Rinsing out conditioner because the final step of your bathe routine appears like a sensible plan. When you’re busy washing your physique and, maybe, exfoliating or shaving, you’ll be able to let these moisturizing elements soak in and work their softening magic. If this feels like your typical routine, nonetheless, you would possibly wish to reassess—particularly should you’re combating physique zits.
In a latest TikTok with greater than 21,000 views, board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, shared a standard mistake that may trigger chest and again zits—and it’s one which many people are responsible of. “I’m noticing [a lot of you] are placing conditioner in your hair, you’re wrapping it up, you’re letting it sit, and rinsing your conditioner is the ultimate step of your ‘every little thing’ bathe,” Dr. Zubritsky says within the video.
The issue with that apply, she says: When conditioner residue drips down your again, chest, and/or different elements of your physique, it might clog your pores and trigger pesky breakouts if it’s not correctly cleaned off with water and cleaning soap. “As a result of conditioners are usually thick and creamy, they are often tough to take away successfully with simply water,” Dr. Zubrisky tells SELF. That’s why, she says, washing your physique ought to truly be the final step of your bathe routine.
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Maryland-based dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Everlasting Dermatology Aesthetics and professor of dermatology at George Washington College, agrees. “The order during which you utilize these merchandise issues,” Dr. Rodney tells SELF. “And utilizing conditioner on the very finish can certainly improve the chance of physique zits for some individuals.” Once more, that’s as a result of conditioners—which may make hair really feel delicate, silky, and manageable—additionally are inclined to include hydrating, occlusive elements like oils (corresponding to coconut and jojoba) and silicones (dimethicone is a standard one), she says.
“These elements may be problematic after they come into contact with the pores and skin in your again or different acne-prone areas as a result of they create a barrier on the pores and skin’s floor and lure lifeless pores and skin cells, sweat, and sebum beneath it,” Dr. Rodney explains. In consequence, this buildup can contribute to these annoying bumps, pustules, or cysts it’s possible you’ll know and detest.
So should you’re coping with physique breakouts—or wish to keep away from that irritating state of affairs to start with—Dr. Zubritsky suggests a unique strategy: Begin from the highest (wash and situation your hair first) and end on the backside (clear your physique as a last step). All you actually need is a mild physique wash and perhaps a washcloth, she provides. And should you’re notably susceptible to breakouts, you may also think about a cleanser with acne-fighting elements like benzoyl peroxide to get these bumps, uh, off your again.
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