SHOWERING EVERY DAY

 

Most of us wouldn't dream of going a day without showering.

 

But a study conducted by the University of California found that too much washing can actually be bad for you, because it strips away beneficial bugs² that help ward³ off infections.

 

'A vigorous daily shower would disturb the natural bug¹ flora⁴ of the skin as well as skin oils,' revealed John Oxford⁵, Professor of Virology at Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.

 

'As long as people wash their hands often enough and pay attention to the area of the body below the belt, showering or bathing every other day would do no harm.

 

'Even twice a week would not be a problem if people used a bidet daily as most infectious bugs hang around our lower halves.

 

SHOWERING FOR TOO LONG

 

Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant⁶ dermatologist⁷ and British Skin Foundation spokesperson said people should also keep their showers short rather than languishing⁸ under the water.

 

She told MailOnline: 'You probably shouldn't be showering for more than 20 minutes. Water is an irritant, so the longer you're in there, the more irritated and dry your skin will become.

 

USING SOAP

 

Washing with soap every day could affect our immunity⁹, warns Dr Robyn Chutkan, of the Digestive Center for Women, Maryland.

 

Dr Chukan said it strips our skin of the bacteria that keeps us free from conditions like acne and eczema.

 

Regular contact with grime, rather than being harmful, teaches these communities of bacteria how to tell the difference between friendly germs and harmful pathogens, she said.

 

RUBBING SOAP ON THE WHOLE BODY

 

Soap dislodges dirt and oil from the body, allowing water to wash it away.

 

But the skin on the arms and legs doesn't contain a lot of oil, so cleaning them with soap just makes them dry.

 

Instead, people should concentrate on soaping the odorous parts of the body - the armpits, buttocks, groin and feet, said Dr Mahto.

 

As the skin gets thinner and drier as we age, older people should use less soap to prevent flaky skin, she added.

 

LETTING THE SHOWER BLAST ON YOUR FACE

 

While many of us would assume that tilting¹⁰ our face upwards¹¹ beneath refreshing¹² running water is the key to getting squeaky clean skin, the heat and pressure of the water is in fact causing damage, skincare expert Kaye Scott told Daily Mail Australia.

 

'A hot shower can cause and exacerbate¹³ fragile capillary¹⁴ networks in the cheeks, leading to unattractive, visible capillary networks and worsened impaired¹⁵ skin conditions,' she said.

 

'The best way to keep your skin looking its flawless best is to cleanse¹⁶ and rinse¹⁷ at the bathroom sink, always ensuring the tap water is tepid¹⁸, no hotter,' Scott said.

 

When you wash your face at the sink you're cupping the water, which means you're using less and you are also making it cooler on your skin.

 

Plus, such a cleansing¹⁹ technique also gives you the option to turn on the cold tap and splash your face at the end of your routine, which can help to close your pores and stimulate²⁰ circulation.

点击收听单词发音