Choose Your Lather Fighter: Washcloth or Bare Hands? (2024)

FAQs

Choose Your Lather Fighter: Washcloth or Bare Hands? ›

Dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian says, “It's really personal preference, but from a dermatologist's point of view, using bare hands or a soft cloth or flannel is best. Ensure the cloth is washed and fully dried after each use.

In fact, LovelySkin CEO and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joel Schlessinger recommends cleansing skin with your hands over a shower loofah or washcloth. The cons: There's one thing hands don't do particularly well, and that's exfoliation.

What Is The Most Natural Thing to Wash Your Body With? For the most natural cleansing, nothing beats water. It's the simplest and most gentle way to clean your skin. If you need something more, a mild, organic soap or a plant-based body wash with minimal ingredients is a great natural alternative.

Sisal Exfoliating Washcloth is made from 100% Renewable Sisal Fiber. Gentle enough to use as a light facial scrub, but strong enough to exfoliate rough areas like elbows, knees and feet. Sisal is softer than loofah yet still provides enough scrub to leave skin refreshed.

It depends on how you're cleaning your skin and what you're trying to achieve, but generally speaking, a cotton or microfiber washcloth is best for the face. Both materials are soft and absorbent, making them suitable for both cleansing and drying.

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.

Using your hands will get your body clean (as long as you wash them first) and is a good option for people who have sensitive skin, according to the AAD. Plus, you don't have to worry about how often you change out your cloth or loofah.

Silicone scrubs are gentle enough for sensitive skin and are ideal for cleansing without being harsh or abrasive, according to Garshick. This type of bath product is durable and doesn't trap bacteria or mold, making it more hygienic and easier to clean.

Why it's important to use a washcloth. Every single hour your body sheds an average of 200,000,000 skin cells. Combine that with the dirt and grime of the day and you can easily see why you'd want to scrub that nastiness off your body each time you shower. A bar of soap or body wash alone just doesn't do the job.

What do dermatologists recommend for washing your face? ›

Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Wet your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to apply cleanser. Resist the temptation to scrub your skin because scrubbing irritates the skin. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a soft towel.

Many dermatologists recommend cleansing skin with your hands over a shower loofah or washcloth. Using your hands will get your body clean as long as you wash them first. It's a great option for people with sensitive skin. Loofahs are breeding grounds for bacteria.

If you're thinking about showering with hand soap, it's important to read its ingredients. Using any random soap is not advisable for your body as it can cause dryness or damage your skin in the long run. In case your hand soap doesn't contain Sodium Hydroxide or only a small percentage, you can use it for showering.

Apply the bodywash to your body with a washcloth.

Make sure you rinse out the washcloth regularly to prevent germs and bacteria from accumulating. You can also replace the washcloth once a week. Stay away from using a loofah to apply the bodywash, as it can harbor bacteria and germs.

Even though neither loofahs or washcloths are the best option when it comes to showering, I still had to know which was generally better to use. I'm sorry to all the loofah lovers out there — a washcloth is the better option of the two.