Taking a bath seems like one of those things you can’t get wrong, but it turns out, there are ways to mess it up. According to dermatologist Stacy Chimento, people make some mistakes when taking a bath that could actually damage their skin. So when you’re ready to soak in the tub, these are the things you’ll want to avoid so you come out of the water feeling better than ever.
- The water is too hot- Sure, that super hot water feels relaxing, but it’s not great for your skin. Dr. Chimento warns that hot water can be abrasive and strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dehydrated and dull-looking. She says the ideal bath temperature is between 100 and 110-degrees, which is warm but not uncomfortably hot.
- Soaking for too long- Okay, but how long is too long? The skin doc advises sticking to 15 minutes and explains that “anything longer than that will begin to strip the skin of oils and lead to inflammation and irritation. So when it starts to get cold, it’s time to get out.
- Shaving before a bath- Shaving opens up your pores and may create little nicks in the skin and if you take a bath right after, germs and bacteria can get to those places. So she suggests saving shaving for the shower instead.
- Using essential oils- Do they make your bath smell amazing? Yep, but your skin might not appreciate those scents. Dr. Chimento says fragrance ingredients in the oils could really irritate the skin, but she has a fix - mix a few drops of an essential oil into a cup of oatmeal, then toss that into your warm bath. That way you’ll get the fragrance you like without potentially hurting your skin.
- Not moisturizing afterwards- Baths can dry out your skin, so when you get out, you’ve got to get some lotion or body oil on your skin while it’s still slightly damp to seal in moisture.
Source:Well and Good