The Biggest Mistake You're Making When Showering In The Winter
A good shower can be the standout part of your day. What makes a good shower is entirely up to you. Many of us appreciate a full array of our favorite soaps, the perfect water temperature, and having unlimited time to let the water wash away the grime of the day. There are many ways to maximize the enjoyment of showering. BuzzFeed recommends keeping a waterproof notepad in the shower so you can write down your brilliant lightbulb thoughts. In addition, you can attach cup holders in the shower to keep your coffee or wine within arm's reach. You can karaoke to your favorite tunes with a waterproof radio.
As fun and relaxing as your bathing moments can be, there are unfortunately ways to make your shower — and your health — worse without even realizing it, especially in the wintertime. Many of us fail to see one of the biggest mistakes we're making in the shower when the weather outside is frightful.
Think about your hair and skin when you adjust the temperature
The frost and frigid temps may have caused you to feel a chill so deep that only a scalding hot shower will do the trick. Before you stand under that extra hot stream, consider the condition of your hair and skin first.
"I know it's cold, and a nice, hot steamy shower seems like the perfect remedy; however super-hot water can be damaging to the skin," aesthetician Jennifer Gerace told Women's Running. "Hot showers and baths can inflame the skin, causing redness, itching, and even peeling — and can disrupt the skin's natural balance of moisture, robbing you of the natural oils, fats, and proteins that keep skin healthy." In addition, your tresses can unknowingly take a hot water beating. "Hot water dries out the scalp skin and promotes flaky conditions like dandruff," Dr. Soman Yadav, a medical director at JUVERNE, told Bustle. "It also promotes rebound oiliness of the scalp."
A hot shower can still be just what you need to defrost and unwind. To avoid unwanted harm and drying effects on your skin and scalp, consider wearing a shower cap and limiting the time you spend under the scalding hot stream.