8 Ways You Could Be Showering Wrong

Taking a shower may be the first thing you do every morning or the last thing you do before bed. It’s an everyday, basic habit that you probably don’t even think twice about.

“We shower to help shed dead skin cells, as well as remove oil, dirt, sweat, and bacteria,” says Suzanne Friedler, MD, a dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC in New York City.

The dirt-oil-sweat mix can cause a stink if you let that daily grime stay on your skin. What’s more, oil feeds bacteria, so when you wash both off, you’re also cutting your risk of skin infections. On the other hand, showering too much or too enthusiastically can contribute to dry, itchy skin, and eczema, adds Dr. Friedler.

RELATED: 8 Hand Eczema Dos and Don’ts for Cleansing

As you’ll see, showering correctly is more than just turning on the water, hopping in, lathering up, rinsing, and patting dry. From the water temperature to what products you use and when, here are some ways you could be getting your shower all wrong.

1. Showering at the Wrong Temperature

Very cold showers may not be the friendliest type. They’ll likely wake you up but won’t help you relax. On the other hand, a scalding-hot shower isn’t the answer, either. “Hot water causes your body to lose its natural oil, leaving skin dull, dry, and itchy,” says Friedler — somewhere in the middle is usually best. The National Eczema Association (NEA) recommends a lukewarm temperature for bathing to keep dry skin issues, like eczema, at bay.

Choose a temperature that’s comfortable, not steamy.

2. Showering for Too Long

Standing under a warm stream of water may feel good, but staying in there for too long can be detrimental to your skin. “Just as with hot water, a longer shower causes skin to lose more oil and, thus, moisture,” says Friedler. If you notice you’re having dry skin problems, back off your shower time, capping it at 5 to 10 minutes, advises the NEA.

3. Washing With a Pouf or a Washcloth

Bath poufs are a great way to minimize the use of your body wash: You can definitely get away with using less product and still lather your entire body, says Doris Day, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. However, they can act as a reservoir for bacteria without proper care, and they can also irritate sensitive or dry skin. Similarly, washcloths can, too, especially if you don’t clean them thoroughly. Friedler recommends soaping up using your hands.

4. Using a Harsh Cleanser

If you’re worried about germs, know that regular soap — including antibacterial soaps, nonantibacterial soaps, natural ones, shampoos, and any other soap product that sudses you up — will kill most viruses, says Friedler. There’s no reason to reach for anything harsher.

A mild, lipid-rich cleanser proved better for skin health — across a range of shower temperatures and rinse-off times — compared with a regular body wash, according to a study. (The research was sponsored by Unilever, a company that makes personal care products.)

RELATED: 8 Easy Fixes for Hygiene Offenses Older Guys Often Make

5. Not Scrubbing Your Whole Body

Grandma was right: Don’t forget to scrub behind your ears, between your toes, and in your belly button. Not doing so could alter your skin microbiome — the careful balance of bacteria on your skin — and possibly increase your risk for skin conditions such as eczema and acne. That’s what researchers of a study published in 2023 found when they swabbed different areas of their skin (the calves and forearms, which they treated as control factors because these areas tend to get washed more often, and the aforementioned moist and oily areas, which they called hotspots) and then studied their bacterial differences through DNA sequencing. The researchers found the areas that tend to get washed more thoroughly had a greater diversity of bacteria than the hotspots, which is associated with a lower risk for skin conditions.

6. Soaping Up Before You Shampoo

To prevent acne and skin irritation, Dr. Day recommends the following regimen: “Shampoo, rinse it off, apply conditioner, wash your body, and then rinse off the conditioner and body wash at the same time.”

Following this order in the shower means the wash helps remove any conditioner and leftover shampoo from your skin. As for shaving, if you save it for last, your hairs will be softer from the heat, water, and steam — and easier to remove.

RELATED: 13 Natural Dry-Skin Remedies You Can DIY at Home

7. Showering (Only) in the Morning

There’s no one best time of day to shower; it depends on your schedule and personal preference. Consider that in the morning, a shower can help you feel more awake.

Don’t, however, ignore the potential benefits of before-bed bathing. For one, a 10-minute warm shower one to two hours before bedtime helped people fall asleep faster, according to a meta-analysis. As your body cools down after the warmth of the shower, it stimulates your body to drift off. Another potential plus to showering at the end of the day: If you’re an allergy sufferer, bathing before bed will wash pollen accumulated during the day off your hair and skin and down the drain, according to Penn State Health.

8. Showering Too Vigorously Too Often

Not everyone needs to shower daily, especially in the colder winter months when you’re probably not sweating as much and your skin tends to be drier. In fact, a few times a week may be all you need, according to Harvard Health Publishing. If you do exercise or have a job that gets you dirty and you feel you need to shower twice a day, Day suggests a quick rinse one time and full shower the other. “We don’t get that dirty as adults,” she says. Consider focusing on your “dirty parts,” such as your armpits and groin, and you’re good to go.

RELATED: The Top 10 Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

With additional reporting by Jessica Migala.