as eczema or acne. It said manual exfoliation—such as using a body scrub or a rougher loofah—should be done sparingly to avoid irritation, and that rashes after exfoliation may be a sign someone is overdoing it. Dermatologists said a gentler alternative is using products with lactic or glycolic acid, but not all the time.
Finally, the report connected showering habits to environmental and public-resource concerns. It said showers account for nearly 17% of Americans’ indoor water use, citing the Environmental Protection Agency, and noted that multiple states facing moderate to severe drought have called for conservation efforts including taking shorter showers. The story concluded that to get clean while retaining natural oils, a lukewarm shower with enough time to wash should be sufficient in most cases.