If you shower each day you probably think you’re a bit of an expert at it.
I mean, that’s 365 showers a year you’re racking up, sometimes more if you take a second shower.
What could you possibly learn about showering with this amount of expertise under your belt? Well chances are you might be making one or more mistakes at showering and you aren’t the expert you think you are!
Here are the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to showering.
1. Showering every day
If you’re showering every day to feel fresh and smell nice, you probably think you’re doing yourself (and everyone around you) a favour. But science thinks otherwise.
A study carried out by the University of California found too much washing can be bad for you as it strips away bugs that the body utilises to keep infections at bay. Daily showers disturb the skin’s natural bug floras and skin oils.
2. Scrubbing your scalp with your fingernails
It might feel refreshing, but if you’re scraping your scalp with your fingernails when you’re giving it a scrub, you might be doing more harm than good.
Dermatologists warn that scratching the scalp can cause it to flake, and it’s better to use your fingertips to work up a lather.
3. Showering at the wrong temperature
If your shower is too hot, you’ll dry your skin out. But if it’s too cold, your cleanser won’t lather as easily. Researchers say the best temp for a shower is about 39 degrees Celsius if you have moderately dry skin.
If the water is too hot or too cold it can strip your skin’s natural oils and leave it dry and itchy.
4. Showering for too long
It can be tempting to stay in the shower for as long as possible, but experts say you shouldn’t be in there for longer than 5 to 10 minutes to prevent your skin being stripped of moisture.