Most of us stick to the same grooming routine we picked up years ago, without really thinking twice. But just because it's familiar doesn't mean it's doing your skin any favours. According to dermatologists, some of the most common habits men swear by are actually making things worse. If your skin's been acting up or you're not getting the results you want, it might be time to ditch a few of these outdated moves. Here's what leading dermatologists have to suggest to make your routine better and effective

Dr Jaishree Sharad, Celebrity Dermatologist and Founder Skinfinitii Aesthetic Skin and Laser Clinic

Grooming Habit to Ditch: Overusing hair gel or wax—and worse, leaving it on overnight

Here's Why: This leads to scalp buildup. It can also increase the growth of malasezia furfur which triggers dandruff. Apart from this, hair follicles get clogged, leading to breakouts on the scalp. Therefore, one must always wash off styling products before bed.

Dr Kiran Sethi, Celebrity Dermatologist, Founder of Isyaderm

Grooming Habit to Ditch: Shaving in wrong direction and using bunch of shaving products

Here's Why: Very often this leads to folliculitis, where the hair follicle gets infected, or it leads to acne. It can also lead to Pseudofolliculitis barbae which (sort of) looks like folliculitis and acne, but these are bumps on the beard. So, you have to shave in the direction of the hair; use gentle cleansing lotions; use a mild lotion afterwards because you do not need a ton of different products which can irritate already exfoliated skin when you shave it.

Dr Geetika Srivastava, Dermatologist and Founder Influennz Skin & Hair Clinic

Grooming Habit to Ditch: Buying skincare products that are marketed as ‘for men.’ 

Here's Why: There is no such thing as men’s skincare — good skincare should be gender-neutral. While men often have oilier skin, which may require specific formulations, that doesn’t mean we need an entire category labeled as men's skincare. Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks, choose products based on your skin type, not gender.

Dr Shefali Trasi Nerukar, Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Trasi Clinic and La Piel Skin Clinic

Grooming Habit to Ditch: Applying a lot of gel on hair and trying to push the hair back

Here's Why: Well, the pushing of the hair causes something called as tractional alopecia. As a result, they can lose hair from the frontal area. This term is called as tractional alopecia. This gets worse when the hair is pulled back using hair gel or oil.

Dr Apratim Goel, Dermatologist, Founder of Cutis Skin Solutions

Grooming Habit to Ditch: Using bar soap on the face

Here's Why: Bar soaps are harsh and usually formulated for the body and have a high pH that strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, and even breakouts. Using harsh bar soap disrupts the skin barrier, making it more prone to conditions like acne, redness, or sensitivity. Switch to a gentle, pH-balanced facial cleanser that suits their skin type — whether oily, acne-prone, or sensitive.