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Tips to Prevent Skin Infections from Your Shower Sponge and Razor

prevent skin infections from shower sponge and razor

To prevent skin infections from your shower sponge and razor you need to keep them dry. Don’t let the personal care items in your shower sit in water. When your razor, exfoliating sponge, shower mitt or loofah sponge stay wet between uses they can harbor germs.

shower sponge and skin care for soft skin

My favorite shower routine involves a Salux Cloth, exfoliating soap and AHA cream to keep my skin super soft. I've done this for over 30 years. It works miracles to fight crepe skin and keep my skin as soft as velvet - and I know I need to keep my shower cloth clean, dry and germ-free. I received a similar question from a reader so I'm covering the topic in this article.

Skin infection from shower sponge and razor include folliculitis

Germs that cause folliculitis include yeast, bacteria and fungi that can grow in a wet shower tool. The germs are transferred to your skin when you use the tool and they cause pimple like lesions. It’s a simple concept but, depending on your shower, the solution may require that you be a little creative.

This important topic came up from a customer’s question. She had just ordered her skin care products from my website and wanted to be certain to use them correctly:

I read on your site that the (facial) sponge should be completely dried between uses because this helps decrease microbial growth. I've never used bar soaps because I've never seen a convenient way to keep them around where they don't end up a gooey puddle-y slimy mess. Sharon

I know that this is a common question because I often see patients in my dermatology practice with razor bumps due to Staph folliculitis skin infections. When we talk about prevention, they’re surprised to learn that their razors need to be dry and clean between uses. Most people keep their razors in the shower and showers can hold germs. This isn't just a problem with public showers like in a dorm or at a gym, it applies to your bathroom shower at home too.

Your skin comes into contact with germs all day long. You wash them off when you wash your hands and bathe. Ideally the germs wash down the drain and you’re done with them. When your personal care items are sitting down low in your shower, especially in a soap dish that doesn't drain, then those germs may be hanging around.

Personal care items used on your skin when bathing need to be rinsed well and dry completely between use!

Dermatologist's 3 Tips for Reducing Germs on Sponges, Razors and Bar Soap in Your Shower

prevent skin infections from your shower sponge1. Keep your shower sponge, razors and soap dry between use

Store them up as high as possible in the shower where they are less likely to be splashed by the water washing off your skin or bouncing off the shower surface. A high window or shelf in your shower is the perfect place to keep your razor, sponges, mitts or loofah. If your sponge has a hooked handle, you can hang it from your shower head. This is a great way to store a Salux Exfoliating Shower Cloth or back brush.

2. Use a grate or shower caddy for items that sit on a surface.

A grate allows all the water to drain off and allows air to circulate. Ideally it should not be made of a porous material like wood which itself may not fully dry. Stainless steel or plastic would be a better choice.  

3. Rinse-off your shower sponge, mitt, loofah, exfoliating cloth or razor after you use them and get as much water off it as possible.

Give them a good squeeze or a brisk flick before you step out of the shower. This gives them the best possible chance of drying-out fast.

Don’t forget the soap and facial sponge that you keep at the bathroom sink. They need to dry-out between uses too. I taught my kids to lean their Facial Exfoliation Sponges up against the bottle of their facial cleanser so that the air could dry it out- the trick’s worked for years!

shower sponge and skin care for soft skinTo learn more about my Ultra-Fast Triple Action Body Smoothing Kit, click here. 

Photo: Krikit