How Does Skin Type Impact Bathing?
Those with sensitive skin can still bathe daily, but Akram says that they should be mindful of how long and what products they use. Avoid any harsh skin care products, especially with fragrance or anything that can irritate and strip skin. Steer clear of alcohol and parabens. Colloidal oatmeal and honey are great ingredients for sensitive types, according to Coppola. Cool water is also better.
Coppola suggests body washes and soaps with moisturizing creams, lanolin and glycerin for dry skin types. These ingredients help maintain skin's microbiome and lock in moisture.
It's important to not dry out oily skin. Akram says those with oily skin want a body cleanser that can remove excess oil without stripping skin of its natural emollients.
For acne-prone skin, body washes and body gels that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are helpful for treating and cleansing skin.
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Is Showering Better Than Bathing?
Are you #TeamBath or #TeamShower? It's another big factor in the debate. "While baths can help people with skin conditions, they're not beneficial for everyone," points out Lancer. "In fact, a shower is actually better for your skin."
The reason? Showers expose the body to less water than a bath. Too much water from a bath or an extra long shower can strip skin of its natural oils. Which can lead to irritation or inflammation.
Another benefit of showering? In a bath, you are soaking in the same water that you are rinsing your bacteria in whereas a shower provides a constant flow of clean water to wash away any sweat and dead skin cells. Krant says that occasional baths are great for relaxation and stress relief. But soaking for a long time in water damages the skin barrier and well-balanced microbiome.
According to Krant, the golden rule is to really concentrate on using gentle, balanced cleansers and soaps. And to use them mostly only on your underarms, groin and feet. Mother Dirt AO+ Restorative Mist, $69, can be used on your body, face and scalp to fend off odor-causing bacteria and other factors.
It's also important to choose a balanced, gentle cleanser that is formulated for your skin type. "A general rule of thumb is the same ingredients that you use in your facial cleanser are also appropriate ingredients to use on your body," says Akram.
Try Lancer Skincare The Method: Body Cleanse, $45. It's a nonfoaming daily body wash formulated with marula oil, watermelon seed oil, salicylic acid and glycolic acid to provide moisture to skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing.
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