Cold, warm or very hot shower? Shower water temperature seems to be a matter of personal preference, which we often passionately defend. “The shower was very hot, almost boiling,” we heard some people say. But here science also has something to say and social networks they are already echoing: Showering with very hot water is not so good for your skin or hair.
“Dermatologists always remember that, if the water in the shower is too hot, it can dry out the skin of the body and scalp, in addition to dehydrating the hair fiber,” Dr. Mayte Truchuelo, dermatologist at Grupo Pedro, warns elDiario.es. Jaen.
The skin as a barrier that protects us
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. One of its main functions is to act as a protective barrier that regulates body temperature, prevents water loss and protects against external agents. Furthermore, and no less important, the skin allows sensory perception (pressure, pain and temperature) and participates in other metabolic functions, such as the synthesis of vitamin D.
The epidermal barrier is the outermost layer of the skin, formed by a matrix of lipids (fat) and dead cells, called corneocytes. This structure protects against water loss and the entry of external agents. However, most soaps and cosmetics act against this defensive barrier, as they promise to eliminate dead cells and leave the skin free of oil.
Hot water, especially in combination with these products, is also the enemy of the skin’s protective layer. Studies refer to hot water as being above the body temperature of 37°C. It must be taken into account that the highest temperature that we can endure without burning It is around 43 °C for prolonged exposures, according to a study by Germans Wiener and Sick, although tolerance depends on exposure time and individual sensitivity. This is the temperature range for a long hot shower that you so want on a cold winter day or after swimming in the pool.
The problems of hot water for skin and hair
Hot water can be beneficial because it dilates blood vessels and facilitates muscle relaxation. If we have difficulty relaxing or falling asleep at night, a hot shower can help us, since, according to a study by researchers at the American University of Penn State, activates the parasympathetic nervous systemwhich makes us feel calm.
“Water that is too hot deteriorates the skin barrier. This is the hydrolipidic mantle that covers the entire surface of the skin to prevent transepidermal loss of water and the penetration of potentially harmful or irritating agents and, therefore, promote dryness of the skin. fur
Mayte Truchuelo
— dermatologist
In addition, it is true that hot water helps dissolve and remove oils and dirt from the skin, which provides a deeply clean feeling. However, if the hot shower goes on for too long, it begins to compromise the skin’s protective barrier.
“Water that is too hot deteriorates the skin barrier,” explains Dr. Truchuelo. “This is the hydrolipidic mantle that covers the entire surface of the skin to prevent transepidermal loss of water and the penetration of potentially harmful or irritating agents and, therefore, promote dryness of the skin,” he adds.
According to a dermatological study Conducted by scientists at the University of Granada, each temperature range has specific effects on the skin and hair, both beneficial and harmful. The study, one of the few published on this topic, confirms that the lipid layer, which under normal conditions retains moisture, can be damaged by hot water, which can ultimately result in dryness, irritation and peeling.
For Dr. Trinidad Montero Vilchez, dermatologist at the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital and co-author of the study, “when the skin is exposed to water for a long time, the outermost layer, called the stratum corneum, is damaged. An alteration of the skin’s lipids occurs, weakening its protective barrier, and a swelling of the skin cells as they absorb water, generating spaces between the cells. As a result of these changes, the skin becomes more vulnerable to external irritants, allergens and bacteria, which can lead to irritation or even infections.”
Although it may seem contradictory, hot water increases transepidermal water loss, a measure of skin health. If the skin loses water, it dries out and becomes permeable to toxins and pathogens, as a study published in Skin research and Technology. “Hot water worsens this effect, high water temperatures increase the disorganization of the skin’s lipids, which makes the skin barrier even more permeable,” corroborates Dr. Montero.
Excessively hot water also poses risks to your hair. Frequent exposure to heat can excessively open hair cuticles, making hair weaker and more brittle. Hot water can be useful for removing residue from hair products, but its continued use can remove oils from the scalp, causing dryness and, as a consequence, an increase in sebum production to compensate. Dry scalp can lead to dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and eczema, depending on the condition. American Academy of Dermatology.
These effects of hot water are enhanced with the use of aggressive soaps and exfoliating products. “For example, if we take showers or baths that are too long and apply inappropriate hygiene products, we abuse exfoliants, horsehair gloves, rough sponges and we do not hydrate our skin after the shower with body creams,” explains Dr. Truchuelo. .
The benefits of fresh water in the shower
On the contrary, cold water, with temperatures below 30 °C, seems to have many beneficial properties. A cold shower is vasoconstrictive, that is, it causes the blood vessels to constrict, which temporarily increases blood pressure, but the long-term effect is regulating and the pressure drops immediately, as was seen in a study. study published in The Lancet.
On the skin, cold or warm water better preserves the lipid barrier, helping to maintain hydration. Furthermore, studies like this recent from the University of Denver have found that warm water can reduce inflammation in people with skin conditions such as rosacea or atopic dermatitis, while high temperatures worsen inflammation, redness and irritation.
“The shower should ideally be carried out with warm water,” advises Dr. Truchuelo. What is warm water? Generally speaking, the ideal temperature for a shower is slightly below body temperature, between 32°C and 37°C. At these temperatures the water is hot enough to remove dirt and excess oil, but not so hot that it affects the skin and scalp barrier. Dr. Montero adds: “According to our study, it can be concluded that prolonged exposure to hot water (44 °C) is more harmful to the skin than cold water (4 °C). The ideal would be to shower with warm water (25-35 °C).”
According to our study, it can be concluded that prolonged exposure to hot water (44°C) is more harmful to the skin than cold water (4°C). The ideal would be to shower with warm water (25-35°C)
Trinidad Montero Vilchez
— dermatologist at HU Virgen de las Nieves
The other factor is the duration of the shower. As mentioned, even in moderate temperatures, prolonged exposure to water can cause dehydration. According to the American Academy of DermatologyAlthough showers should be between 10 and 15 minutes, people with dry skin should reduce them to 5 minutes.
You can start your shower by washing and conditioning your hair with warm water instead of boiling water. Even if you love the feeling of hot water on your head, it’s not worth damaging your scalp or drying out your hair and skin. Always finish with a cold water rinse to keep your hair shiny and strong and stimulate peripheral circulation throughout the body. Just 10 or 15 seconds is enough.
Nor should we forget that, unless you sweat a lot, showering every day is not necessary, nor should you abuse soap and shampoo, something that also protects the skin microbiota, the beneficial bacteria that live on our skin. .
*Darío Pescador is editor and director of the Quo magazine and author of the book your best self Posted by Oberon.
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