To the majority of people, taking a daily bath is an inevitable ritual in their hygiene and grooming process. Bathing is when one awakens in the morning and cleans up from dirt accumulated through the course of the day, while taking some time to relax. On the other hand, something you might find to be relaxing can be a daily hell on your skin cells. Unhealthy bathing practices are the main reason behind frequent cases of skin dryness, irritation, acne and even skin infection. Even the slightest details like water temperature and the way you scrub yourself might damage your body's natural protection layer. Here are six daily habits that can damage your skin.

6 Daily Shower Habits That Are Sabotaging Your Skin

1. Blasting Ultra-Hot Water

Hot water strips off all those lipids and oils, which protect your skin from drying out. In the absence of these oils and lipids, your skin will lose water at a rapid rate, leaving it red, flaky, and very itchy. Reduce the heat to a comfortably warm level. If your mirror is totally fogged up, the water is too hot.

2. Lingering Too Long in the Tub

When skin is exposed to water for an extended period of time, even in the absence of soap, the skin cells swell, and the structure of skin cells is disturbed. The more you stay in, the more natural water is sucked from your body. It is advised to take showers for no more than 5 to 10 minutes. This is particularly important for people with eczema or psoriasis.

3. Using Harsh, Traditional Bar Soaps Daily

Regular soaps tend to be very alkaline with a high pH level that totally disrupts the natural acidic pH of your skin. The harsh cleansing process ruins the natural microbiome of your skin, making you extremely susceptible to infection, irritations, and even allergies. Stay away from the conventional bar soaps and opt for mild, soap-free body washes.

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4. Over-Relying on Bacteria-Laden Loofahs

Loofahs contain dead skin cells and are stored in a damp environment; hence, they are the best petri dishes for moulds, yeast, and potentially harmful bacteria such as Staph. When scrubbing yourself using a loofah, you are effectively applying all these microbes to your open pores. Make a shift to soft washcloths that you can put through the laundry after each use, or make sure you sterilise your loofah once a week and change it every three weeks.

5. Aggressively Towel-Drying Your Body

When you take a rough towel and rub it vigorously against your skin, it causes great friction. Such friction results in the shear of delicate, newly hydrated skin cells and causes immediate microscopic tears and irritation. Pat your skin dry gently. Your body should remain slightly moist to allow easy absorption of your next skin care procedure.

6. Skipping the 3-Minute Moisturising Window

As soon as you get out of the shower and start drying yourself with a towel, the air around you starts sucking moisture from the cells of your body through evaporation. If you do not lock the moisture immediately, all the moisture gained by you during the shower will simply go to waste. Keep your body lotion or oil close at hand in the bathroom itself.

Image credits: Freepik

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