Why Taking Cold Showers Is Awesome For Your Skin
Skincare-obsessed, fitness enthusiast, cat lover
Back in your middle school days, your health teacher probably lectured you on the importance of good hygiene. You know the drill: Brush your teeth twice a day, wash your hands and shower regularly to keep looking and feeling your best.
These are all good habits, but it turns out many Americans actually shower a bit too frequently and use water that is way too hot!
You don’t really have to shower every single day to stay clean. What’s more, taking cold showers is so much better for your body’s skin than washing in high temps. Ready to upgrade your shower skills? Consider this your ultimate guide to showering for skin health, not just cleanliness.
The Water’s Too Hot Or Too Cold
To get the right temperature for clear skin, you have to play Goldilocks. “Cold water tightens the skin’s pores, which doesnt allow the natural secretion of sebum and acne-causing bacteria,” says Neil Sadick, MD, of Sadick Dermatology. “Whereas hot water opens pores and stimulates excess sebum production that leaves it prone to further irritation.” He claims the best strategy is to use lukewarm water in the shower.
Cold Showers For Acne Are They Worth It
By Dr. Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC, Double board-certified dermatologist
Ever heard that cold water has an effect on acne? Sure, it is admittedly far less pleasant to take a bath in cold water versus soaking in warm water, but a cold shower can have an incredibly rejuvenating effect on your entire well-being. It replenishes your immune system, can help calm your mind and can greatly improve the state of your skin. In fact, cold water can not only generally improve your complexion, but it can help relieve even the most severe kind of acne when paired with your skincare routine.
Article Table of Contents
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Why Do Men Take Cold Showers
The scrotum hangs outside the body in order to keep the testicles at an optimal temperature to produce sperm and other hormones, around 95 to 98.6°F or 35 to 37°C. The idea is that cold showers lower the scrotal temperature, allowing the testicles to produce a maximum amount of sperm and testosterone.
Increased Endorphins And Reduced Cortisol Levels
Cold showers not only reduce bacterial growth on your skin but also helps your body with increased levels of endorphins. It is also called the feel-good hormone. Endorphins are responsible for making you feel good and happy.
With an increased level of endorphins after cold showers, your body starts to feel much more relaxed and stress-free. This makes it easy for your body to fight against acne. Cold showers may also impact stress by reducing cortisol levels in your body, a stress-inducing hormone.
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Should You Wash Your Face With Just Water
Your face retains more moisture.
The benefit of a water rinse is that your skin wont dry out, and this can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, says Kally Papantoniou, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. (Remember though, a cleanser-free rinse may have the opposite effect if youre wearing makeup.
Does Taking A Shower Help Acne
And look for a body wash that contains salicylic acid to wash acne-prone areas three times a week the active ingredients help decrease breakouts and clean away acne-causing bacteria. So remember: Opt for a shower if you can and watch what youre putting on your skin when bathing.
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What To Do On Days You Don’t Shower
On those days you’re not planning on washing your entire body, you don’t have to give up on feeling super fresh and clean! For starters, you can spritz a dry shampoo into your hair to absorb oil and odor.
You can also spray your favorite perfume onto your pulse points to freshen up your scent, and apply an antiperspirant to control excess moisture. Moistened body cleansing wipes are another great product to have on hand when you’re not showering.
So go ahead and break your middle school health teacher’s advice you don’t need to take a hot shower every day! Rest assured no one will be the wiser, and your skin will thank you.
Additional Ways To Boost Your Acne
Correct Breathing
While cold showers seem like a great idea to help fight recurring acne, another fairly easy technique you can focus on is correct breathing. While this is something so simple that you might even shrug it off as a given, you might want to take a moment and look into the way you are taking air into your system. The most beneficial way to breathe is to let the air flow through your nose, as opposed to through your mouth.
Why is this important? Allowing the oxygen to enter your body through your nose actually welcomes more of the oxygen than if you were solely breathing through your mouth. In fact, it appears that people become more attractive to others when they possess a high rate of oxygenation. Dont forget to also breathe regularly and deeply as you go about your day.
Vitamins and Nutrients
Increasing your vitamin D intake can also work miracles for your skin. Vitamin D decreases irritation and causes an increase of antioxidants. Invest in some NatureWise Vitamin D3 or simply sit in the sun during your lunch break and soak up its rays. Additionally, up your zinc intake to counter your skin inflammation. You might also want to have some dark chocolate while you sit in the sun. This will provide the necessary flavanoid antioxidants and polyphenol to fight acne, and it will also up your blood flow rate. This happens through the increase in nitric oxide, which helps your capillaries pump blood almost twice as fast as usual.
Science-Based Skincare Routine
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Why Do Guys Take Cold Showers When They Are Turned On
The scrotum hangs outside the body in order to keep the testicles at an optimal temperature to produce sperm and other hormones, around 95 to 98.6°F or 35 to 37°C. The idea is that cold showers lower the scrotal temperature, allowing the testicles to produce a maximum amount of sperm and testosterone.
Cold Showers Do Less Damage To Skin Barriers
“Every time we shower, we are removing the natural oils on the skin,” Dr. Nasir says. “Therefore, a person who showers frequently is at risk of damaging the skin barrier and causing the skin to become dry and irritated. Initially a hot shower feels great on the skin, however, afterwards can leave the skin feeling hot, inflamed and itchy.”
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Increased Ability To Burn Body Fat
When you take a cold shower, you are undergoing cold thermogenesis. A cold shower or putting cold stress on the body stimulates very beneficial biological adaptations. This cold stress helps your body burn fat as its primary fuel because regular cold exposure increases your stores of brown fat- a particular type of fat that is far more effectively used for energy than the more prevalent white fat4.
Mitochondrial uncoupling
So how does cold thermogenesis or cold showers burn brown fat? Well, it all boils down to our mitochondria. It turns out that cold exposure can also cause metabolic upregulation, and the production of heat is not just burning fat but also skeletal muscle5. Your mitochondria are also known as little powerhouses. Once they get activated, then they burn fat for fuel! I am amazed at how these tiny organelles work. If you want to expedite your fat-burning, I would suggest combining intermittent fasting, keto, and cold showers. Talk about a mitochondrial powerhouse!!
How Often Should You Shower For Acne
Twice-Daily Washing The magic face-washing number is generally agreed to be two. 1 A twice-daily cleansing, morning and night, is just enough to clean away makeup, dirt, and extra oil hanging around on the skin, but not too much to be irritating. If you get sweaty or especially dirty, you might need a third cleansing.
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How Is Atopic Dermatitis Treated
Factors such as your age, overall health, and health history will help your healthcare provider find the best treatment for you.
There is no cure for atopic dermatitis. The goals of treatment are to reduce itching and inflammation of the skin, to keep the skin moist, and to prevent infection.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe medicines in severe cases. The following are commonly used to treat atopic dermatitis:
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Shower Mistakes That Can Trigger Bacne
No one likes blemishes, not on our face, not on our butt, and probably not on our back either. Facial and body acne are similar in ways that they both clog your pores and cause irritation. Prevention and treatment, however, can be totally different.
We’ve put together some top tips from dermatologists on how to combat acne as well as some avoidable shower mistakes that can trigger those bacne breakouts.
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What Are The Actual Benefits Of Cold Showers For Your Skin
Why do cold showers work? As mentioned, many anti-acne advice columns preach the benefits of warm showers. They are meant to unclog your pores and release stocked up sebum, which would otherwise turn into pimples. They also allegedly make exfoliating easier, as the dead skin cells are triggered by the warmth. So, what is the nature of the problem with warm showers?
The main problem with warm showers is that they decrease the sebum in your skin and can completely get rid of even healthy amounts of the substance that your skin needs to remain hydrated. Thus, while it may seem like hot water is moisturizing your skin, it is actually dehydrating it in the long run. This is because you need the natural oil released by your sebaceous glands in order to maintain a hydrated complexion.
If that wasnt bad enough, warm showers not only completely do away with your sebum they also stimulate your body to produce even more of it. By getting your natural oil levels to a minimum, hot water actually triggers the bodys sebum production! Your sebaceous glands actually begin to work at a multiplied rate, in order to produce all the necessary sebum once more.
Not only does cold water help decrease acne it also generally replenishes your complexion.
Cold water trains your skin to withstand outside effects and the closing of pores helps it stay clean and fresh for longer.
Do Cold Showers Help Anxiety
By Robb | Last Updated
Oneof the best habits that I started in 2019 was taking Cold Showers daily.
Likepretty much any habit thats worthwhile, it was really hard at the start, butthe end result was so worth it.
Thanksto this habit, my skin is much clearer, my confidence is a lot higher and Imsleeping a lot, lot better.
Now,thinking back to when I was a low-esteem, self-conscious teen, my skin wasterrible, my confidence was lower than whale poop and my sleeping pattern wasall over the place.
Whichmakes me think If I started taking cold showers back in my teen days,would I have gotten over that anxious period any faster?
Welluntil I find a time machine, I guess Ill never really know.
Butwhat I can do is explore the relationship between cold showers and anxietybased on scientific research.
Whichis exactly what I did.
Justfor you.
Thatsright, below youll find a summary of the science surrounding cold showers andanxiety, with some of my thoughts and opinions added in.
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How Does Your Skin React To Cold Water
Now, there was a time when cold showers were pretty much the only type of shower, but there are some good reasons for using cold water as part of your skin care routine today.
And its not just for comfort reasons.
We got some input from a dermatologist about what happens to the skin in general, as well as what happens to acne.
Why Warm Water Might Be Best
Warm water helps plump which makes your pores appear smaller, while cold water reduces puffiness, says Beal.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your face in lukewarm water.
Its the perfect middle ground for all skin types, as Beal explains that hot water strips your skin of the protective oils that help hold in moisture.
Another benefit of washing your face with warm water is that it allows for better absorption of your skin care products.
Its important to decide on a temperature and stick with it. Beal cautions that you run the risk of breaking the small capillaries under your skin if you expose your skin to extremes in water temperature, such as switching from hot to cold.
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Is Your Eczema Worse After A Shower
Whether you take it first thing in the morning or before you go to bed, showering regularly is an important part of any hygiene routine.Unfortunately, if youre one of the millions of people dealing with eczema, taking a shower can actually irritate skin and even bring on a flare-up!
Why does eczema get worse after a shower? Read on to discover some helpful tips on how to create a pleasant showering experience even when suffering from eczema.
How Long Should You Soak In A Bath
Keep part of your body, like your face, out of the water to prevent over-heating. Soak for 10-15 minutes, breathe, relax.8 Reasons Why Baths Are Great For Your HealthBaths Can Elevate Your Mood. They Can Help You Sleep Better. A Hot Bath Can Help Relieve Muscle Pain. Baths Can Make Your Heart Healthy.More items
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Your Shampoo And Conditioner Are To Blame
Your hair products could be effing up your skin. “Shampoos, especially those containing sulfates, can trigger back acne as they are rinsed away,” says Dr. Sadick. “Choose sulfate-free and preferably organic products.” And to help lock in moisture, a lot of traditional conditioners will use quats , which bind to your hair as you go about your day, but they can also cling to your skin and clog your pores in the process.
Is It Better To Drink Cold Or Warm Water For Weight Loss
Drinking cold or iced water helps to lose weight more effectively than hot water. This is because the body adjusts its temperature immediately after it receives any fluids or nutrients, leading to a higher calorie burning rate, greater excretion of sweat, More water for fluid recovery.
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Is It Bad To Shower After Sweating
Showering after a workout not only feels relaxing but it also reduces the risk of rashes and breakouts that can be caused by bacteria rapidly multiplying on your skin, all thanks to your sweaty body. It is considered absolutely essential to wait for at least 20 minutes after your workout before you hit the shower.
Does Sugar Water Help Anxiety
The fiber in whole fruit fills you up and slows down how your blood takes in energy. Without that fiber, you’re just drinking nutritious sugar–water that can quickly hype you up — and bring you down just as fast. That can leave you hungry and angry — hangry. That won’t help anxiety and depression.
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Skin Benefits Of Cold Showers
Literature shows that since ancient times, people already believed that bathing in different water temperatures produced different effects. For example, ancient bath houses would have both hot and cool soaking tubs.
Existing studies on the impact of showering using cold water have shown how that practice causes physiological changes in the body. The physiological effects of showering using cold water result in the following skin care benefits:
Fight Itchy Skin Conditions
Itchy skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can benefit from a cold shower, as warm water can strip away protective oils from the skins surface which can make these conditions worse. Sharyn A. Laughlin MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, Medical Director of Laserderm, explained further:
You should avoid the effects of a hot shower or bath that can strip away the natural fats and oils from the skin surface. Heat causes increased blood flow in the dermis and this dilatation in conjunction with direct stimulation of nerve endings will increase the itch response.
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My Cold Shower Experiment
Have you ever wondered if theres a difference between bathing with cold water vs. hot water?
Im sure youve heard that taking a cold shower is better for your skin and hair, but have you ever tried it for yourself? And, for an extended period of time?
Ive always been curious about the difference between bathing with cold water vs. hot water, but Ill be honest, I love my hot showers and baths. The thought of having a cold shower every single day and night has never been appealing to me. In fact, I was always afraid using cold water would lead to skin congestion and breakouts, and I was never quite sure if washing my hair with cold water would be as effective as washing it with warm or hot water.
As much as Ive contemplated trying an experiment of washing my face, skin, and hair with only cold water, Ive always come up with excuses and reasons not to.
Then, at the end of last May, an opportunity came up for me to do a cold water experiment.
I decided to seize the situation as an opportunity. Temporarily not having a hot water heater meant I didnt have a choice but to do the experiment, and at least I couldnt cheat or stop the experiment mid way through.
In the video at the top of the post is my 3 month update. Ive been washing my face, body, and hair with cold water. Not a drop of warm or hot water has touched me. In the video I share my results so far, if it benefited my body, face, and hair, and if you should try it too?
