There are days when your body craves a cold shower, most especially in hot or warm temperate countries like Nigeria, for example. Nothing is more refreshing than the cold water pouring down your body, especially after a hot and stressful day. We can all admit that using cold water to shower can be refreshing, but it does much more than refresh the body.
If you are one of the hot water warriors who cannot shower if you do not feel like a chicken being steamed, after reading this article, you may want to give cold water showers a chance.
Source: The Doctors
Benefits of cold water on the skin
- If your daily activities require you to be up first thing in the morning (9-5 or corporate workers), cold water showers are what you need to stay awake and alert. When the cold water hits your body, it experiences a shock, which increases your oxygen intake, your heart rate, and your alertness. With cold water showers, you are immediately awake and can get to work faster.
- Hitting those weights in the gym can leave you with sore muscles. Having a cold shower after a tough gym session can help relax and repair those muscles.
- Cold shower eases itchiness in the skin.
- Cold water showers can increase endorphins and relieve signs of depression.
- This may seem difficult to believe, but cold water showers help with weight loss. According to research, brown fat (a type of fat cell) can generate heat by burning fat, and this happens when the body is exposed to cold conditions (like a cold shower, for example).
- The cold shower gives the skin a healthy glow and strengthens the hair cuticles.
- Cold showers do not dry out the sebum layer, which aids the protection of the skin and hair.
- It may help prevent acne because it does not strip the skin of its natural oils. Stripping the skin of its natural oils only causes the skin to overproduce said oil, which could lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Cold water ensures that the skin’s natural oil levels remain even and balanced.
- Cold water showers may be better for dry skin types than hot water showers, as hot water showers tend to dry and strip even more.
Admittedly, cold water showers have their benefits, but they also have cons, especially in certain underlying conditions. Some notable cons include the following;
– It further weakens your immune system in the case of a common cold or illness. If you are ill, you should opt for lukewarm water instead. Cold water showers may be overly burdensome on your immune system when ill.
– Cold water showers are not wise during cold weather; they will only make you ill.
– Cold water showers can lead to acne. As you know, cold water tightens/constricts the skin’s pores. This may lead to bacteria and debris being trapped in the skin, leading to poor skin texture and acne. It is best to use lukewarm water for your first cleanse and follow with cold water to prevent this occurrence.
Overall, cold showers are good, but you must remember that they also have their cons. Therefore, they should be used in moderation or only when necessary.
