Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Take your best shower
The best time to shower is up for debate. Some people and some cultures believe showering at night is best as you will remove all the dirt and germs brought in from the outside. Many also believe it can be relaxing leading to better sleep at night. Others like me believe that the morning shower starts your day off well by waking you up. Some people even think the morning shower prepares them better for the day and makes them more productive. But scientists and doctors believe how you shower rather than when is most important!
Temperature and length of time. Long hot showers may feel good at the time but prolonged exposure to hot water can do more harm than good, especially with those who have dry skin or skin conditions like eczema. It opens your skin barrier and decreases the skin’s ability to hold onto water. Showers no longer than 10 minutes and using warm water are best for your skin according to dermatologists. If you shower at night, it should be no more than an hour before bed, preferably 2. Too close to bedtime can change your body temperature and disrupt your sleep.
Frequency of showering. This is a personal thing depending on your activity level and skin condition. Once a day is usually enough for most people and even less if you are not active or have a skin condition. Use a soap product that labels itself as gentle cleansing. Use shampoos labeled sulfate free. Many people also wash their hair too frequently. Daily washing is not necessary for most people and can cause dry hair and split ends. Be careful exfoliating, use your hands, a soft shower pouf, or a washcloth. Loofahs are too abrasive; your skin naturally exfoliates on its own. Be gentle, scrubbing is not necessary. pay attention to the three areas that are odor producing. Pits, privates, and piggies, the three ps.
After a shower or bath. Continue to be gentle with your skin. Pat your skin with a towel rather than doing the classic “towel shimmy” rubbing your skin. This is the best time to moisturize your skin. The humidity in the room and your damp skin can capitalize now with moisture. Doctors recommend using fragrance-free cream rather than lotions that have a higher water content. They will better lock in moisture. Skin health begins in the shower. Maintaining the skin barrier is important and how you shower depends on it.
Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago
