How to take a shower: 10 rules | Showerheads to use
How to take a shower: 10 rules you haven't thought about.
We're not kidding. I bet one in two of you is doing it wrong. And "wrong" can cause serious dermatological problems.
Most of us don't even think that a familiar procedure like washing in the shower or bath can have some rules. We work hard with three washcloths as if we were trying to clean the pan. We use soap to "squeak" the skin. Basically, we pay little attention to what we apply to the body while washing - it's important to us that it's just clean. And then... we suffer from dry skin, a feeling of tightness, dermatological problems.
How does one have to wash so that the daily ritual can only benefit the skin? Natalia Gaidash, PhD in medicine, dermatologist, cosmetologist and NIVEA expert, shared her recommendations on how to sensibly take a shower or bath.
In fact, the rules exist. By following these nuances when washing and skincare after a shower or bath, you will soon feel that your skin has begun a new life.
First of all, you should pay attention to the quality of the water in which you take a shower or bath. The water must be purified. For drivers with high salt content, you should choose a hard water filter.
Rule #1: Take a shower twice a day.
In the morning, this procedure helps to cheer up. It's good if the bathroom has a powerful lamp that gives a lot of light or a window. The light helps you wake up and cheers you up. Filtered shower head with Vitamin C can be used for extra vigour. The scent of citrus will awaken your brain and give you extra energy for a whole day.
In the evening, you can take a bath to relax. Warm water, pleasant fragrances and gentle products with soft texture will help relieve stress and help you fall asleep.
Keep in mind that already 2 hours after washing, bacteria begin to multiply in the armpit area and in the intimate area, which can cause the scent.
Therefore, even in cold seasons, it is necessary to take a shower every day.
Rule #2: the water must not be too hot.
A person should be comfortable, not cold and not hot. Do you remember the water temperature in a warm sea or river? That's what skin loves the most.
In winter, many people like to bask in a bath or shower, but hot water can have a significant effect on blood pressure and cardiovascular activity.
Rule #3: determine the length of water treatments based on how you are feeling
To cleanse your skin, you only need 10 minutes spent under a jet of water. And to relax, you'll need more time. If a person is healthy and feels good, there are no restrictions on the duration of bathing procedures. Use different showerheads, or change the modes in them, to get the best shower experience.
Rule #4: choose a shower product based on your skin condition
The choice of product depends on your skin type and preferences.
If your skin is thin, sensitive, dry - choose the mildest, most delicate products: shower mousse, foams.
Products should not be alkaline to maintain normal skin pH.
Normal and oily skin will be suitable for both delicate products and ordinary gels, as well as cream scrubs.
It is better to use shower products that additionally moisturise the skin.
Rule #5: Sponges should be used with extreme care.
If you use sponges and brushes, the most delicate and soft ones are made of natural fibres. Synthetic brushes and wipes are too coarse and can injure the skin.
It is better to change your sponge once every two months in order to prevent microorganisms from multiplying on it.
The gentle sponge can be used to wash any part of the body, but it cannot be used on the face (there are special sponges for this).
Particular caution should be exercised when using a sponge in the frosty season.
The fact is that if a person regularly destroys the hydrolipidic mantle of the skin in winter, using soap or rough sponge, the skin will suffer very quickly without natural protection: it will wind up and roughen. Other dermatological problems may also occur.
Rule #6: You don't have to wash the skin before it squeaks.
If you feel this way, you have destroyed her hydrolipid mantle (natural protection).
The human body is designed so that the skin protects itself from moisture loss, creating a slightly acidic environment with a pH of 5.5. This environment does not allow harmful microorganisms to live and reproduce, but it is also beneficial for the beneficial lactobacilli living on our skin.
Improper care destroys this balance: for example, if a person uses soap, it shifts the pH level to an alkaline environment. The lactobacteria die and are immediately replaced by pathogens.
Fungal infections develop at pH 6.0, eczema at pH 6.5 and acne at pH 7.0.
Rule #7: Wash in the correct order.
Typically, the head is first washed so that the hair care product can take full effect. Then they go to the skin: first, it is recommended to wash the armpits and intimate area, then the rest of the body. Afterwards, you can go back to the scalp and massage it, and at the end wash all the products with water. A small amount of shampoo, gel or shower mousse is sufficient for complete cleansing.
Particular attention should be paid to the area of armpit cavities and delicate areas when washing.
Rule # 8: Use moisturizers after washing
If after showering or bathing you have a tight skin feeling, you should apply a moisturizer: milk, light cream or alcohol-free tonic.
But this should be done after the skin has dried up.
It's best if it happens naturally. If this is not possible, gently towel soak the skin (it should be clean, soft and made of natural fibres - cotton or bamboo). And then apply a moisturizer. This should be done at least 40 minutes before going out.
Rule #9: use a scrub no more than once a week.
Both scrubs for the face and body scrub is recommended to use no more than once a week. It is not necessary to rub and scratch the skin heavily. Particles of the product should not be hard, sharp.
The softer the scrub granules, the better it is for the skin.
Choose a product with delicate particles. Today there are even soft gel scrubs suitable for daily use. But still, they should not be abused, especially in winter, when the skin is very vulnerable. Snow, frost, temperature differences when moving from heated rooms to the street - all this puts a serious strain on the skin.
By the way, if you use gel-scrub, just wash with your hands (without sponge).
The small particles that make up the scrub will exfoliate the skin enough, and it will not need to be rubbed additionally with a sponge.
Rule #10: If you are pregnant, treat the bathing procedure with special attention.
Pregnant women are not recommended to take baths, especially hot ones. It is better to limit yourself to a shower. If you want to relax, try using a shower water filter with SPA effect.
When washing, consider the following nuances:
The temperature of the water in the shower should be comfortable: neither hot nor cold.
Wash the abdominal area carefully - no rubbing, massaging, scrubbing it.
To be in the shower is worth no more than 10-15 minutes, as it is undesirable to steam the future mother.
Aromatic oils should not be used in the bathroom - they are quite powerful tools that can affect blood pressure, uterine tone.
To minimize the appearance of stretch marks on the skin, it is recommended to use moisturizing mousse and shower gels.
After cleansing, the skin can be lubricated with olive oil, coconut oil or moisturizing cream. During pregnancy, it is important to maintain skin elasticity both externally, with proper and gentle care, and from the inside: drink enough water and eat fully.