A common concern for my patients is dehydrated skin due to changing weather and loss of humidity. Here are 5 tips to ensure you bathe the right way and prevent your skin from drying out.
1. Shut the door: Keeping the bathroom door closed increases humidity in the air, which will help prevent skin drying out.
2. Get out after 5 minutes: Soaking for more than five or 10 minutes on a regular basis can irritate and dry out skin, especially if you have eczema.
3. Warm water is best: Hot water can exacerbate itching, so if you have dry or irritable skin, a lukewarm temperature is ideal.
4. Use a gentle body wash: Products that bubble or foam can strip moisture from your skin and may increase dryness. Emollient soap substitutes are particularly good if your skin is itchy, flaky or irritable.
5. Moisturise: Apply plenty moisturiser to your skin straight after your bath or shower to increase absorption. For your face, use a product with hyaluronic acid as the key ingredient as it has the capacity to attract and hold up to a thousand times its weight in water molecules giving the skin a smooth, plumped appearance.
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