The headline is partly true but overstated. After 65, your skin generally becomes thinner, produces less oil, and loses water more easily, so long, hot showers and harsh soaps can worsen dryness and itching. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that you may not need to bathe every day and recommends short, 5–10-minute showers with warm—not hot—water for older adults with dry skin.
🚿 What to do instead
- You don’t necessarily have to shower every day. Your bathing frequency can depend on sweating, activity, climate, skin condition and personal preference.
- Keep showers short—about 5–10 minutes if your skin is dry.
- Use warm rather than hot water.
- Choose a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser rather than harsh or deodorant soaps.
- You don’t necessarily need to vigorously soap every inch of your body every day; focus cleanser on areas that become sweaty or dirty.
- Pat—not scrub—your skin dry.
- Apply a fragrance-free cream or ointment immediately after bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp.
Why this matters
Excessively dry skin can become itchy, cracked and irritated, and damaged skin has a greater risk of infection. Aging itself is a major contributor to dryness; the AAD says that by around age 60, nearly everyone has some degree of dry skin.
So the message isn’t “stop showering after 65.” It’s “don’t overdo hot water, long showers and harsh cleansers.” A comfortable bathing routine that keeps your skin clean while protecting its natural moisture barrier is the goal.
