Skincare
Hot vs. cold showers: which is best for your skin
Oct
Hot or cold shower, which is better for your skin? While it’s tempting to think that a hot shower will open your pores and help your skin shed its natural oils more quickly, in fact the opposite is true. Taking a lukewarm or even cool shower is much better for your skin — and here’s why.
Hot water dries out your skin.
Hot water strips your skin’s protective barrier of sebum and moisture, leading to dry, flaky skin that is more prone to breakouts. Hot water contains elevated levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, which can leave your skin feeling rough and itchy. Hot water also shrinks your pores, making it more difficult to wash away impurities.
Cool water makes your skin produce more sebum.
Our bodies naturally regulate the amount of sebum produced at the surface of the skin to maintain the perfect balance for our skin type. Cooler water helps your body ramp up sebum production, which creates a protective barrier between your skin and the elements.
Cooling showers also have anti-aging benefits.
Hot water can leave your skin looking more wrinkled and “looser” by increasing blood flow to the skin, which causes the skin to swell up. As we age, our skin naturally loses the ability to retain moisture and blood flow increases, causing wrinkles and sagging to become more pronounced. Cool water, on the other hand, causes your skin to contract, which is better for your complexion. Cooler temperatures have also been shown to delay signs of aging by helping to tighten and firm the skin.
A word of caution: Hot water can dry out your hair and scalp.
Hot water strips your hair and scalp of important nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, which can lead to brittleness, dryness, and breakage. Hot water can also cause your scalp to sweat, which can lead to a buildup of bacteria that can cause scalp infections. To prevent this, try adding a few drops of peppermint oil to your shampoo. Peppermint oil is antibacterial and antifungal, so it can help prevent scalp infections.
Bottom line: Take the temperature of your shower with a grain of salt.
When it comes to taking the temperature of your shower, you want to be mindful to not overdo it. While the perfect shower temperature is highly subjective, it’s safe to say that all hot showers are bad showers. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to healthier, more beautiful skin. After all, your skin is your biggest organ; it deserves to be treated well.
Related Content
