You should always tilt your head when you wash your hair for this shocking reason

Showering is something we all do on the reg, but it seems we’ve been making one crucial mistake that could be wreaking havoc with our skin.

Do you tilt your head when washing your hair? Nope, didn’t think so. Disclaimer: don’t worry, neither do we.

Despite most of us showering every single day, a process that may seem pretty simple (step in, turn the water on, wash yourself, scrub, shave, shampoo etc, come out), it seems we are making one crucial mistake.

It turns out many of us have been doing it wrong all along. You see, to have the best shower of your life you need to adopt a few good methods – from the temperature and time to the products and tools you’re using, there are dermatologist-approved shower hacks you need to know about.

One of them being that you should always tilt your head to one side to rinse out your shampoo and conditioner. Why? Because letting the soapy water run down your back could well cause the dreaded bacne (acne of the back, natch).

Firstly, what exactly is bacne? Bacne is acne that occurs (yep, you guessed it) on your back. It’s exceptionally common and can appear as bumps, whiteheads, or blackheads as well as more severe cystic acne.

It’s most likely to appear on the upper back and shoulders, since these areas contain the most sebaceous glands, but can occur anywhere on the body. 

To prevent bacne from occurring or returning, it’s important to know what causes it in the first place. “Similar to the causes of spots on our face, bacne is caused by excess sebum production, the build-up of dead skin cells, and bacteria”, says dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk.”The skin on our backs is extremely thick so the potential for blocked pores is very high”, she adds. “For those who are prone to spots, the accumulation of oil and dead skin cells in our pores creates an ideal environment for a particular bacterium called ‘propionibacterium’ acne to thrive. This triggers inflammation in the skin leading to angry red bumps and pus-filled spots.”

And that’s exactly why you should never let dirty, soapy water run down your back; because it blocks the pores and leads to bacne. Instead, you should tilt your head to the side to let the dirty water run off straight into the drain, avoiding contact with your skin.

Who knew?

So how can you tackle bacne? Here are 5 top bacne-busting tips…

1. Wash your skin in the shower every day, using a loofah or wash cloth to help achieve a thorough cleanse.

2. Look for a body wash or body moisturiser containing the ingredients salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid and use an exfoliating scrub in the shower two or three times per week to prevent dead skin cells from building up and blocking your pores.\

3. Shower as soon as possible after exercise. Bacteria loves warm, moist conditions so it is important to remove your gym clothes as soon as possible, especially bra tops and make sure skin is sweat-free and clean.

4. Wash bras after every wear (or every other wear at least). While we wouldn’t dream of wearing the same pair of pants two days in a row, many of us fail to wash our bras regularly enough. However, if you’re experiencing bacne, it’s more important to make sure your bra is clean as bad bacteria can build up on the straps.

5. Whatever you do, don’t pick, squeeze or scratch your spots. This increases inflammation and can open up the skin to even more harmful bacteria, potentially causing infections. Plus, spots are more likely to result in scarring after they have been picked.\