Cold and hot showers each have health benefits, but a shower that's 95 °F to 99 °F is typically best. Cold showers can help reduce itchy skin and aid recovery after a workout. Hot showers help to relax muscles, improve sleep, and relieve respiratory symptoms.
According to most dermatologists, the ideal shower temperature is anywhere between 98°F (37°C) and 104°F (40°C)—and no more than 105 °F (41°C). Rinsing under lukewarm water allows you to stay comfortable and maintain your body temperature while reaping all the benefits of both hot and cold showers.
Hot water strips away natural oils and damages the skin faster, so stick to a lukewarm — or cooler — shower. “Some people advocate extremely cold water for invigorating the circulation,” Krant says. “Other than avoiding extremely hot temperatures, I say use whatever temperature feels best.”
Moreover, the improved blood circulation to the scalp from cold showers could potentially promote healthier hair growth.
If you're prone to dry skin, a cold shower will help you retain natural oils in your hair and keep your skin hydrated. But if your pores are due for a cleansing, steam it up! Wash away the blues.
Your body's reaction to cold water puts added stress on your heart and could lead to an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia. “It's going to tax your heart in a way that could be dangerous,” says Carter.
02/6Cold shower's impact on heart
Cold water can shock the body, causing blood vessels in the skin to contract. This can slow the blood flow in your body. To compensate for this, your heart will start beating faster to be able to pump blood around the body. This can also increase the pressure on your blood vessels.
While it feels nice, hot water is no friend to your skin. This is the largest organ in your body. Heat damages this essential barrier and can leave you looking older. Cold water tightens the cuticle layer which will help it look shinier and more youthful for longer.
Cold water strains your body — it goes into “survival mode,” working hard to maintain its core temperature. This stimulates your body to increase blood flow circulation. “Increasing circulation redistributes blood and delivers freshly oxygenated blood to areas of the body that need to recover,” Dr. Hame says.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Turner added that exposure to cold temperatures encourages the production of brown fat — a specific type of fat tissue that produces energy by burning calories. To shed the weight, he recommends taking cold showers after workouts.
It's less obvious to people that, when cold, the body burns calories in order to raise body heat to regular temperatures. Therefore, by purposely exposing oneself to cold for short periods of time, it's possible to burn off extra calories while also specifically losing fat (more on this below).
When done in excess, they can age your skin faster. The cause? Too much time in the sauna and hot showers causes skin to be excessively dry. This dryness is worsened if you are the type to rigorously wipe your body dry with a towel instead of patting it gently.
Boosts Testosterone Levels
Testosterone is an essential hormone in men that regulate strength, muscle mass, bone density, and sex drive. Studies have shown that cold showers increase testosterone production due to the stimulation of the brain and testicles from the sudden temperature change.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Cold showers have been shown to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, as well as improve overall mood and increase resilience to stress. If you're feeling stressed or anxious, a cold shower may help you feel more calm and relaxed.
More than a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds (26 per cent) claim they regularly take a cold shower; three times the amount of Gen X ( seven per cent) and five times more than Baby Boomers (five per cent).
Improves Circulation
Optimize your blood flow, improve circulation, lower blood pressure and potentially clear blocked arteries with cool showers.
Cold Showers... Build Resilience
You're training your body and mind to go out of your comfort zone, which makes you stronger and more resilient. Things that once felt really tough can suddenly feel a lot less tough as you can tolerate more physical and mental discomfort.
Despite the potential risks, there are still some major benefits to washing your face and/or body with cold water if your skin tolerates it well. All of the dermatologists we spoke with agreed that because cold water constricts blood vessels, it can reduce puffiness.