Washing with Hot or Cold Water?
For acne sufferers with sensitive skin, there are some extra factors to think about when washing that you might not otherwise consider. One of them is the temperature of the water you wash with. Understanding the effects of water temperature on your skin helps you get the most out of cleansers and protect your skin against damage.
So when is the best time to wash with hot, warm, or cold water?
As far as your skin is concerned, very hot water is almost never beneficial. 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. This is especially evident during the winter, as exposing your skin to cold air right after washing with hot water will usually cause redness and peeling. However, even during the summer this is a bad idea, as it leaves you more susceptible to sun damage and simply makes it easier for unwanted waste to clog your pores.
With regards to effective cleansing, the 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 opening your pores to some degree is necessary in order to remove waste and bacteria that may be clogging them. Soaps also lather better and tend to be more effective in warm water. After you’ve applied your cleanser, the trick is to rinse 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 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 proper washing habits, remember not to wash your face too frequently (twice per day at most). While you don’t want excess skin oil, 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 it away you’re doing more harm than good.
