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How to protect your skin when showering

July 13, 2017

Are you one of those people who likes to take long hot showers? If so, then you need to take care of your skin.

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Abkühlung unter der Dusche
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Weihrauch

Shorter showers are actually better for your skin. To prevent dehydration of the skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends not showering or taking a bath for longer than 10 minutes, because hot water reduces the skin's natural oils. Prolonged contact with hot water can also make your blood vessels open up, causing red splotches or a rash to appear on your skin. Aggressive soaps are not recommended and exfoliants are not necessarily good either for all skin types. Gentle products without fragrance are the best choice. Fragrance often includes chemicals, which irritate sensitive skin. After showering it is better to pat the skin dry rather than to rub yourself down with a towel, which can exacerbate irritation to the skin.