Name: CLEAN
ISBN: 9781847925565

JAMES. HAMBLIN

Our Culture of Hygiene Obsession and the Benefits of Doing Less

CLEAN

James Hamblin

Named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR and Vanity Fair One of Smithsonian's Ten Best Science Books of 2020 “A searching and vital explication of germ theory, social norms, and what the modern era is really doing to our bodies and our psyches.” —Vanity Fair A preventative medicine physician and staff writer for The Atlantic explains the surprising and unintended effects of our hygiene practices in this informative and entertaining introduction to the new science of skin microbes and probiotics. Keeping skin healthy is a booming industry, and yet it seems like almost no one agrees on what actually works. Confusing messages from health authorities and ineffective treatments have left many people desperate for reliable solutions. An enormous alternative industry is filling the void, selling products that are often of questionable safety and totally unknown effectiveness. In Clean, doctor and journalist James Hamblin explores how we got here, examining the science and culture of how we care for our skin today. He talks to dermatologists, microbiologists, allergists, immunologists, aestheticians, bar-soap enthusiasts, venture capitalists, Amish people, theologians, and straight-up scam artists, trying to figure out what it really means to be clean. He even experiments with giving up showers entirely, and discovers that he is not alone. Along the way, he realizes that most of our standards of cleanliness are less related to health than most people think. A major part of the picture has been missing: a little-known ecosystem known as the skin microbiome—the trillions of microbes that live on our skin and in our pores. These microbes are not dangerous; they’re more like an outer layer of skin that no one knew we had, and they influence everything from acne, eczema, and dry skin, to how we smell. The new goal of skin care will be to cultivate a healthy biome—and to embrace the meaning of “clean” in the natural sense. This can mean doing much less, saving time, money, energy, water, and plastic bottles in the process. Lucid, accessible, and deeply researched, Clean explores the ongoing, radical change in the way we think about our skin, introducing readers to the emerging science that will be at the forefront of health and wellness conversations in coming years.

The New Science of Skin

Clean

Shalini Basu

I thought it was going to be more about skincare products, so my bad. Lovely introduction to skin and skin microbiome though. People with non-medical background will find this easy and informative read.

"The things we do every day to keep ourselves clean can have surprising and unintended effects, as this entertaining introduction to the new science of skin microbes and probiotics reveals Keeping skin healthy is a booming industry, and yet it seems like almost no one agrees on what actually works. What one person says is vital another says is toxic. We have not cured acne or eczema, allergies keep getting worse, and autoimmune conditions are becoming increasingly common. In Clean, doctor and journalist James Hamblin explores how we got here, examining the science and culture of how we care for our skin today. He talks to dermatologists, microbiologists, allergists, immunologists, aestheticians, bar-soap enthusiasts, venture capitalists, Amish people, theologians, and straight-up scam artists, trying to figure out what it really means to be clean. He even experiments with giving up showers entirely, and discovers that he is not alone. Along the way he realizes that most of our standards of cleanliness are less related to health than most people think. In fact, our overuse of soap, sanitizers, and untested, misleading skin-care products may be to blame for many problems. But a little-known area of science is shining light on our skin microbiome-the trillions of microbes that live on our skin and in our pores. These microbes influence everything from acne, eczema, and dry skin to how we smell. The new goal of skin care will be to cultivate a healthy biome-and to embrace the meaning of "clean" in the natural sense. This can mean doing much less, saving time, money, energy, water, and plastic bottles in the process. Lucid, accessible, and deeply researched, Clean explores the ongoing, radical change in the way we think about our skin, introducing readers to the emerging science that will be at the forefront of health and wellness conversations in coming years"--

Clean: The New Science of Skin

I really enjoyed „Clean” and I frankly wish James had written even a longer book explaining the skin microbiome and debunking the toxic beauty industry. Informative, witty and likely to convince you to never think about your skin the same way ever again.

Karolina

Lisa Lindquist 

Keven Wang

This book should be a lot shorter. This book does not have a very focused narrative. If I was not extremely interested in the subject matter. I would give it up after chapter 2

Loved this book and learned so much about the history of marketing soap and what we actually need to do to maintain our skin health and microbiome. Spoiler: as little as possible. Highly recommend everyone to read!

Maddie

Lewis Smith

This is a book most people should read, especially if they have children.

Introducing the new science of skin and a more natural approach to being clean: Our skin plays an essential role in our health. But our understanding of what skin is and how it works is changing. Much of what we think of as cleanliness and skincare might actually be harming it. In Clean specialist in preventive medicine Dr James Hamblin draws on the latest science to offer an exciting new perspective: on our bodies, our health and our relationship with the natural world. 'You'll never think about your largest organ the same way again' David Epstein, author of Range 'A thought-provoking and deeply-researched investigation' Bianca Booker, author of Cork Dork --- We treat our skin as a surface to be kept clean and clear, requiring daily application of soap, moisturisers and many other products. But while hygiene - and hand-washing especially - is essential to prevent the spread of disease, this attitude to skincare might actually be damaging our health. In fact, our skin is a complex and diverse ecosystem, playing host to trillions of bacteria that are integral to our immune system. By removing them with soap, we potentially compromise the protection they afford. Not only is our overuse of soap and skincare products harming the environment, it is likely to be exacerbating or even causing many of the skin conditions we seek to remedy or avoid, and increasing our vulnerability to allergies. In Clean, specialist in preventive medicine James Hamblin shows that this is a relatively recent development, and a healthier, simpler way is available. An irreverent and entertaining journey through our complex relationship with our bodies and cleanliness arrives at a new and scientific conception of skincare that is now taking hold: the cultivation of a healthy biome and a natural approach to being clean.

The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less

Laura Mitchell Hutchinson

What should I be doing to take care of my skin? How much of what people do is about enjoyment – or at least not disgusting other people or seeming negligent or oblivious – and how much might actually improve my own health and well-being?

Super important and interesting! Don't be fooled by the headlines that only want to talk about how the author has stopped showering - this book is about the science of skin and the history of the concept of 
  cleanliness
 and how it has been entwined with religion, politics, pop culture and advertising for the last few hundred years.

My recap:
- Just like our digestive system has 'gut flora' which we can improve through eating healthy foods and taking probiotics, our skin as has an environment of tiny bacteria crawling all over it constantly, a microbiome, which maintains health. 
- When we wash with soap too often or use lots of 'skin care products' (which are completely unregulated and sold to us under the cultural understanding of 'cleanliness' and 'hygiene' instead of being scientifically beneficial), we upset and unbalance our skin flora, causing break outs, dryness, rashes, etc.
- We have many different types of skin all over our bodies: armpit skin is very different to forearm skin which is different again to the crook of the elbow skin.
- The skin is our first form of defence for our immune system. There was a fascinating study of Amish people vs. modern day Americans that assessed allergies and mental health and general immunity and it basically found that modern Americans are not exposed to dirt, plants, animals, sunlight, etc, and being so removed from nature is weakening our skin and our overall health.
- Less really is more when it comes to skin care. Skin needs time to breathe and balance the microbiome. Showering twice per day, living indoors with aircon instead of open windows and using chemical exfoliant is basically for your skin what eating McDonalds every day with no veggies is to your gut. (My analogy not the author's).

Also, the author Dr James Hamblin still washes himself and maintains hygiene. He is a HUGE fan of washing - particularly washing hands with soap - but instead of showering every day he has what my nanna would call 'a bird bath' to the important areas that get sweaty. I personally am DEFINITELY still a fan of showering but am much more careful about what I am putting on my skin and why, will not be swayed by vague marketing claims on plastic bottles. My skin care routine (particularly after reading this book) is to eat lots of fruits and vegetables with as little salt and oil as I can, showering daily or every second day if I haven't exercised, getting outdoors where I can and moisturising when I need to. The beauty industry is disproportionately targeting women's insecurities and I would love to see more people reading this book and considering the perspective of both businesses and scientists in their purchasing and product using decisions.

CLEAN Our Culture of Hygiene Obsession and the Benefits of Doing Less

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