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December 12, 2025A cold shower is perfect in the summer to cool down and energize the body. Its advocates also claim that it offers additional health benefits, including positive effects on the skin and hair. But how true is this really?
“First of all, for someone to benefit from exposure to cold water, they need to be healthy and should not have been advised by their doctor to avoid it,” says Dr. Markos Michelakis, Dermatologist and Venereologist (Aesthetic Dermatology – Dermatologic Surgery). “This is very important because when the skin is exposed to cold water, blood vessels on its surface constrict, pushing blood toward the body’s internal organs, while at the same time circulation is accelerated. These responses are automatic and are the body’s way of maintaining the temperature of internal organs in a cold environment. For healthy individuals, these reactions are painless and beneficial, but for people with heart problems or hypertension, there may be risks.”
However, stimulating blood circulation can improve the appearance of the skin, giving it a healthy glow. This is particularly noticeable on the face, as cold water additionally tightens pores and reduces localized redness and puffiness. The result is skin that looks more youthful, rested, and even-toned.
Regular (almost daily) cold showers have also been shown to reduce skin sagging and improve firmness, while potentially minimizing pore size, acting as a natural skin tonic. Cold water can also help soothe acne, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects.
Cold water also protects the skin’s natural layer of fat, known as sebum, which plays important roles. “Sebum is essential for protecting the skin from external irritants and keeping hair flexible. It also helps maintain skin moisture and protects it from water exposure,” explains Dr. Michelakis. “Excessive sebum can lead to oily skin and acne, while insufficient sebum causes dryness. Therefore, a delicate balance of sebum is essential for healthy skin.”
Hot showers, and especially hot bubble baths, remove the protective sebum layer. The longer the skin is exposed to very hot water, the more sebum is lost, which can lead to dryness, itching, and worsening of conditions like eczema. This is particularly problematic in hot, dry seasons when the body (and skin) requires more moisture. Cold showers, on the other hand, protect the skin from these risks.
Cold showers can also be beneficial after exercise. Studies show they help muscles relax, reduce soreness, and improve blood circulation to fatigued areas. Additionally, a small study published in 2019 indicated that cold showers improve hydration by quickly lowering the temperature of both skin and body.
Cold water can also benefit hair by smoothing the outer layer of the hair shaft and “locking in” moisture, preventing split ends. The outer layer, called the cuticle, consists of thin, flat keratin layers arranged like roof tiles, providing waterproof protection for the hair.
Rinsing hair with cold water is gentle and may help prevent hair loss by stimulating and strengthening hair follicles.
For those with skin conditions that cause severe itching, such as psoriasis or eczema, cold showers can help calm inflammation, reduce itching, and decrease swelling.
However, if you cannot tolerate cold water, there’s no need to force yourself.
“Exposure to cold water doesn’t need to be prolonged to benefit the skin and hair,” says Dr. Michelakis. “Even a quick rinse for about 10 seconds at the end of your shower is sufficient. Ideally, you should shower with lukewarm to cool water first, not hot, and use mild, fragrance-free cleansing products.”
https://www.health.com/beauty/benefits-cold-showers
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3402/ijch.v63i2.17700
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030698770700566X
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijspp/14/7/article-p1006.xml
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/cool-temperature-alters-human-fat-metabolism
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327461#summary
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049052/
https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/cold-shower-vs-hot-shower
