Despite the fact that a hot shower is a perfect remedy for a gray winter day, the heat is not so good for your skin. Several studies have shown that hot water can strip the moisture away from the epidermis so that your skin barrier is affected and inflamed, and develop dry skin.
Dermatologists have a number of guidelines that you better keep to your skin as little as possible to damage.
First, keep your showers as short as possible. You do not have to make a sprint of it, but they do not have to last as long as an episode of your favorite Netflix series. “You can shower for up to 15 minutes,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara. “That is pretty long in itself. When your toes and fingers begin to wrinkle, then you have certainly been under it for too long.”
Earlier, scientists also stated that it is not a good idea to take a shower every day. “Washing too often does more harm than good. It dries out your skin and causes irritation. You wash away the good bacteria that naturally live on your skin. Therefore, you should preferably take a shower until every two to three days. If you still feel dirty, your face, armpits, the area under your breasts and genitals would be clean with some water,” says dermatologist Katherine Ashenburg.
And although the length of your shower and how often you shower are important, it is also important to keep an eye on the temperature. “The temperature of the water should be about as warm as what you expect from a heated swimming pool in the summer, which is around 30 °C,” explains dermatologist Joshua. “If your water is warmer, there is a chance that you will damage your skin.”
Finally, dermatologists recommend not to be lavish with shower gels or cleaners. “It is a myth that you need a cleanser every day to wash your body. For most people, you just rinse with some water already. The only exception is after you have sweated a lot, for example after exercising. The areas that spread the most unpleasant odors, such as your armpits and feet, on the other hand, do better with soap.”
