Winter time does enough damage on our skin without our compounding the problem with using the wrong products during baths. With the cold wind howling outside, nothing is more cozy than sliding into a hot bath, warming you up to the core. However, if you are suffering from dry, cracked skin, eczema or psoriasis then a bath can be painful or lead to more severe flare ups.
What soaps and bubble baths should you use?
That is a trick question. For sensitive skin or if you have skin conditions like eczema, do not use soap based cleansers. Find gentle cleansers as they won’t strip the moisture from your skin and will clean just as well as any other. Using vinegar based or oil based cleansers will be ideal for any type of skin issues. If you are taking a bubble bath, try using Epsom salt along with a gentle soap.
Even adding a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath water can help when you have a flare up of dry skin, eczema or psoriasis as it is a natural antiseptic. Always remember that whether you take a bath or shower, you should use lukewarm water and never hot. Heat will dry out the moisture in your skin leaving you in worse condition.
What type of water is best for your skin?
Whether you have hard water, soft water, well water or spring water, there are pros and cons to all of them. Most people living in the US have hard water which means a high content of minerals like magnesium and calcium. It comes from the groundwater running through limestone and other high mineral content earth. Soft water means you have very little or no minerals added. Rain water is an example of soft water.
A common myth is that hard water causes skin to dry out but in fact we tend to over soap because of the lack of lather. Using too much soap can cause your skin to dry out, plus washing it all off means longer in the shower or bath, stripping your skin the necessary moisture it needs to stay healthy. If you have hard water, don’t worry about lather. You will still get clean using the appropriate amount recommended, between a nickle and quarter size drop.
Soft water leaves no residue and lathers up beautifully in the bath and shower. What you may have a hard time getting accustomed to is the slick feeling after you wash up. It might feel like you still have soap on your body but in fact, it is just that you may not be used to soft water. If you have hard water, you can use softeners to filter out the mineral. Just be cautious not to over wash.
Between weather and dry heat, winter takes its toll on your skin. Using the right skin care products will keep your skin moisturized and healthy all winter long.