La Arriesgada Tendencia de No Lavarse la Cara: ¿Es Buena?

Imagine if the best routine for taking
care of your skin was not washing it, not cleansing it, not exfoliating it, not moisturizing it? This is the
so-called “caveman routine” (caveman skincare), a trend that has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram and
proposes forgetting about soaps, creams, and serums. In other words, allowing the skin to self-regulate
as in the old days. Those who follow it are fundamentally young users looking for minimalist alternatives to facial
care routines. And they assure that their skin has never been better. Specialists, however, raise an eyebrow with skepticism and warn of its
risks.

In practice, the caveman routine proposes completely eliminating the use of cosmetic products on the
facial skin, including cleansers, creams, exfoliants… and even water. The idea is to allow the skin to reset and
self-regulate naturally, without external interference. Some followers of this trend, such as the Australian
influencer Tia
Zakher, have documented their experience stopping washing their face for several weeks, showing
the changes in their skin over time.

What Experts Say About the Caveman Routine

Dermatologists and skin care specialists are not entirely convinced. While they recognize that excessive use of
products can damage the skin barrier, they warn that completely eliminating facial hygiene can cause
accumulation of dead cells, pore obstruction, acne breakouts, and even infections. Thus, Mirian Rico,
esthetician and founder of the Mima Estética Avanzada centers, points out that “we live in a world of
environmental pollution, bad habits, and unhealthy foods; all that, added to the lack of facial hygiene, is a
trigger for dermatitis. By not cleaning the face correctly, hyperkeratosis occurs, which prevents sweat and
sebum from coming out, and can produce internal pustules and infections”.

For her part, Eva Collar, esthetician and founder of the Marquessa centers, argues that, “although in some
cases reducing routines can help to some extent restore the pH of the skin, especially if we have gone
through aggressive routines that have not worked, stopping cleaning the face and not applying any cosmetic is totally
counterproductive. Especially in people with hyperseborrheic skin”.

The Yale Doctor Who Stopped Showering

This TikTok trend refers to facial care, but there are those who have taken it much further. And not from the
pulpit of a social network, but from a medical institution. This is the case of James Hamblin, a doctor
specialized in public health and professor at Yale University, who has become known for his personal experiment: he
has been without taking a traditional shower for more than eight years. This decision, far from being a
simple provocation, is part of an investigation into the effects of the daily use of hygiene products on skin health.

In his book ‘Clean: The New Science of Skin’ (ed. Riverhead Books), Hamblin sets out the conclusions of his
experience and defends several key ideas:

• Re-evaluate modern hygiene: he argues that many current hygiene practices respond more to social norms
  than to real medical needs.
• Impact on the skin microbiome: the excessive use of hygiene products can alter the skin microbiome, an ecosystem of beneficial bacteria
  that help keep it in balance.
• Body adaptation: at first, his body emitted a stronger odor, but over time he found a natural
  balance without the need for chemicals.
• Difference between hygiene and cleaning: Hamblin distinguishes between the hygiene necessary to prevent
  the transmission of dangerous bacteria (such as washing hands) and daily cleaning with soap, which he considers
  more of an aesthetic than a medical issue.

Although his position has generated debate, Hamblin does not advocate abandoning hygiene, but rather
rethinking it and adapting it to individual needs. And avoiding the excessive use of products that may be harmful to
skin health.

The Master Chef Contestant Who Says He Doesn’t Smell

Now, in addition, the controversial confession of Chema, a Master Chef contestant, is added, about
whom his colleagues complain about his body odor. He assures that he does not need to use deodorant because “I don’t
smell anything. If you stop using chemical deodorants for 21 days, your body completely stops smelling”.
He has not made it clear where he got this idea from, but the rest of the contestants are holding their noses. And
they resolve: “what he doesn’t have is a nose to smell himself, because of course he smells”.

Can any conclusion be drawn from all this? Probably, the best recommendation is common sense. Although the caveman
routine seeks to simplify skin care and allow its self-regulation, it is important to approach these practices with
caution. Each skin type has specific needs, and what works for one person may not be suitable for
another. The most prudent thing: consult a dermatologist before making drastic changes in your routine.