For many of us, taking a long hot shower isn’t just about getting clean, it’s the one time of day when no one can contact us to ask about late work, what’s for dinner, or our car’s extended warranty. .
But could our beloved bath time be wreaking havoc on our bodies?
That’s what we – Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of “Am I Doing This Wrong?” by HuffPost. podcast – asked Dr. Divya Shokeenthe founder of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute in Manhattan Beach, California, when she stopped by the studio to talk about all the ways we might be showering wrong and how to do it better.
“Should you take a hot shower? No. Ideally, you should have a cold,” Dr. Shokeen told us.
“I actually went down a huge rabbit hole on PubMed, which is basically a scientific database that analyzes all these articles, [and I found studies that show] a cold shower not only invigorates you more, but it also helps hair follicles, helps hair growth, helps skin rejuvenation, blood vessel dilation – it’s amazing for you.
Cold water can also help workout recovery, increasing immune system responses, improving circulation and possibly even improving mental health.
Hot water, on the other hand, can strips the skin of its natural protective oils, fats and proteins, which can cause irritation, dryness and worsen eczema symptoms.
Since most of us can’t stand the idea of a cold shower, Dr. Shokeen recommends that we use warm water – not hot – and keep it short.
“Ideally [a shower should last] five minutes – five to 10 minutes. Anything more…disrupts your skin’s mantle, which can do more harm than good.”
Then, just before we finish our shower, she recommends lowering the water temperature.
“If you can tolerate this, [during] for the last 30 seconds, let it cool.
Following this cold “30-second hack” can give us some of the benefits of cold water exposure without forcing us to suffer through a freezing cold shower. However, some individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart problems, should never take a cold shower of any duration, and it is always a good idea to consult a medical professional before making any health-related changes to your daily routine.
Shokeen also noted that the cleaning tools we use in the shower, like loofahs and sponges, can damage our skin.
“100% – [only use your hands to clean],” she emphasized. “There’s no negotiation on this in terms of medical studies, because everything you do with loofahs and sponges, again, is all about breaking down the mantle… you actually break up the top layer, which allows for more dehydration. , and now you will have to use more lotion to minimize this.”
We also talk about why she never faces the shower, the one part of her body you can probably stop washing, and more.
Listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.To learn more about Dr. Shokeen, visit her websites dermatological practice It is your skin care line.
Need help with something you’re doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com and we can look into it in an upcoming episode.This post originally appeared on HuffPost.
