11 common showering mistakes that impact your health badly

by Shatakshi Gupta

Showering every day is a must for the well-being of our body. Tough everyone has their unique schedule, the divide between those who wash their hair every day and those who choose to forgo a day or two only gets bigger. But do you know that some of the most common showering practices can be harmful? Yes you heard it right, some of our daily shower habits have an impact on our health. Here in this article, we have listed some of the most common shower mistakes that we must avoid.

Taking frequent showers:

Showering every day is a good habit, but you don’t need to shower more than once a day unless you’re really sweaty. Washing your face too frequently can dry out your skin, cause itching, and make it easier for harmful bacteria to enter through the skin’s cracks. Washing your face removes oils and healthy bacteria from your skin. Your immune system is really strengthened when you expose your body to normal dirt and bacteria. But remember to wash your hands frequently.

Not cleaning feet regularly:

We often ignore washing our feet because they are exposed to so much water in the shower. Even if your feet don’t perspire frequently, they need regular cleaning. Moreover, our feet are exposed to dirt when we roam without socks or shoes. Imagine what you carry to bed every night if you don’t properly wash your feet; there is no longer an excuse for letting soap bubbles trickle down your toes.

Using the wrong soap:

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Too many bacteria, including healthy bacteria, can be killed by antibacterial soaps. Antibiotic-resistant harmful microorganisms may be able to survive as a result. A moderate soap with additional oils, a gentle cleanser, or a shower gel with extra moisturizers is the best options because strong soaps can dry out your skin. Scented soaps can irritate the skin, especially if you have sensitive or eczematous skin. Use fragrance-free soap instead.

Not washing towels regularly:

Damp towels are a breeding ground for bacteria, yeast, mold, and viruses. Dirty towels can cause nail fungus, itching, ringworm, and warts. To avoid this, change or wash your towel at least once a week and make sure it dries between uses. Hang it out on a towel rack rather than a hook to help it dry faster. Wash towels more often when you’re sick and if your home is damp, such as in the summer.

Not disinfecting loofah:

Loofahs are great for scrubbing, but their nooks and crannies are perfect hiding places for germs. You should clean your loofah weekly by soaking it in diluted bleach water for five minutes and rinsing. While it’s convenient to store loofahs in the shower, it’s safer to shake them out and hang them in a cool place to let them dry faster. You should replace the natural loofah at least every 3-4 weeks.

Showering with hot water:

Long, hot showers are great, especially in winter, but hot water strips your skin of its natural oils and can leave you dry and itchy. Protect your skin by soaking in warm water and holding the shower for 5-10 minutes. This is especially important if you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.

Shampooing too often:

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Unless you’ve got an oily scalp, you must not clean your hair daily. If you’ve got curly, coarse, or chemically sensitive hair, wash your hair much less regularly to maintain it from getting too dry. As you get older, you do not need to shampoo as regularly due to the fact your scalp makes much less oil.

Not cleaning showerhead:

Your showerhead is an ideal place for microorganisms to thrive.  Several bacteria and fungi develop in its small, damp, and dark holes. When the water runs, the micro organism can enter your body through the air you breathe. To avoid this, once in a  while soak the showerhead in boiling water to kill the microorganism. Besides, run warm water for a minute earlier than you get inside the shower.

Not all body parts need soap:

Not all regions of your body require cleaning soap to get cleansed. Limit the use of cleaning soap on your armpits, groin, feet, hands, and face, and for the rest of your body, warm water is all you need. This will assist maintain your pores and skin from getting too dry. Using cleaning soap on your vagina disharmonizes the balance of natural microorganisms, which could result in bacterial vaginosis.

Not using bathroom exhaust:

The bathroom can get very humid throughout a bath. Through time this moisture damages your woodwork and drywall. It additionally welcomes mold and bacteria to grow. Turn on the bathing area fan or vent during the shower to check the humidity.

Leaving your razor in the bathroom:

Leaving your razor in the bathroom makes it a breeding floor for microorganisms. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to your razor that makes the best spots for micro organism to hide, and the growth will be exacerbated by a hot and moist environment. If you do not want to keep your razor outside of the bathing space, at the least ensure that you cling it up whilst you are done with its usage so it could air dry well.