Bathe Your Body
Bath or shower?
You may have a strong preference for one or the other. Experts say that showers are cleaner than baths; dirty water rinses down the drain in a shower, rather than sitting in the tub, where you’re soaking.
But that doesn’t mean baths are bad! Baths can be very relaxing, and help to soothe sore muscles. They even help relieve stress and depression! And it might be easier for you to reach parts of your body if you’re sitting in a bath rather than standing in a shower.
The bottom line is, whichever you prefer, do that — what matters is that you get clean. Here are some tips.
Clean your body every day
This is especially important for teenagers, whose hormonal changes make them more likely to look, smell, and feel dirty. Adults can skip a day occasionally. Experts suggest adults shower (or take a bath) 4-6 times a week.
Use soap
Just as you learned about handwashing, water isn’t enough to remove all germs. Use soap or a bath/shower gel every time. Pick whatever kind you like, whether that’s based on feel, scent, or ingredients.
Wash from the top down
Start washing your head and face first, then work your way down. This ensures that you don’t bring dirt and grime up from those areas to your face and head. As you rinse, the water flows downward, giving the dirtiest parts of your body (your genitals, bottom, and feet) a longer time to be washed and rinsed.
Pits, pants, feet
When you shower or take a bath, the most important parts of your body to wash are your armpits, your bottom, your genitals, and your feet. It’s not usually necessary to scrub arms, stomachs, chests, or legs, since those areas don’t tend to get as dirty. In fact, if you scrub them too much, your skin can get too dry and become itchy. Just focus on pits, pants, and feet, and the soapy water that runs down the other parts of your body is sufficient for cleaning them. That way, you’ll be sure to protect your skin while cleaning the parts of your body that most need it.
Take care with your face
The skin on your face is usually more sensitive than the rest of your body. This is why some people use special facial cleansers instead of regular soap, since they’re usually more gentle on skin. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.
Use a sponge, loofah, washcloth, or your hands
If you use a washcloth, get it wet first, then add soap, rub it into a lather, and wash your face, then rinse. A loofah or sponge works the same way. These may be good for exfoliating your skin, which means removing dead skin cells. But you don’t have to have these special items. If you prefer to put soap directly into your hands and then wash your skin, that’s fine!
Don’t let the water get too hot
There’s no real benefit in using extra-hot water when you bathe. In fact, if it’s too hot, that can damage your skin by stripping needed oils, causing it to be too dry later. Plus, you can burn yourself. And don’t stay in the shower longer than necessary, which can also cause dry skin later.
Rinse well
Make sure you get all the soap off. If you don’t, some of the soap residue can irritate your skin, causing a rash or itchiness.
Pat dry, don’t rub
When you’re out of the shower or bath, use your towel to pat the water off your skin. Rubbing can be rough on your skin and cause it to chafe or dry out.
