On the other hand, if you have oily skin, constricting the pores with cold water may help to control excess oil so that your complexion doesn't get quite so shiny so quickly.
Using the right temperature of water to wash your skin
Hot water dissolves accumulated oil easily than cold water and, therefore, it is the most recommended. This makes it easy to remove all the excess oils on the skin.
Conversely, dryness caused by scalding hot water can cause oily skin to over-correct by producing even more oil, which can lead to acne, clogged pores and the like.
While a steaming hot shower or face washing session can feel quite relaxing in the moment, it's not the best option for your skin. Piping hot water can cause a heightened level of skin sensitivity and dry out your skin, stripping it of necessary natural oils.
Washing your face with cold water may help treat excessively oily or acne-prone skin by combating the over-production of sebum.
If you want to make a splash with your skin care routine, try washing your face in cold water. There are many benefits to this, such as tightened pores, acne prevention, and a face that looks more awake. For most skin care needs, though, you should look to using lukewarm water.
This is because sebum from the scalp can more easily cover the whole strand of hair if it is straight or thin. If people are using oily or waxy hair products or not cleansing their hair thoroughly, it can cause a buildup of oil, skin cells, and sweat in the hair. This may make it still appear greasy after washing.
Besides cooling and detoxifying the body, sweat cleanses pores of dirt, dead skin cells, and excess oil. (Just be sure that a towel is within arm's reach; allowing these released toxins to sit on your face too long can result in reclogging and breakouts.)
“Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and healthy bacteria,” Grous explains, “which plays a major role in keeping moisture in—and the bad stuff out. And because dryness triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, hot water can worsen preexisting acne or cause a breakout.”
Lukewarm water is advisable to wash your face with, but cold water has its benefits, too. Cold water tightens the appearance of your skin, so it may make you look renewed and refreshed. It also helps boost your circulation, which can help give your skin a healthier appearance, albeit temporarily.
Cold water tightens your pores and reduces the overproduction of sebum and excretion of acne-causing bacteria. In contrast, hot water opens them and does the complete opposite, leaving your skin more prone to irritation.
Open pores: Warm water can help in reducing open pores in acne prone skin. However, the same treatment might not be so helpful in case of open pores caused by sagging of skin because of skin ageing, Dr Smriti asserts.
In spite of the myth we've been sold all of this time, cold water does not “close” pores any more than hot water opens them, but ending your warm shower with a cold splash of water on the skin can still do wonders for your complexion.
Your sebaceous glands produce sebum, an oily or waxy substance that moisturizes and protects your skin and hair. Oily skin happens when your glands produce too much sebum, which can lead to a greasy surface, clogged pores, and acne. Oily skin is perfectly normal.
There are many reasons for oily skin, including stress, humidity, genetics, and fluctuating hormones.
Workouts can be problematic for some skin types - especially oily ones. Because even though sweating is the skin's way of staying healthy, it can lead to clogged pores.
Some skin conditions may require you to shower more or less often than the average person. For instance, someone with very oily skin, body acne, or hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) may want to shower every day (or sometimes even twice a day) to keep their skin clean or avoid body odor.
Everyone's scalp can get a little oily sometimes. But a little oil is OK! Oil (sebum) helps protect and support healthy hair. But an abnormally oily scalp can feel like a problem if it makes your hair feel greasy or dirty all the time.
Drinking ample water balances the oil and water content on the skin of your face. This helps to prevent excess oil and sebum secretion, which means fewer clogged pores and acne.
1. The water's too hot or too cold. To get the right temperature for clear skin, you have to play Goldilocks. "Cold water tightens the skin's pores, which doesn't allow the natural secretion of sebum and acne-causing bacteria," says Neil Sadick, MD, of Sadick Dermatology.