With National Hygiene Week running from 5th to 11th October, a nurse practitioner has revealed the everyday shower habits that could be leaving your skin dry, itchy and irritated. The advice comes as worldwide Google searches for “why is my skin dry” have surged by 5,000% over the past month, according to bathroom specialists Showers to You.
Showers to You has teamed up with Aleksey Aronov, an Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, to share five common habits worth rethinking. The good news is that none of them require a complete overhaul of your family’s routine.
5 shower habits that could be drying out your skin
1. Turning the temperature up too high
A steaming hot shower might feel relaxing, but water that’s too hot can strip the skin of its natural oils. That can leave it feeling dry or itchy.
Aleksey Aronov said: “When showering, the best thing to do is to use lukewarm water with temperatures that parallel the core body temperature. Specifically, this would be water temperatures from 36 to 40°C (97 to 104°F). This temperature range is ideal for daily showering and also allows the skin to keep its natural oils that hydrate the skin and keep it healthy.”
2. Staying in the shower for too long
Long showers are another common culprit. Aleksey explained: “Some of the most common harmful habits that people should avoid when showering are taking showers that are too long, about more than 10 minutes, or showering with water that is too hot. Both can lead to drying out the skin and stripping it of its natural oils. For everyday showering, it is recommended to keep them between 5 and 8 minutes.”
3. Scrubbing too hard
More scrubbing doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner skin. Vigorous scrubbing can irritate the skin, particularly if you’re also using hot water or harsh cleansing products. A gentler approach helps avoid unnecessary irritation and protects the skin’s natural oils.
4. Using harsh soaps
The products you reach for in the shower could also be playing a part. The experts recommend gentle, fragrance-free or hypoallergenic soaps, particularly for skin that’s prone to dryness or itching.
5. Assuming colder is always better
While very hot water can dry out the skin, that doesn’t mean you need to switch to an icy blast. Cooler water may help the skin hold on to more of its natural oils, but the evidence that cold showers bring wider health benefits is still limited and mixed.
Some clinical studies looking at cold showers and immunity have reported fewer sick days and modest improvements in sleep quality. However, the evidence isn’t yet strong enough to suggest cold showers are a universal health solution.
Can the timing of your shower help you sleep?
Shower temperature doesn’t just affect your skin. It could also influence how well you wind down at night. Taking a warm shower around one to two hours before bed can help people fall asleep faster and may promote better sleep.
The timing matters because the body naturally begins to cool down as it prepares for sleep. A warm shower temporarily raises body temperature, and the cooling period once you step out may help the body transition towards sleep. So if you enjoy a warm evening shower, there’s no need to turn the temperature right down. It may simply be a case of getting the timing right.
Simple shower swaps the experts recommend
If your skin often feels tight, itchy or flaky after showering, try these changes:
- Keep showers to around 5 to 8 minutes
- Choose lukewarm water rather than very hot water
- Avoid vigorous scrubbing
- Use gentle, fragrance-free or hypoallergenic soaps
- Consider cooler water if your skin is particularly dry or irritated
- If showering before bed, aim to do so around one to two hours beforehand
Martin Smith, founder of Showers to You, said: “Showering is something most of us do without giving much thought to how we’re actually doing it. National Hygiene Week is a great opportunity to look at those everyday habits and consider whether a few simple changes could make our routines better for our skin and overall wellbeing.
“From reducing the temperature to spending a little less time in the shower, the advice shows that you don’t need to completely overhaul your routine. Small changes can make a difference, particularly for people who regularly experience dry or irritated skin.”
Expert commentary courtesy of Showers to You.
