For some students, nothing is worse than taking high school showers after gym. If the idea of taking a shower after gym class sends shivers up your spine, read on to get some ideas on how to deal with this all-too-common problem!

High School Showers: A Necessary Evil

People who perspire a lot, especially after sports activities, need to take a shower. The reason for this is simple: bacteria begin growing in a warm and moist environment. As bacteria begin to multiply, they cause an unpleasant odor. The best way to stop the growth of bacteria, and put an end to the unpleasant odor, is to take a shower or bath.

Some students may think that throwing on scented powder or using more deodorant will cover up these odors, but the world has yet to invent a product that can head off the problem entirely. If you want to get completely rid of the odor, taking a shower and scrubbing yourself thoroughly with soap is the only way.

The Truth About Showers

Everyone who has ever attended high school has had to deal with the high school shower problem. Whether you are a girl or a boy, everyone feels the same. It is normal to feel embarrassed. There is the perception that everyone is checking each other out to see who has the most perfect body or is best endowed. While there is some truth to that thought, since most teens like to compare themselves with their peers, for the most part everyone is trying to get to the showers, finish the chore and get out as quickly as possible. No one really has the time to size anyone up and make value judgments.

How to Avoid Embarrassment

Nothing will call attention to you like avoiding the showers all of the time. You'll actually give your peers something to talk about if you never hit the showers. How do you deal with the situation without dying of embarrassment? There are a few things you can do to avoid stressing in the locker room:

Ask your coach if you can hit the showers a few minutes early. While not all coaches will do this, it is worth discussing it with them. Most athletes are acutely aware of this particular problem, and may have struggled with it themselves. Buy a decent sized towel and don't rely on the skimpy towels your gym provides. While not every school provides towels, for those that do… why rely on a ridiculously small towel to hide under? Buy one or two towels that are beach sized. They make great cover ups and with a little experience, you can even get dressed with one on! Girls can buy terry towel wraps that attach with Velcro so you don't have to worry about them falling off. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and are made to fit any figure. If modesty is a major concern, these little numbers can help you avoid feeling naked in front of the crowd. Nothing feels more awkward in a shower than looking at a bunch of naked bodies around you. If you are unfortunate enough to have a common shower with no dividers or curtains, get the corner spot and face the wall as much as possible. Avoiding eye contact usually makes this more bearable. Buy a wash product that does several things so you don't have to carry a bunch of bottles or bend over in the shower. There are several products on the market that can be used both as a shower gel and shampoo for guys and girls. Check out the soap aisle in your favorite retail store or drugstore and see what's available in your area.

Finally, don't let the idea of the showers ruin your entire day. As much as you may dread taking a shower, the thought of it is much worse than it actually is. Some students even start to enjoy taking them because hot showers make them more relaxed and ready to face the rest of the day. After you do it a few times, the embarrassment of it should start to go away and you'll no longer suffer from those feelings of self-consciousness.