A top dermatologist has revealed her top tips for Kiwis to save their skin, and wallet, when taking a shower.
As the country heads into the warmer months, New Zealand Dermatology Research Trust founder and chairperson Dr Louise Reiche told Seven Sharp using lower temperatures of water and stopping the overuse of soap can prevent damage to the skin.
When asked what she uses personally, Reiche said typically she uses a fragrance free “very simple” soap and restricts it to areas "which can be a bit smelly" or dirty.
She said both using too much soap and hot water can negatively impact both the skins barrier and microbiome when showering – and can lead to eczema for people who are already prone to dry skin.
"You don’t need to freeze, but you don’t need to boil either."
On loofahs and shower gloves, Reiche added they can also be unnecessarily irritating.
"They will add to the irritation, your body does its own very good job of renewing itself.
"You don’t need to be rubbing with loofahs and so on, but if you have a dirty patch, a bit of a gentle hand rub can also help the action of the soap to clean it."
When asked how regularly people should be showering to prevent skin damage while staying clean, Reiche said it will vary from person to person.
"If you are a young person who is producing a lot of grease and sweating a lot from very intense exercise, you may need to wash more often than someone who is quite a sedentary and not a smelly prone person."
Check out her full tips and see Jeremy Wells' routine in the video above.
SHARE ME