What is the 3-minute shower rule, and do doctors recommend it?

My skin tends to be dry all year round, but when the temperature drops we go into desert-like dryness. As such, I apply body lotion religiously, but some days it takes me a little longer to get around to it than others. I know I’m not the only person who can get a little distracted after a shower, especially on those work-from-home days. I’m the morning shower team, so at least a few times a week, I find myself holed up in my bathrobe, checking emails before it dawns on me that I should probably moisturize and get dressed for the day. Turns out, that’s a bad habit I’ll be working hard to break in the new year. Why? Doctors recommend applying moisturizer within three minutes of showering.

What is the 3 minute shower rule?

Some water conservationists have proposed showering for just three minutes to reduce waste, but that’s not the recommendation we’re dealing with today. Instead, we’re digging into the three-minute shower rule that pops up often on social media. If this hasn’t come up in your feed recently (it will now), this is the instruction that moisturizing within three minutes of getting out of the shower is essential for skin health.

Do doctors recommend the 3-minute shower rule?

The three-minute shower rule isn’t just some fleeting TikTok trend. On the contrary, all the doctors I spoke to agreed that it had merit. “Applying a moisturizer to wet, not wet, skin within three minutes of showering is really beneficial,” says Dr. Asim Nazir Cheema, a board-certified internist and cardiologist based in Ontario, Canada.

And he is not alone. A board-certified family medicine physician in Sacramento, California, Dr. Eric Tepper says applying body lotion right away helps lock in hydration and it’s best to wait until your skin is dry. “Moisturizers are more effective on moist skin at keeping the skin hydrated,” he notes.

Why do doctors recommend the 3-minute shower rule?

Dry, itchy skin can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but that’s not all. Dr. General Practitioner in Ohio. According to Michael Chichak, dry skin also damages the skin. Fortunately, applying moisturizer at the right time can help.

To understand why, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Schneider explains it this way: “When we shower, our skin loses hydration. Skin is most successful in rehydrating when a moisturizer is applied immediately after showering, while the skin is still damp. When showering, there is more water to draw onto the skin, resulting in better, deeper hydration.”

Cheema adds that moist skin is more permeable, allowing moisturizers to “trap water to the outer layer.” This means less dryness and less potential for all the adverse side effects caused by lost moisture.

Which body lotion is best for the 3-minute shower rule?

Jennifer Romolini, Yahoo’s senior beauty editor, juggles a full-time job in her quest to find the perfect body lotion. These are her top picks, all under $20.