As the summer season starts to heat up, search queries for ‘what are the health benefits of cold showers’ have increased by +100%.

A cool shower can be one of the many techniques ideal for helping Brits cool down and combat high temperatures, but according to bathroom specialists, Sanctuary Bathrooms cool showers also provide a myriad of benefits when it comes to our skin and hair.

Mark Fullilove, Digital Marketing Manager at Sanctuary Bathrooms, says: “When the weather is hot, sometimes all we want is a cool shower. Our research with experts shows that a cool shower can not only provide hygiene benefits but also numerous other skin and hair benefits that will leave them healthy throughout the heat.”

Partnering with dermatologists and hair stylists, we reveal how your skin and hair can benefit by adding a cool shower to your routine.

Skin:

1. Treating bug bites

With warmer weather comes the emergence of pesky insects, some of which can bite and leave you with irritated bumps on the skin. Luckily, cool water can help ease some of the pain and irritation. Dr. Deborah Lee, Medical Writer at Dr. Fox Online Pharmacy, says: “In the UK, most insect bites in summer are from flies, midges, mosquitos, horseflies, bedbugs, and sometimes deer ticks. Wasp and bee stings are also often classed as insect bites. Wash the site of the bite with warm, soapy water first, then consider a cool shower to help reduce the swelling and reduce the pain and the sensation of the itch.”

2. Retaining natural oils and firmness

One of the most well-known benefits of a cool shower is the impact that it has on your skin. Hot water can often strip away the skin’s natural oils and dry it out whilst cool water helps to constrict blood vessels to temporarily tighten pores and reduce redness. Dr. Carl Thornfeldt, the founder of Epionce Skin Care, explains: “Benefits of a cool shower include strengthening the contractile fibres to improve firmness, closing pores which help reduce the ingress of pollution in the skin at least temporarily, and strengthening the arterioles to improve the skin’s ability to respond to injury.”

3. Fighting Itchy skin conditions

A cool shower can also help fight itchy skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, which can often become even more aggravated in the heat. As warm water strips the oil from the skin, this can make these conditions worse. Sharyn A. Laughlin MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, Medical Director of Laserderm, adds: “You should avoid the effects of a hot shower or bath that can strip away the natural fats and oils from the skin surface. Heat causes the increased blood flow in the dermis and this dilatation in conjunction with direct stimulation of nerve endings will increase the itch response.”

Hair:

1. Retaining moisture in the hair

Cool showers also have benefits for your hair. Whilst washing your hair with warm water can help the shampoo and conditioner get into the follicles, finishing off your hair wash routine with a blast of cool water will ensure that you lock in all the moisture and will tighten the cuticles in your scalp, which can also reduce hair loss. Johnny Lavoy, Celebrity Hairstylist for PRO Beauty Tools, explains why: “Taking a cool shower is really beneficial for your hair. Sometimes it’s not the most enjoyable experience, but it will add massive shine! The cool water aids in closing the hair cuticle, allowing the hair to reflect more light, which results in serious shine.”

2. Stimulating hair growth

Having regular cool showers may be just what you need if you’re looking to grow out your hair, as it stimulates blood flow to the scalp. Dr. Deborah Lee explains: “Cool showers cause vasoconstriction of the vessels near the skin surface, as blood is diverted to the major organs of the body. This means a cool shower stimulates blood circulation. After the cool shower, as body temperature has been lowered, the body increases blood flow to the skin as it warms itself up. This brings more oxygen and nutrients to the cells at the skin surface.”

3. Reducing Frizz

As mentioned, hot water can strip hair of its natural oils. Not only does this lead hair to dry out, as moisture escapes the hair shaft, but the hair strands also lose their natural pattern and suppleness, resulting in frizz. Washing the hair in cool water means moisture is retained, therefore hair is smoother, easier to tame, and shinier.

4. It can help eliminate dandruff

Because rinsing the hair with hot water and exposure to the hot summer sun has a drying effect on hair, rinsing with cool water means there is less likelihood of a dry, flaky scalp, which in turn reduces flaking of the skin. Dr. Alam says: “Washing your hair with cool water helps to retain natural oils and sebum, which keeps the scalp and hair hydrated. If you suffer from dandruff, consider washing cold regularly to reduce dryness and flakiness.”