We all know that bathing is important, but just how important? Since we were kids, we have been taught to take a bath every day and keep our bodies clean. Under normal life circumstances, however, you should be showering between every other day and every third day (Yes, even if you’re too cold, too tired, or running late to work).

Here are few stinky and surprising truths about what happens when you forgo bathing, which will make you jump into a quick shower.

1. Germs And Bacteria

If you don’t take a shower, you’ll fall sick as harmful germs and bacteria will get active on your body.

Your body typically has a lot of bacteria on your skin, most of which are actually good for you. The good bacteria produce natural moisturizers and protect your body from the otherwise “useless” ones. When you don’t shower, you increase the chances that the bad bacteria form a layer over the good bacteria and don’t allow it to function. As a result, there would be an accumulation of bad bacteria over your skin that spreads germs and skin-relate diseases — and then get you sick.

2. Skin Infections

In addition to possibly getting sick, some types of bacteria and fungi can cause skin infections, too, especially if you don’t periodically wash them away.

3. Dirt and sweat

If you don’t take a shower, dirt, germs, dead skin, sweat and oil will accumulate on your skin and make it unpleasant and grubby. Even if it is the peak of winter, our body sweats without realizing it. This sweat might evaporate or gets absorbed in your clothing, but the germs secreted along with the sweat stay on your skin.

4. Flaky Skin

Accumulation of dirt and germs due to skipping bath for a long time can also lead to a flaky or scaly skin. You will wind up with brown scaly patches on your skin, a condition dermatologists call dermatitis neglects.

5. Bad Body Odor

Body odor is caused when bacteria break down the chemical compounds in sweat and release foul-smelling chemical byproducts. If you don’t wash off the sweat (and some of the bacteria), it causes bad body odor making body stink.

Check out this video to find out more about what happens to your body when you don’t shower.

Maintaining good personal hygiene helps protect against illnesses and infections and is also a protective factor against social rejection. So, just like you don’t skip your meals, make sure you don’t skip a shower.