I’m a pharmacist – here’s the 4 ways hot showers could be damaging your health
AS temperatures plunge, there’s nothing nicer than jumping into a steamy hot shower.
But one skin expert has revealed this could actually be damaging your health and in fact, you should crank down the handle to a cooler setting.
Posting to TikTok, Dr Farzan, a pharmacist based in the US, highlighted four ways hot showers can wreak havoc on your health…
1. Worsens acne
According to the expert, hot water can damage your skin and make acne worse.
Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and healthy bacteria, Yen Reis, founder of Skin laundry, previously told Fox News.
That healthy bacteria plays a major role in keeping moisture in — and the bad stuff (dirt and not so healthy bacteria) out.
Without it, your skin is much more likely to break out.
2. Causes dry, sensitive skin
Showering in warmer temperatures can actually make your skin more dry, Dr Farzan said.
Abbas Kanani, pharmacist at Chemist Click, said: “Showering for too long (especially in a hot shower) can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing it to become dry.
“To lock in moisture after a shower, use an aqueous based cream to moisture,” he explained.
3. Slows hair growth
People who have hot showers are at risk of damaging their luscious locks, said Dr Farzan.
Sam Cinkir, CEO of Este Medical Group previously told The Sun: “Hot water slows down blood flow and your scalp needs good circulation to encourage healthy hair growth.”
The hair guru explained that having a steamy shower can also make your hair more brittle and susceptible to breakage, which in turn can lead to hair loss.
This, he said, is because when you have hot water on your scalp, it opens pores, making the roots of your hair weaker, allowing it to come away more easily.
He added: “Washing with warm water will open your pores enough for your roots and scalp to be cleaned, but not enough to cause damage and loss of hair.”
4. Triggers eczema and other health conditions
As lovely as hot showers feel, they can make existing health conditions worse.
Higher temperatures make it easier for the skin to dry out and worsen conditions like eczema, Adam Friedman, MD told Healthline.
They can also increase your blood pressure, which can be very dangerous and lead to – and exacerbate – heart disease, so turn that shower down!