Penguin/Random House
The COVID-19 has changed how often we think about our own cleanliness, for example, by washing our hands more frequently.
Dr. James Hamblin says that although a pandemic seems like a strange time to reconsider cleanliness, it might also be a perfect time.
“A lot of people are working from home, not following the same showering and [hygiene] regimens as usual,” Hamblin says. “It’s an interesting time for people to experiment with minimalist trends.”
Hamblin, whose new book “Clean: The New Science of Skin,” is out now. He spoke to dermatologists, environmentalists, religious leaders and even visited Amish communities to explore the American culture of cleanliness and how it’s drastically changed our skin, health, and environment.
“There’s a lot of marketing behind the beliefs [of cleanliness] we’ve come to think are necessary.” — Dr. James Hamblin
“I’m not trying to write a prescription for anyone because it’s a very personal habit, all that I wanted to do is say for people who may want to experiment with doing less [bodily cleansing, there’s no biological reason not too,” Hamblin says.
Click the player to hear CultureShift’s Amanda LeClaire talk with Hamblin about why it’s time we reconsider what “clean” means for our skin and our culture.
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