Who among us doesn’t enjoy a nice hot shower, especially in the middle of winter when it’s freezing out?! For many, a shower is a safe place where we can gather our thoughts and get the blood flowing.
But dermatologists caution that too much time — or too much heat — in the shower can actually be a bad thing for skin. And many of us seem to overdo it when it comes to these things.
Well like most things, if done in moderation there is nothing wrong with a long, hot shower here and there. The problem is that most people take more showers than they probably need. Dermatologists say that unless you’re very active, you generally shouldn’t take multiple showers per day. And be careful not to make them too hot. Exposure to high heat and cleansing products for too long is a bad combo for the skin.
Well, I don’t know about perfect, but I do have a few tips for our viewers.
PARTHA’S Rx
- Hot showers can make dry skin worse. Keep the temperature on the lukewarm side, especially during winter.
- Don’t over-shower. Most people don’t need to take multiple showers a day unless they’re very active.
- Keep the duration of your showers short. Overexposure to hot water and cleansers can damage skin and hair.
- Moisturize! Applying moisturizer right after a shower helps the skin retain water.
In general, hair doesn’t need to be washed as often as our skin does. Drying can occur when we overdo it with shampoo. At the same time, under-washing hair and neglecting the scalp can lead to dandruff. So like everything else — it’s all about finding the happy medium.
