Steamy water may make you feel so fresh and so clean-clean, but it can be bad news for your skin. See, your skin has natural oils that help hold in moisture, and hot water is super effective at washing those protective oils right off. In the absence of that barrier, water evaporates away, leaving your skin parched and susceptible to cracking. So go easy on the scalding showers, and when you wash your hands, turn the tap to tepid.

MORE: What Hot Water Does to Hands