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[AuthenticM]

So the other day I was reading on soap, and read more than once how we've been using soap wrongly for ever. Apparently, we should only use soap on our armpits, groin area and buttocks, which are the three areas where sweat accumulates the most. Using soap on the rest of your body, such as torso, arms and legs, does more bad than good because you overdry your skin by eliminating the natural oils and substances that your skin secretes to protect itself from bacteria. We should only be using a soap-free wet hand towel to gently wash these areas of your body.

Now, I am well aware of how much erroneous new-age hippy homeopathic bullshit there is on the internet regarding health. So I wanted to start this conversation here to get multiple opinions.

Is that shit true, or should I keep using soap on most of my body?

 

[Kyoufu]

But my chest gets sweaty too...

 

[Zakalwe]

It dries out the skin.

Use it to clean stinky areas, then exfoliate/scrub/rinse the rest with water.

 

[Euphoria14]

I always thought of myself as lazy because I usually only use soap on those areas lol.

 

[Earthbound64]

So the other day I was reading on soap, and read more than once how we've been using soap wrongly for ever.

If you listen to the internet, we've been using everything wrong.

 

[Dice//]

Damn i usually start with legs and they get hella itchy in the winter.

Time to change my shower game.

 

[Syf]

Not sure I'd trust GAF with hygiene advice

 

[Akronis]

If you listen to the internet, we've been using everything wrong.

you're wrong

 

[Snagret]

I don't use soap on my body, just the areas you mentioned. There's not much point, it doesn't make me smell any better and water is usually enough to rinse off whatever is there (which usually isn't much). I do find that soap dries my skin, so I only use it where it's really needed.

 

[Gutek]

Soap goes in the crack, the balls, and the armpits. Maybe belly button.

 

[Zakalwe]

I always thought of myself as lazy because I usually only use soap on those areas lol.

As long as you're scrubbing the rest of your body and rinsing enough, that's fine.

Get a piece of black material and wipe areas such as your T-zone, beard/eyebrows, behind your ears, forearms, etc... if loads of dead skin particles come away you need to exfoliate/rinse here more.

 

[Earthbound64]

you're wrong

If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

 

[Escape Goat]

Is this really a problem? If you have dry skin there’s a bunch of reasons unrelated to your soap as to why that might be

 

[TickleMeElbow]

My skin actually gets dry if I only use water, which is why I use hydrating body wash and lotion.

 

[Haly]

Damn i usually start with legs and they get hella itchy in the winter.

Time to change my shower game.

Well dryness is common in winter and soap scrubbing intensifies dryness.

 

[Snagret]

Is this really a problem? If you have dry skin there’s a bunch of reasons unrelated to your soap as to why that might be

This is also true. You might just think about using some moisturizer for your body if you're worried about that.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Adams ruins soap

 

[Sulik2]

Is this really a problem? If you have dry skin there’s a bunch of reasons unrelated to your soap as to why that might be

There seems to be this weird desire on the internet to be less clean everytime we get a thread about bathing. Just wash and don't stink, use lotion if you have dry skin and save everyone else your stench.

 

[The Kree]

Not sure I'd trust GAF with hygiene advice

We can close this thread now.

 

[Windtrick]

Does this apply to body wash as well, or are we talking straight up soap?

 

[Lazy Jones]

If you listen to the internet, we've been using everything wrong.

And every single type of food is bad for you.

 

[SRG01]

As long as you're scrubbing the rest of your body and rinsing enough, that's fine.

Get a piece of black material and wipe areas such as your T-zone, beard/eyebrows, behind your ears, forearms, etc... if loads of dead skin particles come away you need to exfoliate/rinse here more.

No, it could actually be the opposite in some cases, as you may be washing too much and losing the top layer of your skin.

I know this because I have ezcema, and excessive exfoliation during showers is actually something I have to watch out for.

 

[Jawmuncher]

And every single type of food is bad for you.

Including water.

 

[Escape Goat]

Not sure I'd trust GAF with hygiene advice

We have to wait for Leona Lewis to promote some beauty products.

 

[Akronis]

If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

The correct solution is to forego water and bathe exclusively in a combination of brine and vinegar.

Including water.

100% of the people who drink water die.

 

[TI82]

People on the internet also say to not use shampoo and only eat fermented tree nuts, no thanks

 

[Kinokou]

That's what I do. Also heard it helps reducing the temperature of the water to help the skin from becoming too dry.

 

[MickeyPhree]

Not sure I'd trust GAF with hygiene advice

Truer words never have been spoken on this forum.

 

[Fuzzery]

If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

You're right

 

[whitehawk]

I usually wash those parts, and for the rest of my body I just let my shampoo fall down my body when I rinse my hair.

 

[amaretto]

My skin actually gets dry if I only use water, which is why I use hydrating body wash and lotion.

Same here. I've been using a coconut hibiscus body wash & lotion for the past few months and it's been doing wonders for my skin.

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

Those are the only areas I use it on. Waters takes care of the rest.

 

[Knuckle Sandwich]

I do manual labor so I wash everywhere and use lotion to help with dry skin.

 

[Escape Goat]

I usually wash those parts, and for the rest of my body I just let my shampoo fall down my body when I rinse my hair.

Thisisneogaf.gif

 

[TacoMasters]

Bar Soap, not body wash from what I've heard.

 

[wenis]

when i had a dermatologist, he advised me heavily against soaping beyond the heavy use areas.

so yes, it's true. don't over soap your body or you'll get dry skin and flake and itch. same goes for the scalp. less soap the better.

 

[xxracerxx]

Damn i usually start with legs and they get hella itchy in the winter.

Why do you start from the bottom? Top to bottom, that's how you get clean.

 

[vacantseas]

Use soap on your whole damn body. Jeez. If it gets dry use lotion.

 

[Escape Goat]

when i had a dermatologist, he advised me heavily against soaping beyond the heavy use areas.

so yes, it's true. don't over soap your body or you'll get dry skin and flake and itch. same goes for the scalp. less soap the better.

What about your wenis

 

[Akronis]

What about your wenis

gotta moisturize the wenis.

 

[old manatee]

Use soap on your whole damn body. Jeez. If it gets dry use lotion.

Well oh lala this one has money for non-masturbatory lotion.

 

[SDCowboy]

I'd rather my skin be a little dry (which it isn't), than have it be dirty. I'm gonna go ahead and keep soaping up my entire body.

 

[Infinite]

Use "soap free" soap

 

[rulerk1]

Thread already off to a great start lol

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Don't use soap. Just lick your butt, groin and pits clean.

Tasty.

 

[compo]

I've been trying to crack the secret to taking quick showers, and I never realized that not using soap was an option. That could save me a bunch of time.

 

[Omegasquash]

Surprised the thread isn't called "Stop Using Soap Right Now - 10 reasons washing yourself is bad for you".

 

[pillowtalk]

Stop being gross.

edit- I should clarify: Stop finding excuses to be gross.

 

[Ferr986]

Welp, I soap the shit out of myself.

 

[Enduin]

I use tea tree mint soap on my whole body, but not a ton. I really only focus on a scrubbing the important bits; pits, crotch, ass and feet. Rest of my body just gets a once over. I also keep my body hair trimmed as short as possible which I find helps a lot with every from general clean feeling, smell and skin dryness/oiliness. And I use an exfoliating towel a couple times a week as well.