Slip in. Lather up. While away the minutes (or, erm, hour). Step out feeling new.
Like many people, over the past year and half I’ve found a long, hot shower to be a soothing and grounding escape from reality: Slip in. Lather up. While away the minutes . Step out feeling new.
In fact, the post-hot shower feeling has been so euphoric, I’ve ignored the clear-as-day signs of my subsequently unhappy skin — redness, tightness, and itchiness from head to toe. But as the cold months set in, my dry, sensitive skin becomes more vulnerable , I’m determined to find a better balance between a comforting shower and maintaining the health of my skin. Ask any dermatologist and they’ll tell you: that mission begins with the right shower temperature — especially this time of year.
Avoiding searing hot temperatures is important because they can compromise the skin’s moisture barrier, which affects the look, feel, and overall health of the skin. “The skin barrier is made up of skin proteins and oils that prevent water from evaporating out of the skin, protecting it from the outside world,” explains Anolik. “It is one of our first lines of defence against infection and pollution.
Hot water is irritating to the skin surface in more ways than one. “It causes inflammation that can lead to the disruption of the normal skin barrier,” says Anolik. “Furthermore, such high water temperatures can also wash away natural skin oils which are so important for retaining moisture.”“As temperatures become colder outside, moisture evaporates from the air, encouraging evaporation of moisture from our skin surface,” explains Anolik, adding that cold winds dry out the skin further.
Another important facet of skin cleansing and hydration is age. “The ability to maintain moisture and healthy-appearing skin diminishes [with age], and this is often first realised as autumn and winter skincare becomes more challenging,” explains Anolik. “This is largely because at a biological level, our skin’s ability to form what’s known as ‘natural moisturising factor’ or ‘NMF’ is reduced.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Five unique Leeds Christmas bar experiences ideal for a great festive night outYou can enjoy a host of themed bars and venues for a Christmas tipple this winter
Read more »
Everything to know about the Leonid meteor shower next week - how to watchThe fast, bright meteors will streak through the sky on November 17-18, providing a spectacular celestial show.
Read more »
3 tried-and-tested hacks for making daily exercise into a habitStruggling to find the motivation or energy to work out right now? We ask the experts to offer their top tips for getting going.
Read more »
What are child maintenance payments and do they affect Universal Credit benefitThis guide explains how the child maintenance service works, its impact on benefits and how you can apply - read on below for some more handy information on what support is available.
Read more »
The 70 Best Beauty Advent Calendars Of 2022 To Have On Your RadarCalling all beauty fanatics, discover the best beauty advent calendars 2022 has to offer with Vogue’s ultimate guide.
Read more »