Skin Care and Water Temperature

by Don Amodeo

When you're suffering with acne or sensitive skin, it can sometimes seem like there are just too many factors to keep track of. With so many different acne products out there, as well as an overabundance of advice concerning everything from stress control to your diet, it's easy to overlook some of the basics such as developing good washing habits. Those seeking clear skin may use a variety of different soaps, creams and cleansers to help get their acne under control, but there's one thing that they all use: water.

For those with sensitive skin, or simply anyone who wants to get the most out of their cleansing routine, understanding the difference that water temperature makes on your skin can help make washing both more effective and safer.

So when should you wash with hot, warm, or cold water? And why?

One should start with the knowledge that very hot water is almost never beneficial as far as your skin is concerned. Hot water saps most of the natural oils from the surface of your skin, depletes water from your skin cells internally (making them less supple), and causes your pores to become swollen, leaving your skin highly susceptible to damage. The negative effects of hot water are especially evident during the winter months, as exposing your skin to cold air right after washing with hot water commonly causes redness and peeling. However, even during the summer this is a bad idea, as the effects of hot water leave your skin more susceptible to sun damage, not to mention make it easier for unwanted waste to get clogged in your pores year-round.

When washing your face and considering water temperature, the simple relationship to remember is this: Warm water causes your pores to dilate, while cold water causes them to contract.

Washing with warm (not hot) water can certainly be beneficial to your cleansing routine, as expanding your pores to some degree is necessary in order to remove waste and bacteria that may be clogged within them. Soaps also tend to lather and penetrate better, making most cleansers more effective in warm water. Once you've applied a cleanser and gently massaged the lather into your face, the trick is to finish by rinsing off with cold water. In this way you finish by protecting your skin from damage, since the colder water will cause your pores to tighten back up and leave you less susceptible to damage. If you're going to be going outdoors and exposing your skin to either cold weather or prolonged sun exposure, you should probably follow with a moisturizer or SPF 15, but under normal circumstances just rinsing with cold water is sufficient.

Even with you are careful and always use proper washing habits, you should still remember not to wash your face too frequently (twice per day at most). While excess skin oil may be a bad thing, too little skin oil is also a problem. You skin needs time to provide its own natural level of protection, and if you're constantly washing that layer of protection away you're doing more harm than good.

About the Author
Don Amodeo is the webmaster of Acne-Vitamins.com, your source for vitamin B5 acne products, as well as a free guide to vitamins for clear skin. Also visit the Acne Vitamins Blog for more helpful information. This article may be republished provided that the author's information and all active links are left intact.