Do you have a fear of bathing?
Do you prefer a mud pit to a shower?
If you enjoy having your
own brand of smells, you might wonder.
What if you were the dirtiest man on Earth?
In 2014,
Amou Haji went on record
with the Tehran Times,
claiming he hadn't cleaned himself
in nearly 60 years.
Amou refuses to bathe because
he believes it will cause disease.
Living on the outskirts of his Iranian village,
he remains isolated
from his neighbors and his family.
So if you were to stop bathing,
Living without a daily cleaning ritual
might keep your loved ones away,
but you wouldn't be alone.
Right now,
between two and 10 million bacteria
are living on your fingertips and elbows.
And if you've never exposed
these areas to soap and water,
there would be even more
of these tiny,
disease-ridden houseguests living on you.
According to a 2009 study
by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention,
69% of men
don't wash their hands
after using the bathroom.
Ugh.
And 80% of illnesses caused by germs
are spread by your hands.
It's even more troubling
when you consider that every flush
These microorganisms can live
on your body for up to three hours.
And if you're not cleaning your skin,
germs aren't the only thing living on you.
You might develop
fungal infections around your nails
that could cause them
to crack apart and break.
Bacteria would build up
in the folds of your skin
and around your nails,
giving you a staph infection.
Since these areas are going unwashed,
this bacteria could lead to
a fungal infection.
You could develop tinea cruris,
also known as jock itch,
and tinea pedis, or athlete's foot.
Or maybe you would contract Candida,
an infection that spreads
to your mouth, throat,
gut, and your groin.
And if you don't treat it,
it might enter the bloodstream
and spread to your organs.
Outside your body,
the dirt and grime would be
building up on layers of dead skin.
Your skin would dehydrate,
causing it to flake and itch.
Sebum, the oil on your skin,
would build up,
causing acne across your face, chest,
and back.
Your skin could harden and thicken
to fight the infection,
developing into a condition
called hyperkeratosis.
This dense, protective layer
would be made of keratin,
the same proteins found in your hair.
Any exposed skin would turn dark,
scaly, and rough,
leading to a disorder called
dermatitis neglecta.
This inflammatory skin condition
is the direct result
of you not bathing.
And since you're not dealing
with this primary infection,
it would lead to secondary infections
across your body.
Your immune system would be compromised.
You would need a steady supply
of antibiotics to treat these illnesses.
But most doctors only
prescribe this medication for two weeks.
And since you're taking so many
antibiotics to fight off your chronic infections,
your body would build up
a resistance to the drugs.
A 2013 study by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
found that
almost 2 million people in the United States
get an antibiotic-resistant infection
every year.
And at least 23,000 of those people die.
And another noticeable sign of your decay?
Your matted hair.
Not washing your hair for weeks
may lead to it becoming thicker
with more volume.
But with the bacteria building up from
the moisture on your scalp,
after several days
your hair might smell like sour milk.
Your hands would show how infectious
your skin has become.
But it's the part you don't see
that's getting worse.
That part under your shirt.
In a 2012 study published in PLOS One,
researchers found almost 2,368 species
of bacteria living inside people's belly buttons.
And 1,500 of those bacteria
may be new to science.
Whether you're an innie or an outie,
your dirty belly button would become
an ecosystem that would rival the Amazon.
Oh, and we're assuming that
if you're not washing yourself,
you're not washing your clothes either.
Every stain on the fabric would
press against your skin.
This constant contact with the dirty fibers
would irritate your skin,
leading to dermatitis.
The rash would leave you red and flaky.
And since you never bathe,
your sweat would mix
with your dead skin cells and dirt.
Soon, your body odor
would become obnoxious,
keeping everyone away from you.
So you'd have plenty of time for yourself.
So, if you stopped showering,
you'd gain an extra two days
each year to do whatever you wanted.
And with all that time to yourself,
you could check out
the content on CuriosityStream,
the sponsors of this episode.
CuriosityStream offers thousands
of documentaries, non­-fiction titles,
and exclusive content
from some of the world's best filmmakers.
Get unlimited access starting
at just $2.99 a month or $19.99 a year.
You could reflect on your isolation
with the documentary
Mustang: Journey of Transformation.
It's a really cool exploration
of one of the last Buddhist sanctuaries
- tucked away in the Himalayas.
Or check out Hidden Japan,
and learn about the thousands
of diverse islands
and habitats that might
offer you a new start.
CuriosityStream is available worldwide,
so as long as you have a signal,
you can watch on your smartphone,
or other streaming devices.
And for What If viewers,
you get the first 30 days completely free
when you sign up
at curiositystream.com/whatif
and use the promo code whatif.
Sign up now,
and start your journey
into the unknown today.
But your new hobbies
should be the least of your concerns.
The way you stink,
you wouldn't be able to hold
a job unless it's remote.
And don't count on keeping
a roommate
"I hate you!"
or a romantic partner.
With the self-imposed isolation
and the preventable diseases
infecting your body,
being the dirtiest man on Earth
wouldn't just end your relationships.
It might end your life.
And if you stopped cleaning your body,
what would happen
to your dental hygiene?
What if you stopped brushing your teeth?
Ugh.
Well, that's a story for another WHAT IF.