Additionally, other skin conditions, like body acne, can be inflamed by the use of loofahs. The bacteria on loofahs could lead to the start of new breakouts. This is the last thing you'd want, especially if you're already suffering from body acne. Loofahs can put your health at risk.
If you're making the mistake of washing your face in the shower, you might not know that loofahs aren't the best option for clean skin. "You should avoid rubbing with a loofah or washcloth as these are too irritating and will damage the skin," says Benjamin Garden, MD, a dermatologist practicing in Chicago.
Taking a shower can rid your body of surface-level germs and bacteria, but you can undermine your cleanliness and potentially your skin health by using harsh loofahs. In fact, most dermatologists don't recommend them—and would definitely not use them on their face.
For example, researchers found that using contaminated loofahs can lead to folliculitis, an infection that causes the hair follicles to become inflamed and leaves small red bumps or white-headed pimples in its wake.
Acne may worsen if you: Get too little sleep. Eat certain foods. Use oily makeup and skin care products.
"But if you're going to choose one, wash cloths are much better than loofahs, provided you only use the cloth one time before washing it. Both can harbor bacteria, but loofahs are much more prone to doing so given all their 'nooks and crannies. '"
In general, exfoliating skin one to two times a week is enough to be effective for dry skin. Oily skin may require more frequent exfoliation. Avoid over-exfoliating as it can lead to redness and irritation.
As a dermatologist, I never recommend a natural loofah (also spelled luffa) for showering. They aren't great for exfoliating, they don't dry well and they can harbor germs. That perpetually damp loofah sitting in the shower is home to microbes that can cause infection on your skin.
Also, many skin experts caution against daily use of loofah since your skin doesn't need daily exfoliation. Everyday use of loofah could leave your skin dry and itchy by stripping it of its natural oils. If you love your loofah scrub, stick to twice-a-week routine.
Benefits of cold water
Cold water can be especially beneficial for dry or acne-prone skin, says Knapp. “If you have chronically dry skin, hot water can strip your sebum levels (oils) and exacerbate the issue, so cold water is a good alternative.”
Use an Exfoliating Scrub
Washing your back can help eliminate acne-causing bacteria, but that's only one piece of the bacne puzzle. Regular exfoliation is also an important part of treating bacne because it scrubs away pore-clogging dead skin cells.
Acne-Prone Skin
Dr. Mack recommends people with acne-prone skin exfoliate three to four times per week. If your skin responds well to it, Dr. Mehr says you can do it as often as once to twice daily.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
They don't ever totally dry out, so the loofah is a beautiful breeding ground for bacteria.” Loofahs can contain fungal organisms that lead to skin infections. “That's why it's important to make sure you keep your loofahs clean, replace them regularly and use them gently — do not rub your skin too vigorously.”
In fact, dermatologists recommend showering in water that's lukewarm or slightly warm. Do a quick rinse to wet your skin before applying any soap. Using a loofah, washcloth, or just your hands, apply bar soap or bodywash to your body. Start at your neck and shoulders, and work your way down the length of your body.
If you don't have any specific skin concerns, then you really just need water and your favorite soap or body wash. “Water is excellent at washing off sweat and dust and the normal lint that we pick up around us every day, [while] soap is really good at pulling oils out of the skin,” Dr. Greiling says.
It Exfoliates The Skin
A good loofah has a gentle texture that lets you manually scrub off the dirt, skin damage, and heat rash from the top layer of your skin to reveal a far smoother and healthy skin.
DO apply ice to reduce pain and swelling. As soon as you notice the blemish, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and apply it to the area for five to 10 minutes. Repeat this two more times, with 10-minute breaks between icing. DO apply a product that contains 2 percent benzoyl peroxide to the pimple.
Acne commonly starts during puberty between the ages of 10 and 13 and tends to be worse in people with oily skin. Teenage acne usually lasts for five to 10 years, normally going away during the early 20s.