Surely, there is very little as refreshing and relaxing as a nice hot shower at the end of the day. There’s something about it that makes showering so much more appealing than using a bath - the massaging shower water beating out tight muscles, the steam rising and clearing your airways and the crisp, refreshing feeling once you step out. Many of us automatically think of a hot shower as being the most alluring. But what is the perfect temperature for your shower? And could there be health implications if you turn the water up or down too much? 

Ideal temperature

According to research, we should all be keeping our shower water below 110°F (41°C). This still creates that appealing environment to wash away the stresses of the day without causing damage to your skin. Obviously, you can increase or drop the temperature according to your personal preference. But, if you’re looking for the best environment, stick to this recommendation. 

Health implications of too hot water  

Apart from being uncomfortable against the skin, hot water can also cause implications for our skin’s health. It strips away natural oils from the surface of the skin - the ones that keep us nourished and moisturised. This leads to dry and itchy skin with the possibility of progressing into eczema. 

It also increases your skin’s circulation. While making you look flushed, this also causes inflammatory cells to exacerbate the effects of dry and itchy skin. An increase in body temperature can also cause a considerable drop in blood pressure which, in turn, potentially leads to lightheadedness or dizziness. This means that a shower that is too hot has the potential to cause you to faint which is never safe when surrounded by water. 

Also, if you’re someone that dyes their hair regularly, water that is too hot can strip colour and cause it to fade quicker. So the general rule is, if your skin becomes red or flushed, the water is probably too hot. m

Health implications of too cold water

The general consensus is that cold showers are less hazardous for our bodies. Cooled water has been shown to improve the firmness of your skin by strengthening the fibres around muscles, hair and pores. It has the ability to strengthen arteries and veins which improves their ability to constrict and dilate. In turn, this improves the skin’s ability to respond to injury. 

If you have water that is too cold, the main risk of causing uncontrollable shivering.

The most perfect shower

According to experts, we should all have a warm/tepid shower below 40°C and then cool off at the end with a sharp, short shot of cold water.