This is the temptation, during periods of extreme cold. While temperatures drop sharply in France and 58 departments are on orange alert this Thursday, November 21 due to snow, ice and/or violent winds, the temptation is great to take a hot shower or bath during the day to warm up. . .
However, according to many experts, hot showers, especially if taken too frequently, can be harmful to your health despite the feeling of well-being they provide.
The skin barrier in danger
In the New York Times, which dedicated a long article to this topic, Dr. Victoria Barbosa, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Chicago, says that “hot showers or baths offer several benefits, but none of them are good for health”. your health.”
This statement is corroborated by several scientific investigations, including a Spanish one, published in 2022 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in which it was found that hot water was actually much more aggressive for the skin than cold water.
In detail, the use of high temperature water weakens the skin barrier located on the surface of the skin. The alteration of this hydrolipid film, composed of natural lipids such as sebum, but also dead skin, can cause dryness of the skin or even the appearance of redness caused by greater penetration of irritants or allergens.
“Water at too high a temperature favors the appearance of redness (erythrosis, rosacea) in certain areas, such as the face. These two skin conditions are related to blood microcirculation problems in the face,” explains Dr. Le Parisien to Le Parisien. Rafaa, dermatologist in Paris.
People suffering from eczema are especially advised not to take hot showers for too long or too often. The same goes for people who suffer from dry hair.
Use warm water
However, hot showers should not be banned permanently. The different dermatology specialists interviewed by the New York Times estimate that two or three times a week, between five and ten minutes no more, are possible.
For his part, Dr. Mostefa Rafaa recommends using fairly warm water, between 36 and 40°C, for only ten minutes. At the same time, it is important to avoid products that contain endocrine disruptors and allergens, but also to adequately moisturize the skin.
Source: BFM TV
