Q: I love taking hot showersvvjl, but I’ve heard they can damage your skin and hair. Is that true?
It’s no secret that a hot shower can be relaxing: It can soothe sore muscles and joints, improve your mood, and help you sleep better.
“There are benefits to warmer showers or baths, so I don’t want to discount that,” said Dr. Victoria Barbosa, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Chicago. But, she added, “none of those benefits are for your skin.”
The research on how hot water affects our skin and hair is thin, dermatologists said, but most experts agree that scorching showers may strip away oils and moisture-retaining substances.
Generally, it’s best to take lukewarm showers, experts said.
“A hot bath or shower should be a treat, not a daily occurrence,” Dr. Barbosa said.
What does hot water do to skin?When it comes to the effects of bathing on skin health, research largely focuses on the use of cleansers. There aren’t many studies exploring water temperature, said Dr. Blair Jenkins, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Michigan Medicine. But dermatologists said hot water, especially when combined with soaps that contain fragrances and harsh ingredients, may damage the outermost layer, known as the skin barrier.
The skin barrier is made of dead skin cells, said Dr. Paola Baker, a dermatologist in Boston who has researched its function. Surrounding those cells is a dense matrix of fatty substances such as ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol, she said. These substances, called lipids, help retain moisture in the skin and protect it from environmental irritants and allergens.
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