Bathing or showering is essential to personal hygiene and isn’t hard to do. One only needs water, soap, and a towel to clean the body. However, some people make mistakes in the process that compromise their skin and hair quality, increasing the risk of skin irritation, dryness, and other problems. So, it’s imperative to know these bathing and showering mistakes and avoid them as far as possible for the best results.

Spending a long time in the bath or shower
Taking long hot showers is one of the biggest mistakes compromising skin quality. When hot water runs over the body, it strips away all the natural oils from the skin, leaving it completely dry. Dry, cracked skin can increase the risk of bacteria entering the body. Hence, experts recommend a cold water shower that lasts for five minutes to keep the skin healthy and moisturized.

Washing the hair every day
The hair produces oils, which are needed to keep it from becoming dry and brittle. However, many complain that these oils make their hair look greasy and, hence, wash their hair every day, depriving it of the much-needed oils. Experts recommend keeping a gap of around two to three days between each hair wash, which can change depending on hair type and age. Furthermore, once a person develops a hair-washing schedule, it’s advisable to stick to it to ensure the scalp and hair remain healthy.

Using harsh towels
The skin remains sensitive for some time after getting out of the bath or shower. If harsh towels are used to dry the body during this time, it can get rid of the essential oils on the skin. So, it’s best to opt for soft towels with a high thread count. Such towels don’t remove the oils, keeping the skin supple and healthy. Moreover, they keep the skin from becoming dry and prove to be much gentler on the skin.

Not moisturizing right after a bath or shower
Lotions, moisturizers, and creams help keep the skin hydrated by trapping moisture and preventing it from evaporating quickly. But experts recommend applying these skincare products right after a bath or shower for the best results. This is because they’re the most effective when the skin is already hydrated to some extent. Besides moisturizing the body, one can apply tinted face moisturizers to keep facial skin glowing and healthy. Tinted face moisturizers possess sun protection factors (SPF), which means they also work as sunscreen.

Besides avoiding these mistakes, one must wash their towels daily, use the right bathing products, and clean the bathtub regularly for healthy skin. Further, it’s crucial to bathe carefully when dealing with wounds on the skin, as uncontrolled levels of moisture can lead to infections.