Health experts say you shouldn’t shower after doing this

As self-care keeps drawing itself to the forefront of our minds during this time, we keep coming back to some of the same rituals and hygienic practices to give ourselves peace of mind.

After all, how are we to find balance and rest in our daily lives when the pandemic has taken its toll and the lines between work and home life seem to blur? But there is something we have been paying extra attention to because of the COVID-19 outbreak that might actually be detrimental to our bodies if we don’t engage in it correctly: the personal hygiene practice of showering.

You might be scratching your heads over this one. Showering is an important practice for basic human hygiene and is appreciated now, more than ever, for its promises of killing harmful bacteria that can cause viral infections.

Frontline workers are showering multiple times a day to avoid cross-contamination with their home life and work life, and – with the winter months upon us – more people are experiencing cracked and dry skin because of more frequent showering, or even showering as often as they thought was appropriate.

Showering after a meal may be a no-go

Even more interestingly, what you do right before you shower can have a major impact on your health. Turns out you should avoid bathing after a meal.

In the same way it can be difficult to multitask at times, in order for your body to function at a better rate, it should just be focusing on one or two things at a time. A shower enforces hyperthermic action, which stimulates the immune system and your sweat glands and calms your nervous system, while eating activates the digestive system.

When all three systems are in regulation overdrive, it can be difficult to efficiently process everything that is happening correctly.

You also need to be wary of shower length time. More attention has been brought to the fact that showering too often can strip your body of key elements for moisture, throwing your hair, skin, and nails off balance.

In fact, it has been proven that not showering daily helps you to retain your body’s natural oils. But the length of your shower could actually have the most impact on skin balance.

Why you shouldn’t shower for more than 15 minutes every day

Recently, skincare experts went on the record to suggest that showers longer than 15 minutes in length dramatically reduce hydration to your body, and strip it of its natural oils to a point that could cause physical skin imbalances. That’s right, just like over and under-watering your plants can drastically affect their balance and appearance, so does over-watering your skin.

Drastically reducing your shower time is actually a pretty good idea. Of course, we do suggest proper precautions for frontline workers and realize that not everyone has the privilege of adjusting their shower regimen. But for those of you who are interested and able, cutting your shower time down to 5-15 minutes per day – or even 20 minutes every other day – would not only be better for the environment and save you money, but it would drastically improve your skin’s moisture levels. This shouldn’t be too hard of a goal to work toward with the right conditions, as the average American is already down to showering for 8.2 minutes every day already.

Prolonged showers – especially at warmer temperatures – can lead to dry, cracked skin, acne, ingrown hairs, rashes, redness and other sensitivities. The best way to relieve post-shower sensitivity – and to restore your body’s lost moisture – is to properly moisturize with a body lotion and facial moisturizer of your choice. Even if your skin feels oily, it is important to moisturize because oily means there is an imbalance, and it is often directly because of a poor emollient routine.

What can you do instead?

If you do find yourself taking showers more often, taking them at a cooler temperature will help to maintain your skin’s natural moisture and barrier composition. Cold showers aren’t always a comfortable option, but they are an option. In fact, they come with the added benefits of a metabolism boost, cleansing your lymphatic system which helps to fight off infections, training your nervous system to respond to stress differently, and have been shown to reduce depression.

Another big tip is to avoid bathing after a meal. In the same way it can be difficult to multitask at times, in order for your body to function at a better rate, it should just be focusing on one or two things at a time. A shower enforces hyperthermic action, which stimulates the immune system and your sweat glands and calms your nervous system, while eating activates the digestive system. When all three systems are in regulation overdrive, it can be difficult to efficiently process everything that is happening correctly.

Regardless of how you approach your own personal hygiene, try to be as mindful as possible and make your shower as short – and as productive – as possible at least once a week with these mindful tips.