Don’t exceed 10 minutes in the shower to protect your skin, according to a dermatologist.
Taking a daily shower is often seen as a relaxing and necessary ritual for personal hygiene. However, according to specialists, the duration, frequency and temperature of the shower can have a significant impact on the health of the skin. Dermatologist Marie-Estelle Roux on the AuFeminin website has taken stock of this situation.
She explains that showering can unbalance the skin’s microbiota, which replenishes itself within a few hours. However, too many showers can prevent this rebalancing, causing pimples, redness and irritation. She also points out that long showers are not beneficial because they remove the skin’s protective hydrolipidic film, made up of sebum, water and keratin cells.
L’World Health Organization (WHO) recommends not to exceed 5 minutes in the shower, and Marie-Estelle Roux confirms that a duration of 5 to 10 minutes is optimal to preserve the health of the skin. Christine Lafforgue, dermopharmacologist, adds that the loss of this hydrolipidic film encourages the skin to produce more sebum to protect itself.
The temperature of the water and the type of soap used are also crucial. Lukewarm or cold showers are preferable, because heat liquefies the skin’s protective lipids, leading to a loss of microbiota. Alain Géloën, research director at the CNRS, therefore recommends avoiding scalding showers.
When it comes to soaps, shower gels and classic soaps tend to dry out the skin. Specialists recommend soaps without saponification to limit this drying.
For a beneficial shower, it is advisable to limit its duration to 5-10 minutes, to use lukewarm or cold water and to choose suitable soaps. These measures help to preserve the skin’s protective barrier and ensure its well-being.
Read also:
Canadian Ambassador met with Foreign Affairs Minister to discuss assistance to Haiti
