Everyday Habits That Are Worse For Your Health Than You Think

Most of us start and end each day with an established health and hygiene routine. For some people, these habits are a form of self-care: luxuriating in a nightly Epsom salt bath, applying a soothing face mask, or enjoying a morning cup of mushroom coffee. For others of us, it's simply a way of maintaining our wellness and appearance. 

Whatever your goals are, however, you want to be sure that it's helping and not hurting. While some habits can help us live decades longer, others may be jeopardizing our health — and we're not just talking about smoking, spending too much time sitting, or failing to brush our teeth twice a day every day. Rather, we may be better off kicking some of our health habits to the curb, especially if they involve some potentially questionable products. You may want to rethink your habits if you're doing any of the following.

Products like 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner may cut costs and shower time in half, but our hair may pay the price. For starters, these products can dehydrate our hair and scalp, explains the Vinci Hair Clinic. Product buildup is also common with 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, which can progressively result in the appearance of a dull, weighted-down mane as well as scalp irritation and hair breakage. Much like sorbet is sometimes used as a palate cleanser between meal courses at a restaurant, experts say you can minimize these effects on your hair by periodically using a clearing shampoo, also known as a clarifying shampoo, between washes. Healthline notes that these products can help rid our hair of product residue, but that their use should not be made into a daily habit.

Additionally, while many 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner products contain B vitamins and proteins to promote healthy hair, some contain potentially harmful chemicals like sulfates and parabens, which can be harsh on the skin. Researchers from a 2020 scientific review published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology detailed how low levels of paraben exposure are not thought to be dangerous, but using greater amounts of paraben-containing beauty products may pose potential health risks, including interfering with hormone production. Opting for 2-in-1 products made with natural ingredients can make daily hair washing a healthier habit.

Most of us had a bottle of hand sanitizer at the ready throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But if this habit has stuck around, it may be doing more harm than good. Experts at Mya Care explain that the ethyl or isopropyl alcohol and fragrance ingredients in hand-sanitizing gels can increase the risk of skin damage, itching, redness, blisters, and eczema if used excessively. Such was the case in a 2024 study published in Skin Research and Technology in which using hand sanitizer every day during the pandemic was correlated with skin issues in both healthcare workers and non-medical staff in Saudi Arabia. Questionnaire data showed that respondents used hand sanitizer between three to seven times each day, with more than 9% reporting upwards of ten times daily. Cracked skin was the most commonly reported side effect, and the researchers stressed that overuse of the product may be toxic and increase the risk of infections.

Mya Care adds that overloading on hand sanitizers containing chemicals like triclosan, phthalates, or parabens may suppress immunity, throw off hormonal balance, and increase the risk of infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While the occasional squirt is considered safe when using hand sanitizer products free of these ingredients, daily hand washing is considered a healthier habit.

If you're someone who prefers to remove their body hair, a quick dry run of a razor over your armpits can get the job done if you're short on time. However, it's not a good habit to get into, seeing as this method won't be as effective as a wet shave, which gives a closer shave than going sans lubrication. Not only does dry shaving do a subpar job, it can be a recipe for dry, flaky skin, explains Gillette Venus. For this reason, people who already experience skin irritation due to eczema or psoriasis or have sensitive skin are advised against dry shaving.

Dry shaving can also increase the risk of developing folliculitis, otherwise known as razor burn, according to experts at Associated Dermatologists. But underarm discomfort isn't the downside of these small, irritated bumps. The damage inflicted to the hair follicles makes it easy for potentially harmful bacteria, such as Staph aureus or Streptococcus, to enter the body and cause a deeper infection of the skin called cellulitis. "You definitely never want to dry shave or even wet shave over any kind of area that's infected," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Bruce Robinson told Livestrong in a discussion on the risks of folliculitis. "If you have an acne pimple that you scratched and now it's infected, you don't want to shave over that because infection can spread further."

The twisting and turning of a cotton swab in the ear can feel quite satisfying. This is because our ears are home to a host of sensitive nerve endings. "There are actually four different cranial nerves that innervate the ear canal," otolaryngologist Dr. Abbas Anwar told Prevention. "Because all those nerve endings are packed within such a small space, it is a very sensitive area. That means the softness of a Q-Tip can feel very pleasurable for some people." 

But there are a number of reasons why you should think twice before cleaning your ears. Anything that feels good can easily become a habit. However, swabbing your ears on a daily basis increases the risk of ear trauma. According to a 2019 account published in BMJ Case Reports, a healthy man in his early 30s experiencing seizures, ear pain, and discharge was diagnosed with necrotizing otitis externa (a severe ear canal infection) and subdural abscesses (an accumulation of pus in the brain) due to a lodged cotton bud in the patient's left ear. The patient had no adverse effects after the object was extracted. The good news is that earwax doesn't need our assistance. Rather, it makes its way to the outer ear on its own thanks to the movement of our jaw as we talk and chew throughout the day.

If you're someone who starts every day with a handful of supplements, you'll want to do so cautiously. Supplements are not inherently bad and may be necessary for people with certain nutrient deficiencies. However, it is possible to go overboard on vitamins and minerals, registered dietitian Beth Czerwony told the Cleveland Clinic. 

While this is not a comprehensive list, we'll review a few examples here. Before starting any new supplements, always check with your healthcare provider.

Calcium gets a lot of hype for the important role it plays in bone health, but taking too much can cause confusion, itching, and an irregular heart, among other symptoms. Recommendations vary by age and sex, but the National Institutes of Health recommends that adults between the ages of 19 and 50 get no more than 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. Remember, this includes food sources of calcium, too. 

Alternatively, Mayo Clinic experts state that you've likely got your vitamin C intake covered through what you eat. Too much vitamin C in our system can lead to nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea. The upper limit for vitamin C is 2,000 milligrams daily; 75 milligrams of vitamin C is recommended daily for women and 90 milligrams for men. 

Zinc is another mineral that the body doesn't need an excess of. While it has many health benefits, too much of it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Rather than buying too many supplements at the grocery store, talk with your doctor beforehand about the potential risks of over-supplementation and make sure you're only taking supplements that you have a genuine need for.