Burning water, a good energetic scrub, a soap that smells good … What if, instead of doing us good, these comfort gestures did our skin hard? Under cover of hygiene or relaxation, some daily reflexes undermine the skin barrier without being aware of it.
Why some hygiene gestures sabotage the skin without preventing
The first error is the water temperature. The more hot it is, the more it degreases the skin. Result: the natural protective film is eliminated, giving way to tightness, itching, even plates. Same fight for long or too frequent showers, which end up severely drying the epidermis.
Then comes the choice of soap. Some shower gels, especially cheap or travel products, are too striking for the skin. And it is not because they foam although they are soft … on the contrary. Their too alkaline pH attaches skin flora and distinguishes sebum production, especially on sensitive areas like the face or back.
Finally, there are poorly maintained accessories: shower flowers, loofahs or exfoliating gloves, rarely rinsed or dried, become in a few days real nests with bacteria. Used on sensitized or micro-listed skin, they can cause redness, buttons, or even more serious infections.
Good gestures to limit daily damage
Here are the reflexes to adopt today to take care of your skin without thinking about it:
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Favor lukewarm water for the shower, and reduce its duration to 5-10 minutes.
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Space the showers when possible, especially if the skin is dry or atopic.
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Use a soft, neutral or soap -free soap, ideally formulated for sensitive skin.
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Rinse and dry all the accessories after each use, and replace them regularly.
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Apply a moisturizer or oil just after the shower, on still damp skin, to strengthen the skin barrier.
These simple gestures are enough to make all the difference. And rather than “surlaver”, it is better to listen to what the skin tells us: redness, dryness, tightness … as many signals as it is time to review its routine.
