When Bathing Becomes Science: Why Some Skins Love Water And Others Don’t 

Why do some people enjoy bathing multiple times a day without any skin irritation, while others feel itchy or dry after every wash?

According to Dr. Martin Agyei, a senior Dermatologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the answer lies in physiology – the science of how our bodies are naturally designed – and the geographical environment in which we live.

“When you understand the way God made us, then you’ll also understand the consequences when humans do things that tamper with that natural design,” Dr. Agyei told The Chronicle.

The Skin’s Natural Protection

The skin, Dr. Agyei explained, is not just a covering; it’s the largest organ of the human body, serving as a protective barrier and performing many self-regulating functions.

One of its natural tools is sebum, a type of oil secreted by glands in the skin to help maintain moisture and elasticity.

“Some people produce enough sebum, and we often call them ‘oily-skinned’ individuals,” he said.

“Even if they bathe and don’t apply pomade, their skin still appears supple. On the other hand, those with less sebum have what we call ‘dry skin.’ If they bathe and fail to apply any moisturizer, you can easily see the difference,” he added

Every time we bathe, we remove some of this protective oil. While that may not be a problem for people with oily skin, it can worsen dryness for those already prone to skin dehydration.

Dr. Agyei, who was speaking in an interview with The Chronicle noted that people with certain dermatological conditions such as atopic eczema, naturally have dry and sensitive skin.

“Every dry skin itches, when it itches, you scratch. The scratching causes rashes, which worsens the itching and the cycle continues,” he emphasised.

For such people, frequent bathing can make the condition worse, especially if they do not moisturize within three minutes after bathing.

“Water itself removes the natural oil and when it evaporates, the skin becomes even drier,” he warned.

In such cases, dermatologists often discourage excessive bathing, particularly in dry or cold environments, or when people are not exposed to heavy sweating and dust.

“If someone lives in a temperate region where there’s less sweating and minimal exposure to dirt, then not bathing frequently won’t harm the skin much. But here in the tropics, where people sweat heavily, not bathing is equally harmful,” he said.

The 28-Day Renewal Cycle

Our skin naturally renews itself every 28 days, shedding dead cells and replacing them with new ones. Sweat, odour, and the accumulation of dead cells make bathing necessary—not just for hygiene, but to help this renewal process.

 

“That’s why we use soap. It helps dead cells and dirt detach easily. But again, balance is key. Bathing cleanses the skin, but overdoing it without moisturizing strips away the natural oils the body needs.”

Some individuals experience itching immediately after contact with water, especially cold water. Dr. Agyei identified this as a medical condition known as Aquagenic Pruritus (from aqua, meaning water).

“It has nothing to do with the type of water or the environment. It’s about how the skin reacts internally.”

He explained that mast cells—tiny immune cells found throughout the skin—contain a chemical called histamine.

Under normal conditions, histamine stays harmlessly stored inside the cells. But in certain people, when water touches their skin, the mast cells release histamine, triggering an intense itch.

“Think of the mast cell like a pregnant woman. The histamine is the baby. When the baby (histamine) is released, the skin reacts, it starts itching,” Dr. Agyei illustrated.

Unfortunately, this condition cannot be cured, only managed. “We treat, but we don’t cure,” he clarified.

“We give antihistamines to block the effects of histamine, but the cells themselves remain. So treatment is often lifelong.”

Balancing Bathing Habits

Dr. Agyei stressed that there was no universal rule about how many times one should bathe daily. The answer depends on a person’s skin type, environment and lifestyle.

“If your work exposes you to dust, dirt, or sweat, then bathing frequently is reasonable. But if your skin is dry or sensitive, you must moisturize immediately after bathing to restore the oil barrier,” he advised.

The Takeaway: Bath, But With Wisdom

Ultimately, Dr. Agyei urges Ghanaians to move beyond the myth that bathing too often is harmful. The key, he says, is balance and understanding your skin.

“The skin is a living organ. It thrives on care, not neglect. Whether you bathe once or thrice a day, always help nature by moisturizing afterward. That’s how you protect the body’s first line of defence,” he concluded.

 

 

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