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How to Shower and Bathe Properly: Steps and What Not to Do

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Showering every day may be a habit, but unless you're grimy or sweaty, you may not need to bathe more than a few times a week. Washing removes healthy oil and bacteria from your skin, so bathing too often could cause dry, itchy skin and allow bad bacteria to enter through cracked skin. When you expose your body to normal dirt and bacteria, it actually helps strengthen your immune system. Plus, showering too often wastes water.

Bathing Mistakes


USING THE WRONG SOAP

Using the wrong soap, like antibacterial or scented soaps, can cause skin problems for some people.

Antibacterial soaps can kill too much bacteria, including the good kind. This can allow bad bacteria that's resistant to antibiotics to move in. Harsh soaps can dry out your skin, so stick with mild soaps with added oils, gentle cleansers, or shower gels with added moisturizers. If you have eczema or sensitive skin, scented soaps can irritate your skin. Use fragrance-free soaps instead.

NOT WASHING YOUR TOWEL OFTEN ENOUGH

Change or launder your towel at least once a week to avoid toenail fungus, jock itch, athlete's foot, and warts.

Damp towels are a breeding ground for bacteria, yeasts, mold, and viruses. A dirty towel can cause toenail fungus, jock itch, athlete's foot, and warts. Yikes! To avoid this, change or launder your towel at least once a week and make sure it dries between uses. Hang it spread out on a towel bar rather than from a hook to help it dry quicker. Wash towels more often when you're sick and if your home is humid, like during the summer.

NOT CLEANING YOUR LOOFAH

Clean your loofah weekly by soaking it in diluted bleach and rinsing well.

Loofahs are great for scrubbing, but their nooks are the perfect hiding place for germs. You should clean your loofah weekly by soaking it in diluted bleach for five minutes and rinsing well. Although it's convenient to store your loofah in the shower, it's safer to shake it out and hang it somewhere cool where it will dry faster. You should replace a natural loofah at least every 3 to 4 weeks and a plastic one every 2 months.

BLASTING HOT WATER

A blasting hot water shower removes your skin's natural oils and can leave you dry and itchy.

A long, hot shower feels so good, especially in winter, but hot water removes your skin's natural oils and can leave you dry and itchy. Protect your skin by sticking with warm water and keeping your shower to 5 to 10 minutes. This is especially important if you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis.

WASHING YOUR HAIR TOO OFTEN

Don't wash your hair too often. Try going longer between washes and see how it feels.

Unless you have an oily scalp, you probably don't need to wash your hair daily. If you have curly, coarse, or chemically treated hair, wash your hair less often to keep it from getting too dry. Try going longer between washes and see how it feels. Even if you exercise or sweat every day, it's best to keep a regular hair-washing schedule. As you get older, you don't need to shampoo as often because your scalp makes less oil.

NOT INSTALLING A GRAB BAR

Install a grab bar in your shower to avoid slips and falls.

Tens of thousands of people in the U.S. fall and get hurt each year while bathing or getting in or out of the tub or shower. A grab bar can help prevent falls. It's also a good idea to put nonslip mats inside bathtubs and showers.

NOT CLEANING YOUR SHOWERHEAD

By cleaning your showerhead, you can remove bacteria that enter the air you breathe.

Your showerhead is an ideal home for bacteria, which love to grow in its small, damp, dark holes. When the water runs, the bacteria can enter the air you breathe. This is hard to avoid, but you can remove and clean the showerhead in boiling water to help kill the bacteria. It also helps to run hot water for a minute before you get in the shower, and drain as much water as possible from the showerhead when you're done bathing.

NOT MOISTURIZING RIGHT AFTER

The best time to put moisturizer on is right after you bathe or shower.

Lotion, cream, or any moisturizer works by trapping the moisture in your skin. The best time to put it on is right after you bathe. Apply moisturizer within a few minutes of drying off.

USING SOAP WHERE YOU SHOULDN'T

In the bath or shower, limit soap to your armpits, groin, feet, hands, and face

Not all areas of your body need soap in order to get clean. Limit soap to your armpits, groin, feet, hands, and face, and stick to warm water for the rest of your body. This will help keep your skin from getting too dry. Using soap on your vagina could irritate it and upset the balance of natural bacteria, which can lead to bacterial vaginosis.

KEEPING MINOR CUTS COVERED

Don't cover minor cuts when showering. Clean it every day with soap and warm water.

There's no need to keep minor cuts dry or cover them for showering. If you have a minor wound, it's best to take the bandage off and clean it every day with soap and warm water, and the shower is a great place to do that. Put on a new bandage after you dry off. Your doctor will tell you how to care for more serious wounds.

NOT RUNNING THE BATHROOM FAN

Turn on the bathroom fan or vent every time you bathe or shower.

The bathroom can get mighty humid during a bath or shower, and over time that moisture in the air can damage your woodwork and drywall. It also makes a welcome home for mold and bacteria to grow. Turn on the bathroom fan or vent every time you bathe to help control the humidity, and leave it on until the humidity goes down after you’re done showering.

NOT CLEANING YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN

Clean your shower curtain regularly to remove soap scum and bacteria.

Shower curtains can be a sneaky place for bacteria to hide. For most people, the soap scum that builds up is just gross, but if your immune system is compromised it could be a problem. Clean or change your shower curtain regularly to stay safe.

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