Washcloths or loofahs are commonplace items in bathrooms, hotels and even gyms. They can help you feel like you’re getting a deep clean and can easily spread soap suds all over your body. But dermatologists told HuffPost that washcloths and loofahs aren’t actually that necessary, or even the best way to get clean.
“I think most dermatologists would favor washing with the hand over, say, washcloth versus say loofah, just as an across-the-board recommendation,” said Dr. Lauren Taglia, a dermatologist with Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group in Illinois. Dr. Katie Lynam, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Medical University of South Carolina, agreed that she recommends cleaning yourself with your hands over other methods, but said there isn’t a totally right or totally wrong way to clean your body, either.
Why Hands Are the Best Option
For most people, your hands are the best and safest way to clean your body in the shower. Your hands tend to give the best pressure when it comes to washing your body with either a bar or liquid soap, according to Taglia. Moreover, “if the [hands have] been cleansed prior to washing the body, we know that it’s less likely to transfer, say, bacteria or other potential infection,” Taglia said.
For people with sensitive skin, washing your body with your hands can protect the skin barrier, Lynam noted. “Whereas using things like a washcloth or a loofah can disrupt the skin barrier by essentially over exfoliating and starting to disrupt this barrier called the stratum corneum that keeps pathogens and dirt and things out of the inside of our skin, and also holds good things like water in.”
Bacteria Risks with Loofahs
Since loofahs are rarely washed, they can also harbor bacteria. “So that can be more of a concern for infection, and that’s especially the case in anybody that has a compromised skin barrier,” said Taglia, who identified herself as someone with eczema. “We worry about infection risk with loofahs, and same thing for people who are more breakout- or acne-prone or prone to cysts or boils ... if you’re not washing [the loofah] between each and every wash, then we recommend that you don’t use it,” Taglia added.
“For most of my patients that I treat for eczema, psoriasis, patients with sensitive skin, more mature skin, and then infants as well, I’m recommending just cleansing with the hands,” Lynam said.
When a Washcloth Can Be Useful
A washcloth can be a good option, but not for everyday use. “There are some circumstances where I do think that a washcloth can be helpful,” Lynam said. “Particularly if you’re dealing with really stuck-on dirt, grime.” Washcloths provide a “mild exfoliation,” added Taglia, which can help get rid of dead skin cells that can build up. Dead skin cells can appear as roughness or small bumps. If you notice your skin feels rough or bumpy, a washcloth could provide the exfoliation you need. To protect your skin barrier, you don’t want to use a washcloth every time you shower, though.
Alternative Exfoliation Methods
You can also use products such as glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid to exfoliate, according to Lynam. These are chemical exfoliants and should only be used once or twice a week. But you might want to avoid those fancy body scrubs. “I usually don’t recommend using physical exfoliants, like a scrub, things with beads or a grit in them. Those disrupt the skin barrier,” Lynam noted.
Proper Washcloth Care
And “if you are going to use a washcloth, I do recommend that it be washed at least once a week. Some experts even recommend daily washing,” Lynam said. Taglia is one of the experts who recommends that folks wash their washcloths after each use. If you don’t wash it every time, you need to make sure you store it properly. “It needs to be hung to dry, not just balled up in the corner of the shower. Otherwise, it can grow bacteria and actually put you at more risk for developing an infection than washing with your hands would,” Lynam added.
Final Verdict
In the end, you don’t need to turn to washcloths or loofahs to get a good clean, even if washing your body with your hands feels like a shortcut or something you only do when you’re in a vacation rental. Just as washing your hands with soap and water can get them totally clean, washing your body with your hands can do the same. “You can usually get an adequate clean from our day-to-day with your hands,” Lynam said.
