Taylor Swift has sparked a hygiene debate after revealing she does not wash her legs in the shower. The 35-year-old singer made the admission during a 2019 appearance on The Ellen Show, where host Ellen DeGeneres asked about her shower routine.
Swift joked that shaving cream acts like soap, and DeGeneres agreed that many women wash their legs only because they shave. The clip resurfaced online, prompting mixed reactions from fans. One wrote: 'Taylor Swift said she don’t wash her legs but she shaves them girl that is not the same thing wtf.' Another added: 'I’m confused, isn’t the shower supposed to be the place where you wash EVERYTHING?!'
However, dermatologists have defended the practice. Dr Joshua Zeichner of Mount Sinai Hospital told Women’s Health that unless legs are visibly soiled, direct washing is unnecessary as cleanser runoff is sufficient. He emphasised that feet should still be washed thoroughly.
Dr Julie Russak of Manhattan added that daily showers are not recommended by dermatologists, as soap can damage the skin's microbiome. Physician James Hamblin, author of Clean: The New Science of Skin, told the BBC that mocking infrequent showering shows 'profound ignorance of the skin microbiome'.
