The most dangerous room in the house for your skin

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year about 235,000 people over age 15 visit emergency rooms because of injuries suffered in the bathroom, and almost 14 percent are hospitalized.

More than a third of the injuries happen while bathing or showering. More than 14 percent occur while using the toilet.

Clinical experience of managing atopic eczema using The Combined Approach also identifies the bathroom as the most dangerous room in the house.

In the bathroom skin hazards include:

• Water - it can wash off natural protective skin oils, leaving the skin dry and itchy
• Being undressed - skin exposure encourages scratching
• Privacy - when we are on our own we scratch much more
• Vigorous towelling dry = scratching
  
• Applying creams - contact with the skin can lead to scratching and rubbing

 Remedies:

• Moisturise before and after washing with water: avoid soap
• Not too long in the water, & keep the water temperature reasonable
• Do not dally in the bathroom: get in and out quickly - make yourself popular!
• Gently pat dry - avoid vigourous rubbing with the towel
  
• Apply creams gently and quickly

Reference:

Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years --- United States, 2008