Improving your showering

Showering is about the first thing we do in the morning and last thing before bed at night. It’s an everyday basic habit that we do not even think twice about. “We shower to help shed dead skin cells, remove oil, dirt, sweat and bacteria. If they remain on your skin they cause a stink. What’s more, oil feeds bacteria, so when you wash both off, you are also cutting the risk of skin infections,” says, Dr. Suzanne Friedler. Here are a few ways to make your showering better.

WRONG TEMPERATURE - Very cold showers may not be the friendliest type, neither is the too hot approach. Hot water causes your body to lose its natural oil, leaving the skin dull, dry and itchy. Lukewarm water showers are better.

FOR TOO LONG - Standing under a warm stream of water may feel good, but staying too long is detrimental to your skin. Five to ten minutes is recommended for your showering.

USING A POUF OR WASHCLOTH - Poufs are great to minimize use of body wash. Poufs and washcloth can act as a source for bacteria. Dr. Friedler recommends that soaping up using hands is best.

HARSH CLEANSER - Due to COVID we are overthinking how we’re cleaning and disinfecting. Soap and water is still more potent than harsh chemical cleansers. A mild, lipid-rich cleanser has proven to be better for skin health - across a range of shower temperatures and rinse-off times, when compared with regular body wash

SOAPING UP BEFORE SHAMPOO - Dr. Day recommends, “Shampoo, rinse it off, apply conditioner, wash your body, and the rinse off the conditioner and body wash at the same time.” This means the wash helps remove any conditioner and leftover shampoo from your skin.

So, you can take your showering to the next level.