A Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Folakemi Cole-Adeife, has cautioned that frequent use of a sponge while bathing can strip the skin of its natural oils and cause micro-tears or micro-trauma.
Dr Cole-Adeife, of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.
She explained that bathing with a sponge too often could also introduce bacteria and other micro-organisms into the skin, emphasising that the skin naturally exfoliates itself.
She said, “Many people cannot bathe without a sponge, but the truth is, you don’t need to use a sponge too frequently or daily. This is because your skin exfoliates itself naturally most of the time.
“Even if you need to exfoliate your skin with a sponge, which is essentially what the mechanical abrasion of the sponge does, it’s not necessary to do it every day.
“Frequent scrubbing with a sponge can strip the skin of its natural oils, create micro-tears or micro-trauma, and introduce bacteria or other micro-organisms into the skin. It can also cause itchy skin. If you have itchy skin, try avoiding the use of a sponge during your bath and observe if it makes a difference.”
Dr Cole-Adeife advised individuals who feel unclean without using a sponge to limit its use to once or twice a week or, at most, three times a week.
“In Nigeria, we often believe that if we don’t scrub our skin thoroughly, we haven’t bathed properly. However, it’s not absolutely necessary to use a sponge daily. If you feel unclean without it, restrict its use to once or twice a week or three times at most,” she added.
