Skin is an integral part of the body because it protects us from infections and other harmful things. It also has many different roles, such as regulating body temperature, keeping in water and electrolytes, protecting our nerves, and even helping to heal wounds.
It does that by shedding or rubbing off dead cells on the surface layer called the epidermis every day. It sheds about 10 million cells per hour! A shower can help remove these shed cells, making you feel cleaner than if you just showered with soap.
It can be frustrating when you notice your skin starts to rub off after a shower. You may think about taking an extra-long scrub before hopping into the water, but there are other reasons why this could happen. Keep reading to find out what is causing the skin to rub off after a shower!
Why Does Skin Rub off After a Shower?
Here are the top 7 Reasons Why Your Skin Is Rubbing Off After A Shower.
1. Your Water May Not Be Hot Enough
Washing with lukewarm or cold water can cause your skin to rub off. That’s because once you step into the shower, the pores on your skin start to open up. Soap works best when these pores are open because it can get deep down and cleanse more effectively.
Hot water will keep your pores open and stop the skin from rubbing off. The heat also opens up your body’s blood vessels, increasing blood flow to your skin’s surface, making you look glowing and refreshed!
2. You May Not Be Using Enough Soap
It can be easy to think that a little goes a long way regarding how much soap you should use. You’re right; it does, but not in the case of soap usage. Using little soap can rub your skin to remove any dirt or bacteria.
It’s harder for the soap to do its job effectively. Even if you use a body wash instead of bar soap, ensure you use enough product so you can avoid skin from rubbing off.
3. You May Be Showering Too Often
It is common to shower daily, but your showers may be doing more harm than good. As mentioned earlier, it takes about 10 million cells an hour to shed off the surface of your skin-that number doesn’t change when you step into the shower.
The only thing that changes is that the dead skin cells start to rub off, which can leave your skin not looking as bright and clean as it did before you showered. Try cutting back your showers to two times a week for best results.
4. You May Not Be Scrubbing Enough
It’s common to use a washcloth when in the shower to help scrub off any dirt or bacteria that may be on your skin. Use enough pressure and product to get rid of dirt, oil, dead cells, etc. Scrubbing softly can leave dirt behind. Therefore, give your body the attention it deserves.
5. You May Be Using the Wrong Soap for Your Skin Type
There are different types of soaps. It can be challenging to know which ones work best with your body. If you have dry, sensitive, or oily skin, always look at the labels before purchasing.
There should also be information on whether or not certain soaps are suitable for different skin types. If you think about what your skin needs, like extra hydration or less oil production, before heading to the store, it will be easier to pick out the suitable soap for your body.
6. You May Need to Exfoliate More Often
Gently exfoliating with a washcloth can help slough off dead cells and allow your skin to look brighter. If you have dead skin being pushed up into the surface of your epidermis, it’s going to be noticeable that your skin is rubbing off. It would be best to exfoliate once a day with a mild scrub for best results.
7. You May Have a Mild Skin Disease
Not all skin rashes result from a wrong product or not scrubbing enough. A more serious medical condition can bring some on. Having psoriasis, dermatitis, or any other type of medical condition can cause your skin to have scaling.
So if you have a medical condition that is causing your skin to be rougher than usual, visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment options for your case.
What Are Some of the Solutions
1. Don’t Wait Long to Shower
For those who do not like taking showers every day, it is essential to remember that the longer you wait between your showers, the more dead skin cells start to rub off your clothing. So make sure that if you are planning on wearing certain clothes or uniforms for work or school, you do it accordingly and shower beforehand.
2. Use a Gentle Exfoliator
Using a washcloth or a body scrub can help exfoliate your skin and remove any dead cells that may stick on the surface of your dermis. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to go for an organic formula that will not irritate the skin.
3. Take Shorter Showers
Although it’s fun to spend hours in the shower, you should avoid washing for long. Shorter showers are effective at removing dirt and oil. That’s because water does not stay on your skin for long. If you consider that before hopping into the tub, you should get out faster and dry off quicker.
4 Use a Gentle Soap
There are many soaps, and it can be challenging to know which ones work best with your body. Knowing what kind of skin you have beforehand is essential when deciding on the product to purchase. If you know that you have dry or sensitive skin, it’s best to go for an organic formula that will not irritate it.
5. Avoid Scrubbing Hard
Sometimes you can get carried away with scrubbing every little bit of dirt off of your body and end up overdoing it. If you use much force or pressure when exfoliating, your skin can end up getting irritated or red. So if you use a washcloth, keep it gentle.
Just remember that there are many reasons why your skin may be flaking off. Hence, it’s important not to immediately blame your shower routine until you have taken the time to diagnose your problem correctly.
If you notice any other abnormalities along with having dry or flaky skin, visit a doctor for a complete checkup. Otherwise, if you can pay attention to your daily hygiene rituals and adjust accordingly, you should avoid further complications!
