Many people desire healthy, well-cared-for skin. Unfortunately, improper washing habits often lead to unwanted skin problems. This is because people frequently use too many, sometimes harsh, skincare products. This isn't necessarily the best approach. Instead, targeted skincare tailored to your individual skin type is essential. In this article, we'll highlight the most common mistakes when washing your skin and give you practical tips on how to cleanse and care for it properly.
- SOAP: Less is more – soaps and shower gels attack the skin's protective acid mantle. The less soap you use, the less likely it is that its natural function will be damaged. Experts advise against lathering up your body thoroughly every day. Ultimately, cleansing with water is perfectly sufficient. Only makeup residue and oil need to be removed with soap! Hands, in particular, should be washed with soap. Ideally, when choosing soaps and shower gels for the body, make sure they don't contain sodium laryn sulfate (SLS). SLS acts as a surfactant and binds oil-based dirt, which can then be rinsed away with water. People with skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis should especially avoid it.
- WASH: With dry or very sensitive skin, the protective barrier is often compromised. In these cases, excessive skincare can actually be harmful. If you've barely sweated or haven't come into contact with dirt on a particular day, you can skip showering without feeling guilty. If this makes you feel uncomfortable, you can, of course, still cleanse specific areas of your body daily, such as your underarms, hands, face, the sweat grooves on your chest and back, and your intimate area. "Cleansing Reduction" is the latest trend, which focuses on adapting your personal hygiene routine to your skin type and actual needs in order to protect the skin's natural protective barrier. Showering for too long softens the skin, causes it to lose moisture, and leads to faster dryness.
- TEMPERATURE: Doctors advise that the water temperature when showering should be lukewarm – similar to or slightly warmer than your own body temperature. People who struggle with irritation or dryness should pay particular attention to the water temperature to protect their skin microbiome.
- TIME: The recommended shower duration is five to ten minutes. Showering for too long can dry out the skin. This happens because the moisture in the water softens the skin, allowing moisture to escape from the body.
- PRODUCTS: People with allergies or skin problems, in particular, should opt for mild cleansing products with a pH value of 5.5 to 7. pH-neutral skincare should be free of fragrances, artificial colors, and other potentially harmful ingredients. The skincare industry is constantly evolving. Innovative trends such as probiotic cosmetics are effective because these products contain live microorganisms. This allows them to reach the skin and its own microbiome, continuously supporting the balance of the skin flora.
Want to give your skin even more support? Then do so by supporting your gut! It's very closely connected to the gut-brain axis! Want to learn more? Then click through our article about... gut-skin axis
Short: What does our gut have to do with our skin?
Our skin reflects the health of our gut. If our gut is healthy, our skin glows, ages more slowly, is less dry, and is less prone to breakouts and irritations. Dr. Michaela Axt-Gadermann explains:
"A healthy gut flora and the targeted addition of certain bacterial strains can improve moisture retention, stimulate hyaluronic acid production, alleviate pimples and eczema, improve the skin's UV protection, or make sensitive skin less sensitive. Even the aging process is slowed down by a healthy gut; wrinkles can be reduced by the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum."
In addition to the 5 tips mentioned above, gut health also plays a very important role and can be "cared for" just like skin. One way to support your gut flora is to take synbiotics (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics). Would you like to try our synbiotics? Then click the button below.Discover which mybacs product is right for you!
