How to bathe in winter without damaging hair and skin

Bathing is an essential activity for every human being. Whether it is a long soak in the tub or just a quick shower, experts say that it is necessary to follow some principles to maintain skin and hair.

Should we shower often?

Dr. Derek V Chan, a dermatologist in New York, recommends that you only shower once a day. For those with dermatitis, use a medicated cream on your body after about 5 minutes of showering. The moisture on your skin will be retained, so you don't feel uncomfortable anymore.

Don't bathe too much (photo: Getty Images)

According to two German scientists, Dr. Joshua Zeichner and Dr. Ranella Hirsch, bathing too often, especially with hot water, is not good for your skin. Because bathing too many times will cause beneficial bacteria as well as the oil layer on the skin to be lost, making the skin drier and drier. This makes the skin more prone to cracking and you will face a higher risk of skin infections.

Hot or cold shower?

Soaking in hot water after a stressful and tiring working hour will make you feel refreshed. However, warm water is much more effective. Bathing with hot water can reduce moisture and lose a significant amount of beneficial fluids in the skin.

Especially for people with eczema, hot water will aggravate the symptoms.

Bathing in water hotter than 50 degrees, even for just 5 minutes, can cause third-degree burns. So you need to be careful every time you bathe. We should only bathe in warm water (about below 40 degrees Celsius).

Hot and cold showers are beneficial in many ways. However, dermatologists admit that taking hot showers for too long can have a harmful effect on the skin and scalp, drying it out. To avoid this, The Health magazine recommends that you shower with warm water and wash your face and hair with cold water. If it is winter, you should use moderate water temperature to avoid catching a cold.

Whether you take a hot or cold shower, moisturize immediately afterward. Don't stay in the shower for too long, as this will strip away the beneficial natural oils in your skin.

How should we wash our hair properly?

With most shampoos and conditioners on the market today, we should apply it evenly to the scalp and leave it on for about 2-3 minutes. With medicated shampoos (such as anti-dandruff shampoos), doctors recommend leaving it on for 3-5 minutes.

A common mistake is to not apply oil to the scalp but only to the hair. This will not give the shampoo the desired effect.

Should take warm baths in winter (photo: Ocean/Corbis)

So how many times a day or how many times a week should we wash our hair?

In fact, the frequency of hair washing varies from person to person, as it relates to their daily activities. However, the key point here is that the scalp secretes sebum. These sebaceous glands are located next to the hair roots, just below the dermis. When sebum is secreted, it will follow the grooves connecting the sebaceous glands to the hair follicles and exit the scalp. And each person secretes a different amount of sebum.

According to Lynne Goldberg, MD, director of the Boston Medical Center's hair clinic, we should not wash our hair too often because: 'It sounds counterintuitive, but people who wash their hair too often to avoid greasy hair will dry out their scalp and produce more oil.'

According to the recommendations of scientists at Columbia University, if your skin and hair are normal (not too oily and not too dry), you should only wash your hair 1-2 times/week. If you belong to the group of people with oily scalp, the time between washes should be closer.

According to Songkhoe