What if someone comes to you and tells you that it is completely okay not to take a bath? Sounds weird, right? I mean how can we even live in a world where people don’t bathe at all? This is because we associate bathing and cleaning as being a part of hygiene. However, Professor Sally Bloomfield has some different opinions about the topic.
Is Bathing Actually What Hygiene Is All About?
In an interview with BBC Radio 5, Professor Sally Bloomfield, a hygiene expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, made the statement that bathing every day is not necessary. She further added that people don’t need to take a shower at all. She explained to listeners that our bodies have microbes, and those cause bad odor. People bathe to get rid of the smell. However, microbes are not unhealthy for our bodies and in no way cause us any health issues. It’s just us people who have associated bathing with being clean and bacteria-free. She also explained how washing and excessive cleaning can make one’s body dry and this is why people should avoid it.
Does She Act Upon Her Theory?
The interviewer of BBC Radio 5 questioned Bloomfield on if she acted on what she believed, to which she said that she likes her hair a certain way and this is the only reason she showers because her hair requires washing every other day. Although Bloomfield doesn’t believe in bathing every day, she insisted people wash their hands often as they are a very big transmitter of infection and diseases.
Cleanliness or Hygiene
Bloomfield believes that people do not understand the difference between cleanliness and hygiene. Cleanliness is a way of making someone feel clean, however, hygiene is to prevent oneself from germs and bacteria, which can be achieved by washing our hands nicely every now and then, rather than rubbing soap and using buckets of water on an everyday basis.