How to take a shower, with tips on soap, oils and exfoliation to avoid damaging your skin
Experts say the way you shower – if it is too hot, the wrong type of soap, if you exfoliate too much – might be why your skin is damaged
You may be seeing elaborate shower cleansing routines on social media: daily exfoliation, double cleansing, antibacterial soap, loads of scented body scrubs and shower oils.
“I’m kind of appalled by the shower routines,” says Dr Olga Bunimovich, a dermatologist who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh in the US.
The multistep processes that have inspired people to spend endless amounts of time lathering up can harm your skin and the environment. Dermatologists say it is mostly unnecessary.
Here is what you need to know about taking a basic shower and recognising when you have gone too far with your routine.
The basics of showering
