Here are 5 commonly overlooked areas worth paying special attention to:
1. Behind the ears
This area is easy to miss because it isn’t directly visible when you shower.
- Gently wash behind each ear and in the folds where the ear meets the head.
- Remove accumulated sweat, oil, dead skin, shampoo residue, and skin products.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry gently rather than rubbing vigorously.
- If you wear hearing aids, make sure the skin around and behind them is clean and completely dry before putting them back in.
Watch for: persistent redness, cracking, drainage, pain, or an unusual odor. These can indicate irritation or infection and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
2. Between and underneath the toes
Feet can become an overlooked source of moisture and odor, particularly between the toes.
- Wash the tops, bottoms, heels, and sides of both feet.
- Gently clean between every toe.
- Rinse away soap completely.
- Dry carefully between the toes.
- Change socks regularly, especially if your feet become sweaty.
Don’t aggressively scrub cracked heels or rough skin. Aging skin is more prone to dryness and cracking, and excessive scrubbing can make irritation worse.
Important: If you develop persistent peeling, itching, cracking, swelling, or a sore that doesn’t heal, ask a healthcare professional about it.
3. The belly button
The navel is a small skin fold where sweat, dead skin cells, lint, and body oils can accumulate.
During your shower:
- Use a little gentle cleanser and water.
- Clean the inside carefully with your fingertip or a soft washcloth.
- Don’t dig aggressively into the navel.
- Rinse well.
- Dry it afterward.
If you notice persistent odor, redness, swelling, pain, bleeding, or discharge, don’t simply keep scrubbing it. Have it checked.
4. Skin folds—especially under the breasts, abdomen, or groin
Skin-to-skin folds can trap heat, sweat, and moisture. These areas deserve gentle attention.
Depending on your body, this may include:
- Under the breasts
- Beneath an abdominal fold
- Groin creases
- Between the buttocks
- Other areas where skin touches skin
Wash gently rather than scrubbing. Then dry thoroughly, especially inside the folds.
Keeping these areas dry is important because prolonged moisture and friction can contribute to irritation and skin problems.
If you notice a rash that is bright red, painful, spreading, cracked, oozing, or repeatedly returning, speak with your clinician rather than repeatedly applying random creams.
5. The groin and external genital area
This is another area people sometimes either overlook—or clean too aggressively.
For everyday hygiene:
- Wash the external genital area gently.
- Use warm water and, if needed, a mild fragrance-free cleanser.
- Don’t scrub.
- Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps, deodorants, or sprays on sensitive genital skin.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry gently afterward.
For women, avoid putting soap or cleansing products inside the vagina; the vagina is self-cleaning. For men, if uncircumcised, gently retract the foreskin when possible, clean underneath, rinse, dry, and return the foreskin to its normal position.
The American Academy of Dermatology specifically recommends gentle cleansing and notes that cleanser should generally be concentrated on areas that need it, such as the armpits and groin, rather than aggressively soaping the entire body.
A better bathing routine after 60
You don’t need a long, hot shower to be clean. In fact, prolonged hot bathing can worsen the dryness that becomes common with age.
A practical routine is:
1. Use warm water.
Avoid very hot water.
2. Keep the shower relatively short.
Dermatologists recommend roughly 5–10 minutes for people with dry skin.
3. Concentrate cleanser where it is needed.
Pay particular attention to the armpits, groin, feet, skin folds, and visibly dirty or sweaty areas.
4. Don’t scrub hard.
A soft washcloth or your hands are generally sufficient. Aggressive scrubbing can irritate aging skin.
5. Dry carefully.
Pat rather than vigorously rubbing, especially around skin folds and between the toes.
6. Moisturize afterward.
Apply a fragrance-free cream or ointment while the skin is still slightly damp—ideally within a few minutes of bathing. This helps retain moisture and protect the skin barrier.
One important point about “staying energized”
Cleaning these areas can certainly improve comfort, freshness, odor control, and skin health, but washing specific body areas does not directly increase energy or prevent aging-related fatigue. If someone over 60 is experiencing persistent or unexplained tiredness, it’s better to discuss it with a healthcare professional rather than assuming it is a hygiene issue.
And if you notice new sores, persistent itching, bleeding, unusual discharge, significant redness/swelling, or skin changes that don’t heal, get medical advice. Aging skin can be more susceptible to irritation and infection, and persistent changes deserve attention.