Shower scrunchie, mesh loofah, body puff, bath pouf, polishing sponge, netting exfoliators… people call them all different sorts of things, but I call it a shower scrunchie! Do you currently have a shower scrunchie in your bathroom that you are using? If you do, I, unfortunately, have bad news for you! Today I am sharing 3 reasons why you should go right now and throw it away. I will also give you some alternatives so don’t worry, I have you covered!
I have used a shower scrunchie for a long time now and to be honest, never gave it much thought until recently on how much of a breeding ground for bacteria they are. You might think it cannot be “that” big of a deal, but it is!
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3 Reasons You Should Throw Out Your Shower Scrunchie
Breeding ground for bacteria
Bacteria can begin to grow in a scrunchie overnight. Your skin cells can get caught up in the netting and build up, then you leave it in in damp and dark shower where bacteria thrive!
98% of Dermatologists recommend that you do NOT use them
Not only do most Dermatologists recommend that you do NOT use them, but they prefer you use your own hands to wash your body over a shower scrunchie.
Aggravate acne-prone skin
Essentially when the bacteria build up in the shower scrunchie we end up massaging bacteria into our skin. If you freshly shave your legs or have a cut on your skin you can potentially infect it from that bacteria.
*Have you noticed that you tend to break out, or your skin just hasn’t been as clear as it used to? This could be the cause.
Still adamant about keeping that shower scrunchie?
- It is recommended that you replace it at a minimum of every 3-4 weeks.
- Wash/rinse it well after each use.
- Remove it from the moist environment each time to dry out thoroughly. Yep, take it out of the shower!
Seems like too much work to me to keep it!
Alternatives
Wash Cloth
This is a dermatologist’s preferred method next to your hands. I don’t prefer my hands so this is my new choice because they can easily be switched out and washed often. I like using baby washcloths, they are smaller are so soft, and dry out quickly!
Natural Loofah
A Natural Loofah lathers well and does a good job exfoliating your skin. You should still rinse these well and put them somewhere outside the shower to dry because they can still harbor bacteria but are less dense than the synthetic versions.
A Natural Sea Sponge
Natural Sea Sponges have enzymes that help to prevent bacteria from building up. But you guessed it, still, rinse out well and let it dry out between uses to cut down on as much bacteria as possible from growing.
Shower Mitt
The Shower Mitt is the popular thing to use right now. They can get kind of pricey, but they come in a range of different textures for exfoliation, and they dry out between uses well. It is a great choice.
How often should I exfoliate?
Dermatologists recommend that you do NOT exfoliate daily. For the average person, it is recommended that you exfoliate 2-3 times per week, but it depends on your skin type. Below is a general point of reference, always talk to your doctor to see what they recommend for you!
Normal skin: Generally, the recommendation is 2-3 times per week, if your skin can tolerate you can do it more often.
Oily skin: People with oily skin can often tolerate exfoliating more often because their skin is typically not as sensitive or dry.
Sensitive skin: Most people with sensitive skin are usually only recommended to exfoliate about once a week so that they do not further irritate their skin.
There are all types of exfoliating products out there that you can use instead of using a Loofah or shower scrunchie! Find a quality body scrub, body polish, or body exfoliator. One thing that you might want to look for is, what are they using in the product, plastic or silicone beads, or are they using a natural product like seeds? Always look at the ingredients.
My favorite body exfoliating products are from MONAT, they have a body polish and a Berry Refined Face Scrub. If you want more information on those click here.
Are you headed to your trash can yet to throw out your shower scrunchie or loofah? I don’t know why I was so surprised by all this information because it makes so much sense! Even if you aren’t ready to “throw in the towel” on your scrunchie give it a break for a few weeks and see if you notice a difference in your skin. Please share any thoughts below and share this with anyone that you think needs to hear this! Lol!
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