@samanthaschneidermd Things I’ve learned since becoming a dermatologist 👩‍⚕️✨⁣ 1️⃣ Skip the scented laundry products & dryer sheets 🚫🧺 (your skin will thank you!)⁣ 2️⃣ Always wash your face after brushing your teeth 🪥💦 (goodbye, breakouts!)⁣ 3️⃣ Moisturize while your skin is still damp for max hydration 💧✨⁣ ⁣Small changes = BIG skin wins! Did any of these surprise you? Tell me in the comments! ⬇️ #DermTips #SkincareHacks #TrustADerm #HealthySkin ♬ original sound - Samantha Schneider, MD

5 Everyday Habits I Changed After Becoming a Dermatologist
By Dr. Schneider, Board-Certified Dermatologist

Becoming a dermatologist didn’t just change my career—it changed my daily routine. Over the years, I’ve learned how even small lifestyle choices can have a big impact on your skin health.

Here are a few simple but powerful changes I made once I understood the science behind skin care—and trust me, they’re easy enough to start doing today.

1. I Stopped Using Scented Laundry Products

Yes, that “fresh linen” smell might be comforting—but fragrances are one of the most common causes of allergic skin reactions, even in products you’ve used for years.

That’s why I now use:

• Free & Clear laundry detergent
  
  
• Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free fabric softeners (or none at all)
  
  

Fragrance allergies can pop up at any time, and they often cause itchy rashes, irritation, or eczema—especially on areas where your clothes rub against your skin.

2. I Ditched Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets often contain both fragrance and waxy residue that can irritate sensitive skin. Instead, I now use:

• 🧺 Wool dryer balls (a reusable, natural alternative)
  
  
• 🎾 Tennis balls in the dryer to help soften clothes
  
  
• 👕 I also hang-dry a lot of my clothes when I can
  
  

My clothes still feel soft—and I’m not exposing my skin to unnecessary irritants.

3. I Wash My Face After Brushing My Teeth

This one’s a game-changer, especially if you’ve ever noticed redness or a rash around your mouth or nose.

There’s a condition called perioral dermatitis, and one of the sneaky triggers can be toothpaste ingredients—like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) or even fluoride.

🦷 I’m not saying to stop brushing your teeth or avoid fluoride!
🚿 Just make sure you wash your face afterward to rinse away any residue and protect your skin.

4. I Moisturize Right After the Shower

I’ll admit it—I wasn’t always the best at moisturizing. But now I know that timing matters.

The best time to moisturize? Right when you get out of the shower, while your skin is still slightly damp. That way:

• You lock in hydration
  
  
• Your skin absorbs the product more effectively
  
  
• You prevent dryness, flaking, and irritation
  
  

Now it’s a non-negotiable part of my routine—and my skin is much happier for it.

The Bottom Line

Being a dermatologist has taught me that small, consistent habits make the biggest difference when it comes to skin health. From skipping scented laundry detergent to rinsing off toothpaste residue, these tiny changes have helped me avoid irritation, rashes, and dryness—and they might help you, too.

Want to start upgrading your skincare from the inside out? Try one of these habits this week, and share this with a friend who’s always wondering how to take better care of their skin.

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Want the transcript for this video instead?  

 Let's talk about a few changes that I made in my life. Since I became a board certified dermatologist, I have stopped using scented laundry products, like laundry detergent, like fabric softener. I only use free and clear and allergy free and unscented. Hypoallergenic, all of those products, because what I know is fragrances are a common allergen that you can develop at any time, and then you can get a really itchy rash.

On the same note, I have stopped using dryer sheets. You really don't need them. I hang dry a lot of my clothes, but when I do use the dryer, I put tennis balls in there to help break everything up. And you can also use those wool dryer balls without needing the dryer sheets. I now wash my face after I brush my teeth so that I don't get this rash around my mouth, around my nose, and around my eyes called peri oral dermatitis.

One of the most common reasons to get it is ingredients in toothpaste like STS and fluoride. Now, I'm not saying don't brush your teeth or use your fluoride, just wash your face afterwards. I'm gonna be honest, I was not very good at moisturizing before I became a dermatologist, but now I know the right way to moisturize is right when I get out of the shower while my skin is still damp because the moisturizer really needs that water on the skin.