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Comment by a8da6b0c91d | Hacker News Reader

Washing with soap disrupts the endocrine function of the skin, which doesn't fully recover for a couple days. It's not a matter of bad chemicals in the soap; stripping away the natural oils messes up synthesis of things like Vitamin D. The article didn't even touch on this and instead just talks about bacteria.

Frequent use of soap is going to impair the skin's barrier function and leave you more susceptible to infection. You should really only be soaping up as needed.

Personally, once a week is fine for me. I'll just rinse off as needed the rest of the week, which in winter might be once.

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There is some evidence that triclosan, and ingredient in antibacterial liquid soaps, might be an endocrine disrupter. But a regular bars of soap don't contain triclosan, so you can soap up if you want.

It has nothing to do with triclosan. Simple, non-toxic soaps like ivory or palmolive will still interfere with the many endocrine functions of the skin. Frequent use of lotions will do the same.

You sound stinky

The ultra-health obsessed min-maxers I have met have been socially awkward to say the least. People who are fanatical about anything to the point it causes social conflicts strike me as compulsive. Some people just seem so obsessed about a single issue that they are burden to interact with, regardless of what the issue is.

There's nothing wrong with using soap every day, my grandparents have been doing it all their lives and they're healthy at their old age (90's). Plus you don't end up bothering others with your smell.

I'm better groomed, dressed, and looking than you. I just don't gratuitously soap up.

The problem with all of your arguments, including claims to your superior appearance, is that they're all entirely subjective. When is soap use gratuitous?

When others can detect your smell that's an objective fact and if you still use enough soap so that others can't smell your armpits when they're squeezed in next to you on public transportation then I don't really have a problem with what you're doing.

Or maybe stinks soundly.

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