Can A Cold Shower Be Beneficial For Your Acne?
Are your acne woes bringing you down? Does there seem to be more new spots to reckon with every time you look in the mirror? Are you constantly searching the internet for potential solutions that will help you tackle your skin problems? We know that acne can take an emotional toll on you, which can be very tough to deal with. Don't worry, though — you are not alone in your search for a treatment that will end your problem once and for all.
One such potential solution you may have come across on TikTok is to take a cold shower to treat your acne. But does this hack actually work? According to scientific research, it's not the cure-all some people proclaim it to be, including treating and getting rid of acne under the skin.
Having said that, however, cold showers may have other benefits, even if they don't cure your acne.
Cold showers and acne – what's the deal?
According to board-certified dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd, there are a number of reasons for acne. These include dirt and dead skin cells clogging pores, a buildup of oily skin caused by excess sebum, bacteria, or inflammation in your body due to an external or internal factor. Cold showers may only help to reduce the last of these symptoms. As Woolery-Lloyd tells Well + Good, "If you were having a breakout, a cold shower could maybe provide some symptomatic relief, but it doesn't work on the core mechanism behind why acne occurs." However, one potential advantage of taking cold showers in relation to treating acne is that it tends to tighten the pores, in turn preventing them from being clogged by oil and dirt.
While these may seem to help with your acne problem momentarily, they do not address the larger picture. In fact, according to Geeta Yadav, MD, cold showers may even worsen your acne, as cold water doesn't remove the dirt and oil from your skin as well as warm water does. She tells Byrdie, "If you regularly use cold water to shower, oil and dirt can build up not just on the skin's surface, but within the pores, too, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria."
Ultimately, the best solution for a proper treatment for your acne lies in consulting a dermatologist or skincare professional.
Should you take cold showers?
Fortunately, the news isn't all bad. Just because cold showers aren't helping treat your acne doesn't mean they are bad for you in general. There are a number of benefits of taking cold showers. In the long run, taking long cold showers can help balance the body's natural oils, keeping it better moisturized and healthy. The temperature of your shower can also help with the health of your hair by adding strength and shine, and making it resistant to the damage caused by heat and styling. Cold showers are also a super simple and easy way to aid with muscle recovery after an injury or a strenuous workout, and they can always energize you when you need some extra pep.
So, though they may not treat acne, cold showers can be a healthy practice overall. Do bear in mind though that cold showers are not a magic pill to ensure good health. They must be combined with other healthy lifestyle practices such as eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and taking care of your skin and hair by establishing a regular wellness routine.