Short answer: Long, hot showers can dry the skin. Hot water and long soaks take more of the skin’s natural oils with them, and that oil is part of what slows water loss from the surface, so skin can come out feeling tight, dry or itchy, especially on the body and in dry air. A shorter shower in warm rather than hot water, a gentle cleanser, patting dry and moisturizing afterward are the habits that count.
You do not have to give up a warm shower. You may want to change how you take it.
What hot water does to the surface of your skin
The outer layer of your skin is a thin sheet of cells held together by fats, with a film of natural oil on top, and together they slow water loss. What Is the Skin Barrier? explains more.
Long showers and hot water remove more of the skin’s natural oils than shorter showers in warm water, and harsh soaps add to the effect. When you step out, the surface has less of what holds water in. That is one reason for the tight feeling some people get after a hot shower, and in dry air it can turn into flaking and itching.
Shorter and warmer, not hot
General dermatology guidance is to keep showers and baths short and to use warm rather than hot water. There is no single right number of minutes for everyone. Aim for a shower that leaves your skin comfortable once you are dry.
Turn the water down. Warm means comfortable on your skin, not hot enough to leave it pink.
Shorten the shower. Notice how your skin feels afterward and adjust from there.
Where it shows first
The body. Oil glands are spread unevenly. The face and scalp have the most, and the palms and soles have none. Many people notice dryness on the arms, legs and hands first. Does Your Body Need a Skincare Routine Too? covers what those areas need.
The face. Heat can leave the face looking flushed for a while, and heat is a common trigger for people prone to facial redness. Redness on the Face covers the common causes.
Washing your face in the shower
Shower spray may be hotter and more forceful than the water you would choose at a sink, so some people prefer washing their face at the sink. If you use the shower, turn your face away from the hottest spray and keep your touch light. If you wear eye makeup, remove it first with a dedicated eye makeup remover.
After the shower
Pat dry. Press the towel against your skin rather than rubbing it.
Face. After cleansing, continue in order: an appropriate toner or mist, then serum, then moisturizer, each according to the product’s directions, plus daytime sun protection in the morning.
Body. Apply moisturizer after cleansing or bathing and any appropriate preceding steps, following the product’s directions, with clean fingertips.
If it persists. Itching that keeps going, a rash, cracking or soreness, or a change you cannot account for, is worth showing to a dermatologist.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Professional facial sponges are Victoria’s preferred tool for facial cleansing, used gently with an appropriate cleanser. Fingertips are acceptable, but she prefers sponges for more thorough cleansing.
After cleansing your face, Hydro Mist, Esenté’s antioxidant hydrating mist, can be used as a facial hydration step before the rest of your routine. It can also be used after makeup to help set it and throughout the day as desired. For the body, the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hydra Crème and the Cellaris Body Crème are two examples. Both come in jars, so take the crème out with a clean cosmetic spatula and follow the directions for whichever you use. These are examples from a broader range, to be chosen for your skin, preferences and budget. Esenté works with boutique manufacturers to develop and select formulations that meet the brand’s ingredient, performance and quality criteria. If your skin still feels dry after you have changed your shower habits, the Ask Victoria page is the place to ask.
Frequently asked questions
Long, hot showers can dry the skin, because they take more of its natural oils than shorter showers in warm water. How much that matters varies from person to person. Warm water, shorter showers and moisturizer afterward help many people.
Often, hot water has lifted oil from the surface and the skin is drying out. Try cooler, shorter showers, pat dry and moisturize. Itching that persists or comes with a rash is worth showing to a dermatologist.
There is no single right number for everyone. Dermatology guidance favors short showers in warm water. If your skin feels tight or itchy once dry, the shower may have been too long, too hot or both.
Yes, if you keep the water warm rather than hot and your touch light. Some people prefer the sink, where the temperature is easier to control.
You do not need to go cold. Warm water is the usual advice because it rinses cleanser away while taking less oil than hot water does. Finishing with a cooler rinse is a matter of personal preference.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
