Are You Really Clean After a Shower
- 50TOUGH
- Sep 14, 2022
- 5 min read
Let's look at the effects of showering and how to best ensure that you are as clean as can be and have healthy skin
Most men think a shower is simple.
Hot water. Soap. Scrub a bit. Smell decent. Job done.
Not always.
If you train hard, sweat heavy, wear tight gym gear, sit in saunas, roll on mats, box, grapple, or spend time in commercial gyms, your skin takes a beating. Sweat, oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, fabric friction, and grime can build up fast — especially around the shoulders, back, chest, neck, and backside.
You may feel clean. You may smell clean.
But your skin might be telling a different story.
My Wake-Up Call
I shower daily. For years I used shower gels, then switched back to soap. The soap gave me that “squeaky clean” feeling — like every bit of oil had been stripped away. I assumed that meant I was properly clean.
Then, after some intense gym sessions, I started getting small breakouts around my shoulders.
One day, straight after a shower, I used an acne cleansing pad on the affected area.
The pad came away dirty.
That got my attention.
How could that happen after a proper shower?
Next day, I tried a gentle shower gel instead of soap.
Same result. Actually worse.
So the truth hit me: smelling fresh is not the same as being properly clean.
The surface was getting washed. But the pores, sweat residue, dead skin, and grime needed more work.
So I brought in the heavy artillery.
The body brush.
It looked like a miniature version of the old-school floor scrubbing brushes from primary school — but it worked. For the next two days, I used the brush with both soap and shower gel.
Afterwards, the cleansing pad came away clear.
That told me everything I needed to know.
A better shower is not about using more product. It is about using the right process.
The 50TOUGH Shower Protocol
If you are a man over 50 who trains, sweats, works hard, and wants healthy skin, your shower should not be an afterthought.
Your skin is your armour.
Treat it properly.
Tip #1: Choose Your Weapon — Soap or Shower Gel
There is nothing wrong with soap or shower gel if you choose wisely.
But a lot of commercial shower products are loaded with unnecessary fragrances, harsh detergents, and irritating ingredients that can dry the skin out or aggravate breakouts.
Look for products that are:
Gentle on the skin
Free from harsh sulphates if you are prone to dryness
Low in synthetic fragrance if your skin reacts easily
Suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin
Made with simple, recognisable ingredients
My personal preference is a good-quality natural soap.
Why?
Because traditional soap-making has been around for centuries, and a well-made bar can clean effectively without leaving you feeling coated in synthetic residue.
If you prefer shower gel, no problem — just choose a cleaner formula and avoid the cheap, heavily perfumed stuff that leaves your skin irritated or dry.
Also, check the ingredients before you buy. Do not just trust the branding on the front of the bottle.
Marketing is not skin care.
Tip #2: Scrub Like a Man Who Trains
Soap alone may not be enough — especially if you train hard.
You need some form of physical exfoliation to help remove:
Sweat residue
Dead skin cells
Excess oil
Dirt and grime
Product build-up
Bacteria-friendly debris
Good options include:
A wooden natural bristle body brush
A rubber body scrubber
A loofah
Exfoliating gloves
The brush made the biggest difference for me.
It gave a deeper clean, woke up the skin, and helped remove the build-up that soap alone was missing.
Important: Keep Your Tools Clean
Loofahs and scrubbing gloves can trap bacteria, dead skin, and moisture.
That means they need to be replaced regularly — usually every couple of months, sooner if they smell, discolour, or stay damp.
After use, rinse them properly and let them dry fully.
Do not leave them sitting in a wet corner of the shower like a bacteria hotel.
Benefits of Proper Scrubbing
A good scrub does more than make you feel fresh.
It helps:
Remove dirt, sweat, oil, and dead skin
Reduce blocked pores
Lower the chance of body breakouts
Support smoother, healthier-looking skin
Improve circulation to the surface of the skin
Make your skin feel alive again
Some people also use brushing to support lymphatic flow. Dry brushing is usually better for that than wet brushing, but either way, the key is not to attack your skin like you are sanding wood.
Firm pressure. Controlled movement. No ego.
You are cleaning your skin, not punishing it.
Tip #3: Use a Cleansing Pad Where You Break Out
After your shower, use a cleansing pad on areas prone to breakouts.
Common areas for men who train:
Shoulders
Upper back
Chest
Neck
Buttocks
Around gym-kit friction zones
Rub the pad properly over the affected areas.
This is not about obsessing over dirt. It is about checking whether your shower routine is actually doing the job.
If the pad comes away dirty after you have showered, your process needs upgrading.
Simple.
Tip #4: Rebuild the Skin Barrier
Here is where a lot of men get it wrong.
They scrub hard, strip the skin, dry themselves off, and walk away.
Then they wonder why their skin feels tight, dry, itchy, or starts breaking out again.
Your skin has a protective barrier made partly of natural oils. If you constantly strip it without replenishing it, you can create dryness and irritation.
That can make skin problems worse.
After showering, apply a small amount of natural oil or moisturiser.
Good options include:
Organic coconut oil if your skin tolerates it
Jojoba oil
Almond oil
A simple fragrance-free moisturiser
Non-comedogenic products if you are acne-prone
I personally like organic coconut oil, but not everyone’s skin responds the same way. If it clogs your pores or makes breakouts worse, switch to something lighter like jojoba oil.
A useful sign: if your skin drinks the oil in quickly, it may be dry and undernourished.
Apply a small amount. Let it absorb. Do not turn yourself into a glazed donut.
Once your skin improves, you may only need to do this every 2–3 days — or daily if your skin feels better with it.
Healthy Skin Is Built Through Consistency
If you train hard, your skin works hard too.
Sweat, friction, gym benches, mats, gloves, pads, tight clothing, and unclean environments all put extra stress on your skin.
This is especially true if you are involved in combat sports, heavy lifting, cycling, running, or any training where sweat and friction are constant.
Your skin covers and protects your entire body.
Look after it.
A better shower routine can help keep breakouts down, reduce dryness, improve skin texture, and keep you looking fresher, sharper, and healthier.
This is not vanity.
This is maintenance.
Your body deserves the same respect.
“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.”— B.K.S. Iyengar
The 50TOUGH Bottom Line
Do not just shower.
Clean properly.
Use a quality soap or cleanser.
Scrub with the right tool.
Check problem areas with a cleansing pad.
Replenish the skin afterwards.
Stay consistent.
Because at 50 and beyond, the goal is not just to live longer.
It is to stay strong, sharp, clean, and ready.
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