It is winter and all we want to do is to warm ourselves up in any way we can, and nothing does that perfectly than a hot shower or hot bath in the morning. As much as all that comes with so much comfort and warmth, your skin takes a toll.
The average shower lasts eight minutes, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You may want to reconsider your hygiene routine if you enjoy taking more than fifteen minutes to shower. Another thing is, you don’t just want to be in and out of the shower without doing a proper job, so rather keep it in the middle, not too long and not too short.
Several researches and studies explain what damage too many hot baths and showers do to your skin, these are the findings:
According to board-certified dermatologist Dr Edidiong Kaminska, long-term use of warm or hot showers removes the skin’s natural oils, opens our pores, and releases moisture. The Vinmec International Hospital explains this in details stating that hot showers may aggravate skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, and eczema, “Because it can remove sebum and essential oils for the skin.” Vinmec further states that when you take a hot bath, the skin becomes dry and causes wrinkles on the fingertips and this leads to the lipid layer that gives the skin its moisture being removed by hot water.
So, because we don’t want to intentionally destroy our skins, what can we do right when it comes to baths and showers? Dr Edidiong suggests a few steps, she states that using your hands is the easiest and most gentle technique to shower.
- Apply warm, but not hot water to the body.
- Make use of a basic soap bar or liquid cleanser.
- Use your hands to create foam, and wash your body from top to bottom, or from your head to your toes.
- Take a five to ten-minute shower.
- After drying off, apply moisturiser.
Dr Day, a dermatologist emphasises moisturising quickly after the bath within two to three minutes. He says, “Doing it quickly helps create a barrier to prevent “transepidermal water loss” and keep the skin plump.” Whether you take a shower or not, experts advise moisturising twice a day during the winter and when you have dry skin.
Also see: 5 Natural ways to elevate your skin
