Doubt when leaving the sea: shower immediately or dry off with salt?
Salt retains moisture and prevents the skin's hydration mechanism from functioning normally.
Go to the beach, swim in the sea, and, upon exiting the water, ask yourself the following question: Should you remove excess salt from your skin before drying, or is it better to leave it? Dr. Alfonso María del Pozo Carrascosa, professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Barcelona, has a clear answer to this summer dilemma. It is highly recommended to remove the salt immediately after exiting the water.
As he explains, sea salt is a product added to the skin and, therefore, changes the physical conditions of the skin's surface: "This means that conditions that are not natural to the skin can occur, such as worse perspiration. In addition, the skin must also be left clean so that it can perform its sweating functions. In this sense, it must be taken into account that salt retains moisture, therefore, it prevents the skin's hydration mechanism from functioning normally and dries it out.
This gives rise to another factor to take into account: comfort. The microcrystals that make up the salt affect the flexibility of the skin and cause a feeling of tightness. This tightness can be very uncomfortable. It is for this reason, for one's own comfort, that Del Pozo also recommends showering immediately after leaving the sea.
