Hygiene is important for every man (or should be), and a proper hygiene routine should include a cleansing, total-body shower on a somewhat regular basis. But can the amount of time a man spends showering have any negative consequences on his skin, including his male organ skin? Can his bathing regimen have a negative impact on male organ health? The following explains it all.

How often?

Although it used to be a given that most men should shower every day, there is now considerable debate as to how many showers a man should take per week. While it is best to check with one's doctor concerning shower frequency, a general rule of thumb is that if a guy engages in activities that create a lot of sweat and/or accumulation of dirt daily, then a shower a day is usually recommended. For guys who don't find themselves in regular situations that create sweat and odor or dirt accumulation, showering three to five times per week is probably enough.

Why not every day?

So if a man doesn't find himself drenched in sweat daily, is there any reason NOT to take a shower every day? Actually, yes. Showering on a too-frequent basis can have a negative effect on the skin.

When a man showers, he is of course cleaning away dirt, grime and sweat; however, he is also ridding his body of protective oils. A shower also doesn't differentiate between harmful bacteria and good bacteria; both get tossed down the bathtub drain during a shower.

Length matters.

Frequency of showers isn't the only concern; the length of those showers matters as well. It may feel great to spend 15 or 20 minutes letting the water run over the body, but beyond a certain point the dirt and grime are gone and all that is being removed is more and more of the oils and bacteria that a body needs. In most cases, a shower should only last five to 10 minutes.

Temperature counts.

The temperature of the water is yet another important factor in maintaining proper male organ hygiene and skin health. Hot showers dry out the skin much more quickly than warm showers, and this is even more the case during cold winter months when the skin is already likely to be drier. Ideally, the water temperature should be lukewarm rather than hot.

Soaps are important.

Men need to take care when choosing soap. Every man's skin is different; some are much more sensitive, while others may require a "tougher" cleanser to get the job done. The goal is to pick the cleanser that is the gentlest while still proving the level of efficacy desired.

Guys also need to remember that a soap that works in one season may not be the best in another. For example, if a man tends to be an outdoorsy guy during the summer, he may have need of a more "aggressive" cleanser than in the winter when he sweats less.

It's also important to be wary of fragranced cleansers, which may cause a skin reaction in many men.

It doesn't stop when the water stops.

A guy's shower routine doesn't end when the faucet gets turned off. He needs to make sure he dries off with a soft towel that is not going to add extra abrasion to the skin.  It's also advisable to apply a moisturizer to the skin immediately after showering in order for it to be maximally effective.

Male organ skin

Male organ skin is especially sensitive, so extra attention needs to be paid to this area. The manhood is very likely to have a reaction to chemicals and fragrances in soap, so use the gentlest possible soap in this area (if any at all).

It's also advisable to make use of a high-quality male organ health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) after showering to meet the special moisturizing needs of this important body part. Because of its extremely delicate skin, the appropriate cream needs to contain a combination of natural hydrators, such as Shea butter and vitamin E. It also helps to select a cream that includes a powerful antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid, in order to avoid early on aging of manhood cells and the "wrinkled" look that some members develop.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common male organ health issues, tips on improving manhood sensitivity, and what to do to maintain a healthy member. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.