HOW YOU COULD BE DAMAGING YOUR SKIN WITHOUT KNOWING IT
By mindbodygreen.com - Denise Bissell
When you expose your skin to various environmental or chemical factors, there's always a risk that you'll damage your dermis in some way. There are certainly things you know to avoid for optimal skin health, but what about the stuff you don't think twice about? That's right, something as basic as taking a shower could, over time, seriously weather your skin, leading to premature aging, damage, enlarged pores, broken capillaries, and dull skin.
So, though it's something you do every day and seems innocent enough, your shower routine could be doing some pretty harsh work on your skin. Surprising, I know, but a few small changes could seriously improve the relationship your shower has with your skin. Here are five places to start:
1. Adjust the water pressure.
Imagine pressure-washing stone on a daily basis. Eventually, you're going to erode the surface. Now swap out the stone for your face, and a pressure-washer for your shower head in that image. See the damage you could be causing your skin? Obviously you need to rinse off debris and cleansers while showering (after all, isn't that the whole point of bathing?). But if you let water pour onto your skin for an extended period of time or the water pressure is incredibly strong, think about turning it down.
Heavy, continuous water pressure can ultimately lead to vascular malformations like broken capillaries and spider veins. Heavy pressure might feel good on your muscles and help you wash that shampoo out quicker, but think about your skin and turn it down!
2. Find the optimal water temperature.
Similar to water pressure, the temperature of your shower can cause damage to your delicate skin. Very hot showers can seriously dehydrate your skin. Your skin contains proteins and fats that form a protective barrier to lock in moisture and protect you from a harsh outside environment. When the water you bathe with is too hot, it strips that natural protection away, leaving your skin vulnerable to harmful external elements and letting the moisture in your skin escape.
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