Clean cover art

Clean

The New Science of Skin and the Beauty of Doing Less

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Clean

By: James Hamblin
Narrated by: Barrett Leddy
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About this listen

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.

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.

©2020 James Hamblin (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Anthropology Body Cleansing & Detoxification Hygiene & Healthy Living Skin Ailments Body cleansing Bacteria
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Critic reviews

'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

What listeners say about Clean

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Helping Lifelong Eczema

After Trying what seems like everything on my eczema , i did not like the thought of cutting down on soap / soap products , but with 50 years of nothing working i thought lets give it a try ,
i am from Port sunlight on the wirral so knew the history of lever bros , so skipped the stories then took all the nitty gritty advice although having to go through the whole book with tons of story but little advice , i implemented this advice . and am now eczema free .
it started clearing up on my arms first slowly all over , the last to heal was my back this week. 2 months in total .
now i also sleep better too .
I had to force myself not to bathe or put on my moisturizing cream ( on prescription Epimax ) .
now i dont need it anymore , but the thought of only a sink wash in the morning was rather daunting to me at first but after a month ok . i now shower only when necessary .
my morning bathroom routine went from 40 mins each day to 10 .mins
this worked for me and am extremely grateful for this book .

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an eyeopening read

I have to say this is one of the best books I've listened to, eye opening, thought provoking and for me answers and clarifies so many of my prior thoughts and beliefs . definetly recommended

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eye-opening!

Certainly confirms some things. And helps us take another step in the right direction. Thank you to bringing this to us, by doing it yourself and trialing newfangled ideas.

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Rarely informative

I almost never review books or other items I spend time on, but this book was so informative and eye opening, while being interesting, that I felt the need to help proliferate it...
I can of course only recommend reading it

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A life changing and mind blowing read.

Iv not used soap for over 4 months now since I first finished reading this book. My micobiome is as happy as ever. I have no smell and my skin is feeling softer then ever. This works! I'm mind blown - the less u do, the better.
The personal hygiene companies are a big fraud and I'm so glad over the health and environmental benefits I reap whiles also saving money and time by not falling for their scam. This book is life changing. Definitely worth reading!

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Mixed message

I enjoyed the book but I'm not really sure I got the message. While trying to push for doing less with regards to cleanliness, the book also focused on the danger of not having proper sanitation. I may need to listen to it again.
The book is worth getting though. Some very interesting parts in it.

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