When you have a skin irritation
Does your skin feel itchy? Well, you might think that showering is the answer, right? But please don’t do that. Doctors advise us to skip showering, especially with hot water, if our skin is irritated because a shower can make things worse in this case.
Hot water is well known for stripping the skin of its natural oils. These oils are so important because they act as a natural barrier, and disturbing it can make some common skin issues such as dryness, eczema, hives, and sunburn even worse.
If you have a flare-up, try to skip showering and give your skin some time to repair itself. If you really need to shower, make sure your showers are short, ideally lasting between five to 15 minutes, and the water is lukewarm instead of hot.
According to the National Eczema Association once you are out of the shower you need to moisturize within three minutes of drying off in order to keep the skin hydrated properly. Use a moisturizer specifically suited to your skin condition—whether it’s a rich cream for eczema or aloe vera for sunburn—to provide targeted relief.
