As temperatures continue to drop, many of us will turn up the dial on our showers as a way to stay warm. While this may seem like a good way of avoiding the cold, it could have some unwanted side effects.
Bathroom experts at Steam Shower Store revealed the consequences of having hot showers – even in the freezing cold. They say if a shower is too hot it could cause damage to the hair and skin.
They warned against piping hot showers, urging people to instead opt for a warm to lukewarm setting. According to the experts, the optimum temperature to have a shower is between 37 and 42 degrees Celsius.
Andy Ellis, from Steam Shower Store, explained: “A hot shower may help warm you up, but the after-effects are much worse to deal with. It’s important to bear in mind the optimum temperature to have showers set at is between 37 to 42 degrees as any higher can lead to troubles such as irritated skin and a dry scalp.
“That’s why we urge everyone to think twice before having a piping hot shower to prevent these issues from happening. Stick to warm or even lukewarm showers as the temperatures dip – just make sure to wrap up afterwards.”
He shared four reasons to avoid a piping hot shower
Itchy skin
While itchy skin may just be annoying at first, it can become painful if you scratch it.
Andy said: “Having a shower too hot can strip the natural oils off your skin and cause it to become dehydrated.
“It’ll cause the skin to become irritated and difficult to resist itching.”
Dry hair and scalp
It is not just our skin that can be left dried out by hot water, it can also damage our hair.
“The hot shower can weaken hair and cause it to become dry and frizzy,” Andy said.
“It can also strip natural oils out and make the scalp prone to itchiness and flakiness.”
Excessive sweating
While washing is the best way to remove sweat and dirt from the body, having an extremely hot shower could be counterproductive.
If the temperature is too hot we could be left sweating for a while after stepping out of the bathroom.
Andy said: “The increased temperature can cause uncomfortable sweating straight after having a shower.
“Lukewarm and cold showers are the best options to prevent this from happening.”
Ageing skin
Many of us try to avoid ageing skin by applying moisturiser and sunscreen.
But depending on your shower temperature, you could be inadvertently counteracting these efforts.
“While hot showers don’t directly cause wrinkles, they can dehydrate and dry out skin which can cause it to age,” Andy added.
“The high temperature can harm keratin cells which can ruin the ability for skin to retain moisture.”
Inversely, research has shown that exposure to cold water can help promote a healthy heart, boost the immune system and leave you feeling energised.