I’m a doctor — you need to remember to wash these 3 overlooked body parts
Keep it clean!
Dr. Jason Singh, a primary care doctor based in Virginia, is revealing the three body parts you’re probably overlooking in the shower — your belly button, feet and ears.
“Let’s get real — when’s the last time you gave your belly button some TLC?” Singh asked his 96,300 TikTok followers in a clip last month.
“This area harbors dirt, sweat and bacteria, particularly true for those with deep-set, or what we call innie, belly buttons,” Singh continued. “The anatomy is such that the navel creates a warm, moist environment that can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, which can then lead to discharge and unpleasant odors and infections.”
Teen Vogue reports that once or twice a week, those with an innie belly button should use a Q-tip and mild soap to clean the area while those with an outie belly button should lather up a washcloth or sponge.
Next, Singh says you need to focus on your feet. He noted that the soles of the feet have more sweat glands than other body parts.
“It’s like a hormonal teenager with toes,” he joked. “Sweat, combined with a warm environment created by wearing shoes and socks, provides an ideal habitat for bacteria and fungus.”
He added: “Keratin, which is a protein in the skin, nails and hair, can also become a food source for these microorganisms, further exacerbating the problem.”
Poor foot hygiene can lead to the fungal infection athlete’s foot or staph infections, which is when bacteria get into your skin through a cut or sore.
Dr. Eric Ascher, a family medicine physician and the assistant director of special projects for Northwell Ambulatory Western Region, echoed the importance of washing your feet.
“People tend to forget or expect soap to run from other body parts during a shower to hit their feet,” Ascher told The Post. “If you are someone who wears socks, tight-fitting shoes, or exercises, washing in between your toes is especially important.”
And finally, don’t forget to wash behind your ears.
“Sebaceous glands behind your ears produce sebum, which is a mix of sweat and dirt,” Singh explained. “The skin folds and the crevices in the area harbor these substances and can create an environment that is conducive to bacterial overgrowth, and so because it’s proximal to your hair, which also has a lot of oils in it, this can create a lot of nasty gunk that’s sort of built up there.”
Singh’s advice mirrors the “grandmother hypothesis.”
Keith Crandall, founding director of the Computational Biology Institute and professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics at George Washington University, says his grandmother told him and other kids in his family to “scrub behind the ears, between the toes and in the belly button.”
Crandall theorized that these three areas are washed less often and could harbor bacteria different from what’s on the rest of the body.
His team of students recently tested this presumption by collecting skin samples from the three hotspots.
They found that they can host an unhealthy collection of microbes compared to areas that are scrubbed more often.
Ascher said skin folds, such as the armpits and groin, needed to be targeted in the shower as well.
“Any skin fold on the body from excess skin or weight should be lifted during bathing to ensure you are adequately washing and drying those areas,” he said. “The drying is just as important to ensure there is minimal moisture left on your body, as moisture is also a breeding ground for infection.”
