Dermatologist Explains the Proper Way to Bathe or Shower

Dermatologists are the only ones who can confidently speak about what you should or shouldn’t be doing to improve your skin health. These days you can get skin advice from everyone from beauty vloggers to celebrities. However, no matter how beautiful the celebrity, no matter how much they tout their own line of skin care products, they are not a board-certified expert. It can be difficult to navigate all of the information floating around on social media platforms; so, your best bet to find out about your skin is in a visit to your dermatologist. Consider the following dermatologist recommendations for cleaning your skin.

Dermatologist clean skin tips:

• You should never take extremely hot showers because the hot water can dry your skin and/or strip natural protective oils
• It is important to limit your bath or shower time to 5-10 minutes
• Avoid working your cleanser up to a thick lather
• Close the bathroom door to keep the room humid, which is better for your skin
• Dry skin conditions can be worsened by the type of soap you use. Look for gentle cleaners and never use bar soaps.
• Normal, healthy skin is usually at an acidic pH. When you use harsh soaps, you change the pH, compromising your natural skin barrier, making your skin take hours for it to go back to its normal pH.
• Consult your dermatologist before using a power brush, loofah, or even a face cloth. These devices can scrub off lipids that we really need on our skin. Not only do they scrub away our protective barrier against the environment, they also make us more prone to infection.
• If you must use a power brush or a loofah, the brush or loofah should be regularly changed, or washed in bleach because they are infested with bacteria.
• It is crucial that you apply a moisturizer immediately after patting yourself dry. Cream or lotion moisturizers will help replenish your skin.

The severity of aging skin depends upon several factors. If you are finding it difficult to live with your skin condition, residents in or near the South Charlotte, NC area can experience full-service dermatology, including medical, surgical, cosmetic and Mohs micrographic surgery at Metrolina dermatology. Dr. Sasha Haberle and her staff offers customized care for the specific treatment of patients of all ages and skin conditions. Dr. Haberle is recognized as an expert in all areas of dermatology, including medical, cosmetic, and surgical care. She is a Board-Certified dermatologist and Fellowship trained Mohs surgeon. 

Call the friendly staff at Metrolina Dermatology today to schedule appointment. We welcome new patients and will help you develop a plan for cosmetic dermatology treatment for your skin.