A hot shower can relieve cold symptoms and help you relax, but prolonged water treatment can have a negative effect on your skin.
Regular hot showers can have a negative impact on health, primarily on the condition of the skin, according to doctors.
According to experts, hot water damages keratin cells located in the epidermis (the outer layer of human skin).
In addition, overuse of hot showers causes dry skin and aggravates dermatological conditions, including eczema.
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Experts recommend taking a short to moderately cold shower for five to ten minutes.
Shorter cooler showers are better for your skin, this is because using water that’s too hot can have a negative impact on the skin.
says Cosmetic doctor Dr Rekha Tailor of Health & Aesthetics.
Hot water causes damage to the keratin cells that are located on the outer layer of the skin, or epidermis.
Higher temperatures cause skin to dry out and aggravate skin conditions such as eczema, often resulting in red, itchy and dry skin.
The advice is especially relevant for people who suffer from skin problems.
Also, do not roughly rub and exfoliate the skin during water procedures, as this can provoke the appearance of microtraumas.
Dr. Sasha Dhoat, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Clinics, said:
Avoid over-showering, or showering in water that is too hot, which can dry skin and cause inflammation.
The top layer of the skin, the epidermis, has the vital function of the skins’ barrier; your body’s first defence to the outside world.
You can think of this a brick wall, preventing moisture loss and keeping out external aggressors, such as chemical irritants and infections.
Dr Dhoat also recommended showering for no more than 10 minutes.
There is no magic number for optimal shower time but 5-10 minutes would be a good ball-park guide
she said.
For patients who have issues with their skin barrier anyway e.g., those that suffer from eczema, I would suggest the shortest time possible, get clean and get out. Longer than 15 minutes is overdoing it for anyone.
Some other showering tips from Dr. Dhoat:
Over-aggressive skin cleansing or over-zealous exfoliation in a bid for glowing, clean skin is, in fact, an act of self-sabotage, damaging this brick wall.
If your skin is red, flaky, dry or sensitise after washing, it’s pleading with you to dial down your routine.
This will especially be the case if the skin’s brick wall may be already compromised, for example in aging skin, ultraviolet light damage, or skin disorders such as eczema.
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After a shower or bath, it is helpful to pat dry your skin with a towel and apply a moisturizer.
Earlier, dermatologists named the side effects of daily showering that can damage your skin.