What could be difficult about taking a shower? Turn on the water, step in, wash, rinse and dry. Easy. However, it seems that we are all making a few little mistakes that are drying out our skin.

So what exactly are these mistakes? Glad you asked!

1. You are taking long, hot showers.
There is nothing more satisfying than a hot shower to warm your bones on those cold winter nights or to help you unwind after a hard day on the job. Unfortunately, a long, hot shower wreaks havoc on your skin. It literally strips the natural oils causing itching and dryness as well as making common problems such as eczema, worse. Tepid water is the best or keep the hot shower very short.

2. You use your favorite pore-cleansing mask after showering.
Some of us prefer to completely wash our faces in the shower before we apply those facial masks we love so much. But, as with a lot of things, timing is everything. Putting that mask on after washing and then having to wash your face again, may be too drying causing irritation and redness. Apply your mask, let it sit and then wash off while you are in the shower.

3. You are a little rough when towel drying.
We know you are in a hurry and want to wipe down as quickly as possible, but how you dry off is just as important as how you bathe. To keep dry skin from getting even drier, you need to pat it dry rather than rubbing it dry. Additionally, when you pat dry, you leave precious moisture that will be sealed in after applying a high quality hydrating lotion such as Theraderm Body Restoration Creme or Extreme Dry Skin Therapy.

4. You are using products that lather excessively.
This is a hard habit to break because we all remember mom "soaping us up" to get us clean when we were kids. However, as a general rule, the more something lathers, the more it strips oils from your skin. If you are suffering from dry, itchy skin you may be surprised how a simple change in your products will help. Using a gentle, soap-free, fragrance-free product such as Theraderm Cleansing Wash is just what your skin needs.

5. You aren’t rinsing your skin completely.
Not properly rinsing your skin of harsh cleansers and soaps can cause irritation and dry, itchy skin. The residue sits on the skin basically sucking the moisture from the surface. Rinse thoroughly, even if you are in a hurry.

We hope these tips help! 

From head to toe and everything in between, get your skin back into optimal shape with Theraderm Clinical Skin Care.