First is the dirt and grunge that seems to stick to us from who knows where. Even sitting in a clean room still gets us dirty. Second is the dead skin cells that are constantly flaking off our skin. Third is the body oils under the skin, not just those on the surface.
We have two types of body secretions - oil and water (sweat). Those and the things that mix with them are best cleaned with a compound that breaks down the oils, makes them more soluble and allows them to be washed off easily. This is what soap is. Regardless of the additives for scent, cream, color, etc. the goal is to get the oils broken down and off the body. This is all there is to washing in most people’s minds, but they’re wrong. Read on!
The more you shampoo your hair, the more you strip it of natural oils, and the more often your body will have to produce those natural oils to make up for it. If you give yourself a shower break, you might find that you’re actually less greasy, oily, or smelly in the in-between periods. Some people will need to shower more regularly than others. [2] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you sweat regularly, or have excessively oily skin, for example, you may need to shower as many as two times a day, and use proper moisturizer. Everyone’s body is different.
Some soaps leave more or less residue behind. A simple test is to take a clear glass pane, drinking glass, goblet, dish, etc (must be clear) and swipe a small amount of cold grease (bacon, fat, oil, etc. ) across an area. Rinse with cool water. Use the soap bar/liquid soap to firmly rub a section of the grease smear off. Rinse with clean water without scrubbing, or drying. Let air dry. Look through the glass and compare the unwashed grease with the soap cleaned section. A poor soap will leave a cloudy finish next to the grease. A good soap will leave a clear finish. What’s left on the glass after the soap is left on your skin. Medicated shampoos and soaps are sometimes recommended for people with dry or flaky skin, while others may opt for natural or organic ingredients for optimum health.
Consider using an exfoliant scrub or loofah. Exfoliant products usually have things like walnut shell, sugar, or other grainy ingredients that can be used to remove the dead skin from your body. They’re commonly available in body wash form, or in bar soap form. Loofah scrubs are like textured wash cloths that can be used to scrub your body and remove dead skin cells. They’re also bacteria traps, so it’s important to rinse them out thoroughly and change them regularly if you try to use one. [3] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source You can also learn to make up your own exfoliant scrubs or a basic sugar scrub. There are lots of different kinds of recipes, but a basic version involves mixing two tablespoons of sugar with enough olive oil and honey to get the consistency of toothpaste.
Be aware of going too hot, especially if you have dry skin. The best temperature to take a shower? It might be slightly lower than you think. [4] X Research source Excessively hot water, in excess of 120 degrees F (49 C) will dry out your skin and can cause long-term skin problems. Instead, try showering in water hot to the touch, but not burning. Setting the water temperature to your body temperature defeats the purpose of opening up the pores in your skin. You don’t want to burn, but DO want to feel the heat and the beginning of sweat to clean those pores. Consider ending your shower with a rinse of a minute or two in cool to cold water from the faucet. This helps to tighten up the skin and close the pores back up, which will keep them from trapping dirt and other grime you’ve washed off in the shower.
Rinse your buttocks and your groin as well, then make sure you rinse properly. Soap trapped in these areas can cause irritation. Another consideration is to dry completely to the point where you are no longer secreting (sweating) from the hot cleaning before you dress. If you’ve done a good thorough cleaning, the dampness that your clothes will absorb will dry with no or minimal odor. You are constantly sloughing off dead skin cells, but if you’ve just finished cleaning, there will be far less ending up in your clothes to begin to decay and embarrass you.
Start your shower routine by steaming your face with a hot towel and a drop or two of some peppermint or tea-tree essential oil. This can be an excellent way of opening your pores and releasing toxins, without damaging your skin in the shower.
Everyone’s hair type needs a different level of moisture—the more moisture you need, the longer you should go between shampoos. Eventually, your body will recognize that it no longer needs an excessive amount of oil to hydrate your scalp. [6] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Rinse the shampoo out thoroughly, running your fingers through the stands as you go. If your hair is still slippery, that means the shampoo isn’t out and your hair will get greasy over the next 24 hours. Repeat this process with conditioner, to strengthen your hair. Rinse it out completely.
To keep your body as clean as possible, it’s important to wash your towel regularly and store it properly so it dries appropriately. [7] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If you do a poor job of cleaning you’ll need to wash your towel after 2-3 uses. [8] X Research source See Tip #3 below. Never just let a wet towel lay on the floor of the bathroom, or it will get mildewy and dirty quickly. It’s important to hang it up properly and allow it to dry completely.
To keep the odor under control while your body flushes the toxins, get some therapeutic-grade essential oils (Young Living or Doterra), such as lavender, rose, lemon, or purification blend, among many others to put directly on your armpits to reduce odor.
Identify problem areas, like the heels of your feet, your elbows, and your knees, and apply moisturizer to those areas every night before bed. This can help to soften skin and improve its overall health.
Use plain honey, lemon, milk, besan flour, green tea, and fresh fruits like papaya mango oranges sweet lime. You can also buy a face pack or mixture from the store. Read the ingredients to find out what’s used so you can mix one up yourself.
Consider using home alternatives. For some people, deep cleaning means avoiding commercial products all together and focusing on cleaning your body with gentler home remedies. Instead of shampoo, you can use baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and warm water. If you’re interested in learning more home remedies, check out the following articles: How to Cleanse Your Body Naturally How to Have Clear Skin Naturally How to Make a Basic Homemade Facial Scrub How to Make Homemade Shower Gel How to Make a Homemade Body Wash How to Make Your Own Soap How to Make Shampoo
When you diet to lose weight you even loose some of important nutrients so don’t starve or cut down the carbs and fats completely. Try increasing the number of antioxidants in your diet. Drink green tea and eat tomatoes every day. Every morning, try eating basil leaves or soaked methi seeds on empty stomach, which are used as a common natural detox remedy.
