Good for you/bad for you: hot showers

By Kirsten Hudson

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

 Stepping into a steamy shower on a cold day may seem like the perfect way to warm up, but your skin won’t appreciate it.

photo

Kirsten Hudson

Too much wet can dry you out? Long, hot showers can further your skin’s loss of moisture caused by winter winds and precipitation-free air.

 Harsh winter winds and dry air already leave skin feeling rough — and hot showers only make it worse. Taking long, hot showers causes moisture to evaporate from your skin, drying it out further, says John Rupp, dermatologist at Dermatology Specialists of Kansas City, in Kansas City, Mo.

 Not only do hot showers leave the surface of the skin feeling dry, they also cause transepidermal water loss — the breaking down of the microscopic barrier that holds moisture to the skin, Rupp says. When this barrier breaks down, skin cells lose moisture and become inflamed, leading to itchy, red skin. The loss of moisture can also cause eczema, a longer-lasting itchy inflammation of the skin.

 To keep skin feeling soft, you may have to alter your shower routine. Set the water at a lower temperature, use gentle soaps that don’t strip skin of its natural oils, such as Dove or Oil of Olay, pat dry — don’t rub — and slather up with creams instead of lotions, Rupp says.

 Even though a hot shower may feel relaxing, consider your skin before turning up that hot water dial.





Verdict: bad for you

 

Related articles

Winter Warning

Winter weather poses a dangerous threat to skin, hair and nails. Cruel ...

/news/2007/feb/01/winter_warning/

Dry Skin

Don't suffer through a season of dryness.

/news/2012/jan/18/dry-skin/

Good for you, bad for you: Ear ...

Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

/news/2010/nov/04/good-you-bad-you-ear-wax/

Better Health in a Green House

Indoor plants provide natural remedies for wellness worries

/news/2011/mar/03/better-health-green-house/

That's disgusting: Dirty socks

Clean socks help avoid athlete's foot

/news/2009/mar/26/s_disgusting_dirty_socks/

Health tip

Cold hair care

/news/2007/nov/15/health_tip/

Better Options for Bad Situations: Dandruff

Dandruff's kinda gross, so what do you do about it?

/news/2012/feb/08/better-options-bad-situations-dandruff/

Curing the common zit

The secret to greak skin is not necessarily in how often you ...

/news/2006/feb/02/health/

Cleaning up, au naturale

Lather up with some homemade soaps

/news/2008/mar/06/naturally_clean/

DIY: Aromatherapy

Relaxation made easy

/news/2008/feb/21/diy/

Setting Up Camp

Keep your outdoor experience safe

/news/2007/apr/12/setting_camp/

That's disgusting

Dusty pets

/news/2008/apr/03/s_disgusting/

Let's talk dirty

Bathing habits — and the idea of “dirty” and “clean” — vary ...

/news/2009/sep/24/lets_talk_dirty/

Health Tip

olive oil: no longer confined to the kitchen

/news/2007/apr/05/health_tip/

Good For You, Bad For You: Lip ...

Sometimes, it's hard to tell.

/news/2011/sep/29/good-you-bad-you-lip-balm/

That's disgusting: showerheads

Dude, gross.

/news/2009/dec/03/s-disgusting-showerheads/

The consequences of protecting your skin

Overusing some products can create unintended outcomes.

/news/2010/apr/19/consequences-protecting-your-skin/

Good for you, bad for you

Rubbing allergic eyes.

/news/2009/oct/08/good-you-bad-you/

Good for you, bad for you: loofahs

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

/news/2010/apr/01/good-you-bad-you-loofahs/

Good for you/Bad for you: Wet ponytails

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

/news/2009/sep/17/good_youbad_you_wet_ponytails/

Good for you, bad for you: Going ...

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

/news/2010/oct/07/good-you-bad-you-going-outside-wet-hair/

The Spice of Life

/news/2005/oct/06/spice_life/

Health tip

A rosy remedy

/news/2007/oct/04/health_tip/

Tomorrow's news: Showertan

Just call us Cleo.

/news/2009/sep/24/tomorrows_news_showertan/

Essential life skills: Condoms

In case of emergency, read quickly.

/news/2010/nov/18/essential-life-skills-condoms/

Skills in scent-uality

Harness the power of smell to help you relax.

/news/2010/feb/18/skills-scent-uality/

You breast believe it

What to know about bras.

/news/2011/sep/14/you-breast-believe-it/

Kansas in Heat: Call Me Hot, Not ...

Tackle the sticky world of relationships.

/news/2011/mar/10/kansas-heat-call-me-hot-not-them/

Seasonal Allergies 101

Everything you need to know about that pesky hay fever...

/news/2011/mar/31/Health-Department-Allergies-Seasons/

Better Options for Bad Situations: Sunless Tanning

If you're going to do it, be smart.

/news/2011/mar/10/better-options-bad-situations-sunless-tanning/

Keeping up appearances

Fancy cremes and badger brushes—it’s not always easy preservin’ your sexy.

/news/2007/aug/23/keeping_appearances/

Good for You, Bad for You: Aromatherapy ...

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

/news/2011/may/05/good-you-bad-you-aromatherapy-candles/

green it! Cleaner, greener laundry

/news/2008/oct/09/green_it_cleaner_greener_laundry/

Good for you, bad for you: Peroxide

Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

/news/2010/nov/04/good-you-bad-you-peroxide/

One night of fun, one day of ...

The inside scoop on hangovers

/news/2008/mar/27/one_night_fun_one_day_regret/

That's disgusting

How to keep your feet smelling fresh

/news/2008/may/08/s_disgusting/

Castle: Really gay advice...on staying dry

Ways on how to stay cool during hot Kansas weather

/news/2011/aug/31/castle-really-gay-advice-staying-dry/

Pesky pimples

What causes acne and how you can treat it

/news/2007/aug/16/pesky_pimples/

Ups and downs of sorority

/news/2005/mar/16/features_apartments_sororities/

Good for you/Bad for you

Paws off your pimples

/news/2007/nov/29/good_youbad_you/

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Sign in to comment

Advertisement