Not too hot, not too long and with mild products
There is a good chance that you will jump into the shower mindlessly in the morning, even in the summer. But especially on hot days it is important to adjust your washing routine, because your skin is quickly dry, tight and flaky. And showering or sitting in the bath for too long can make it worse.
It is logical that you protect your skin in the sun with a good anti-sunscreen. But what do you actually do with that skin after a day at the beach or elsewhere in the sun? It is important to take extra good care of your skin so that it has time to recover during the evening and night. Some tips to prevent dry, tight and damaged skin.
A cold shower?
You would think that a cold shower is nice and refreshing in the summer. And that’s also true if you shower a little colder than usual. According to proponents, a very cold shower is good for the immune system, blood circulation and the skin. But if the water temperature is below 20 degrees, your body needs too much energy to bring the body temperature back to normal levels. The blood vessels are then contracted. As a result, the body can no longer cool down and more heat is built up. A shower that is too cold therefore has the opposite effect if you want to cool down. Make sure the temperature is lukewarm. Showering too hot is also not good, as it removes the natural oils on your skin, causing it to become dehydrated more quickly. Don’t shower too long either. The longer you take a shower, the more moisture your skin loses.
no soap
If your skin is irritated, dry or sensitive to the sun, it is especially important to use mild, soap-free care products, preferably unscented and with a skin neutral pH value (5.5). When the acid mantle of your skin has a PH value of 5.5, it protects the skin against drying out, bacteria and harmful external influences. In any case, do not use too much shampoo, perfumed shower foam and the like. The rule is actually: the more foam, the more skin problems, because these so-called surfactants often attract oil and water, so that you wash away the protective layer of your skin and your skin becomes even drier.
If you’ve dried yourself off after showering (blot dry, don’t rub!), you should apply a body cream, emulsion, or lotion almost immediately. The moisture in your body does not evaporate in this way. If you wait a long time before applying this cream or don’t apply it at all, your skin will lose a lot of moisture. Are you sunburnt? Then opt for a cooling after-sun, at least on the red spots. By the way, yogurt or cucumber also help to ‘take out the fire’.
