Shower Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Skin

posted in Other on Apr 28, 2023

Many of us enjoy the feeling of a long luxurious shower at the end of the day. It's a great way to unwind, reflect, and scrub away the days impurities. However, that moment you look forward to could also be what’s causing some of your biggest skin issues. (Yeah serious bummer I know) You would be surprised at how something as simple as water temperature can have a drastic effect on the appearance of your skin.

Fear not though, we have advice from expert dermatologists to help you avoid these common shower mistakes by making small tweaks to your cleaning routine without sacrificing too much comfort.

Mistake 1: Your water is too hot!

While boiling to scalding might be your favorite water temperature, Debra Jailman, MD, a dermatologist from NY, warns that hot water can remove too much oil from your skin leaving it dried out. She suggests showering in “lukewarm to warm” water with the temperature between 101 -105 degrees farenheit.

Mistake 2: You refuse to exit the shower

I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who didn’t like long showers. However staying in there for too long (especially in warmer water) can strip your skin of its natural oils and leave you with irritated, dry skin. Dr. Jailman recommends to keep it as short as possible - under 10 minutes if you can!

Mistake 3: You haven’t replaced your loofah

The tool you’re using to clean yourself could be the leading culprit to the cause of your skin issues! Loofahs and washcloths need to be properly dried out after each use otherwise you’re just asking for bacteria and mold (yuck!) Most dermatologists recommend replacing your sponge at least every 3 weeks or sooner if starts to develop an odor.

Mistake 4: Your soap is too harsh

Although soap is great for removing dirt from skin, it can also remove good oils that your body needs to stay moisturized. However all soaps are not created equal so it’s important to make sure that your soap isn’t too harsh or fragrant. Dr.Jailman suggests finding a body wash that is moisturizing with ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid. In fact, one that I personally love using is the Tea Tree and Mint Body Wash from BAOBAB.

Mistake 5: You are exfoliating too much

While many of us love that *squeaky clean* feeling, over exfoliating and scrubbing too hard is damaging to the skin. Founder of Art of Skin and board certified dermatologist, Melanie Palm, MD, says “Overly aggressive cleansing can cause irritation, leading to redness or rashes, and it can make eczema worse.” So if you really need to exfoliate, look for body sugar or salt scrubs that will melt in the water.

Mistake 6: You’re not rinsing off all your products

Have you ever finished a shower and found a tiny bit of soap left behind? Same. What’s important though is rinsing that spot again as opposed to just rubbing it away. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr.Baileyskincare.com, Cynthia Bailey, MD says, “If you fail to completely rinse soap off your skin, it will keep dissolving the natural oils that are important for protecting it.”

Mistake 7: You remove your makeup in the shower

Many of us are probably guilty of jumping in the shower with a full face of makeup on, assuming it will wash off. However, it’s best to remove as much of your makeup as possible beforehand and use the shower to ensure you didn’t leave any residue behind. Plus you don’t want mascara to run into your eyes and cause irritation! Next time try some quick wipes to remove your makeup like the Blum Naturals Daily Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes.