5 ways you’re probably showering wrong

It’s midweek and it’s time to revamp a chief element of your daily routine —  the shower. Taking a shower seems pretty clear-cut, right? You turn on the water, wash your body, rinse off the soap and then towel-dry.

Turns out, we’re all almost certainly making careless showering mistakes that are harmful to our skin. As compiled from Huffington Post and Reader’s Digest, dermatologists reveal the most common showering errors that are wreaking havoc on your skin:

 

1. You scrub your scalp with your fingernails

PHOTO: WIKIHOW

A first-class scalp scrub can feel revitalising, but you’re essentially doing more harm than good if you use your fingernails to give yourself that feel-good massage. “Your fingernails can scratch the scalp and even cause flaking,” says Sandy Johnson, MD, of Johnson Dermatology in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Instead, use your fingertips to work up a thick lather. It’s also important to avoid forcefully and aggressively rubbing strands of hair between your hands, which can damage it and cause the dreaded split ends, she says.

 

2. You don’t condition your scalp

PHOTO: HEALTH AND CARE

Most people, especially women, who fear destroying their blow-dry and resulting with oily locks concentrate on spreading conditioner throughout the body of their hair but not the roots and scalp. That’s a big no no. Dr Johnson advises conditioning the entire length of the hair, from root to tip and especially focusing on the scalp. Conditioner in fact, hydrates the skin of your scalp, which helps prevent itchiness, the irritating dandruff and flaking.

 

3. Your shower is too hot and too long

PHOTO: NATURALLY HEALTHY TIPS

A steamy shower surely sounds like heaven to unwind after a stressful workday but it just isn’t good for your skin. According to Dr Heather Woolery-Lloyd, the co-founder of Specific Beauty skincare, long, hot showers strip the skin of its natural oils and can make skin problems like eczema worse. “They can also increase generalised itching even in people who do not have eczema,” she says. For healthier skin, Dr Woolery-Lloyd recommends keeping the shower short and the temperature warm or tepid but not hot. Dr Heidi Waldorf, the director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York City reveals, “Cold water helps to close the vessels that become dilated with heat. Otherwise, there is no benefit to the skin barrier with a cool or cold rinse.”

 

4. You scrub your body during washing

PHOTO: HUFFINGTON POST

We all want to be spick and span and clean up well but “People are too aggressive with loofahs and washcloths,” says Dr. Gohara. “Loofahs are terrible for scrubbing because they’re rough and can remove the skin’s natural protective barrier.” She recommends a cotton baby washcloth; gently glide it over skin with minimal rubbing. Dr. Johnson says using just your own hand is good enough, but urges people who must use a loofah or cloth to switch it out for a clean one regularly to avoid bacteria build-up which can lead to infection.

 

5. You don’t rinse well enough

PHOTO: SIGNATURE HITS

It’s important to make sure all soap, body wash, shampoo and other hair products are completely rinsed off, Dr Johnson says. Harsh cleansers, if left on the skin, can be irritating because of the chemicals and fragrance contained in them. Lingering product can lead to skin irritation and clogged pores, which can lead to acne. Prevent “bacne” (pimples and breakouts on your back) by rinsing your hair with your head tilted to the side, allowing the shampoo and conditioner to run right into the drain and not down your back.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2015.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.