That being said, you should try to avoid cleansing your skin with too much cold water because it does not effectively clean out the skin. Cold water tightens up your pores, which can trap bacteria and dirt into the skin.
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.
Drawbacks of cold water for skin
In time, using cold water exclusively may result in an increase in breakouts and pimples, especially if you already have acne-prone skin. Dr. Colbert explains that for those with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions like rosacea, icy cold water could also cause a mild flare-up.
After washing your face with hot water, splash some cold water on it so that it closes your pores. Not just this, it also soothes your eyes. It also helps you get rid of the harmful effects of sun's rays, as cold water tightens and protects the pores that gets opened up when the skin is exposed to sun's harmful rays.
While we wouldn't recommend using cold water therapy as a solution for serious skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, Dr Shakir notes that it can temporarily reduce inflammation, which is associated with these conditions.
Benefits of cold water
Cold water can be especially beneficial for dry or acne-prone skin, says Knapp. “If you have chronically dry skin, hot water can strip your sebum levels (oils) and exacerbate the issue, so cold water is a good alternative.”
However, ice may have little to no effect on noninflammatory pimples, such as comedones, more commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads. While a cold compress can minimize inflammation and make pimples less noticeable or painful, it will not remove the contents inside a pimple.
"There are many benefits to applying ice water to the skin such as decreasing inflammation and reducing puffiness, also improving the appearance of the skin tone, minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores and improving superficial wrinkles."
Washing your face with cold water may help treat excessively oily or acne-prone skin by combating the over-production of sebum.
"Since cold water is capable of shrinking the pores, it's also something that can help make your face less shiny.
Remember, cold water only temporarily tightens skin as it constricts blood flow, but it does not shrink pores.
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.
Those with sensitive and dry skin should avoid following this beauty hack as it can worsen skin dryness or even lead to irritation and redness. You shouldn't be dipping your face into cold water for too long or it can lead to skin irritation.
Modern-day routines have culminated into cryotherapy and this beauty practice is most basic at its form. All you have to is take a bowl filled with icy water and dip your face in it for a good 30 seconds and with a soft cloth, mildly dab your face. Do it twice or maximum thrice, once in the morning and evening.
“Warm water is always best as hot can strip the skin of its natural oils and cold does not allow the pores to open to remove dirt,” says Dr.
She continued: "Ice can be really helpful by reducing the swelling, redness and calming the inflammation and that will reduce the risk of scarring and post-inflammatory colour change on the skin." Ice reduces blood circulation to the inflamed area and tightens the skin's pores.
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.
Hot water can strip away the natural oils of your skin and dry it out, while cold water helps to constrict blood vessels to temporarily tighten pores and reduce redness.
Cleanse your face thoroughly before treating it with ice, as applying the ice on freshly cleaned skin is far more effective. Wrap the ice cube in a soft cloth before applying it to your skin.
Open pores: Warm water can help in reducing open pores in acne prone skin.
Alternating between hot and cold water can strengthen your vasculature (veins and arteries) and therefore improve the integrity of your cardiovascular system. Additionally, it can help filter out toxins in the body because it stimulates constriction and subsequent relaxation of the blood vessels.
Disadvantages Of Cold Water Bath
The temperature doesn't help warm your body up by any means. Also, some studies suggest that cold water showers may weaken the immune system, therefore making it more struggling for your body to fight off such diseases.
Dead skin cells, oils and bacteria choke the follicular opening, expanding the diameter of the pore. Blackheads, medically termed "open comedones" - are an all too common outcome. Plugs within the pores composed of sebum, cellular debris and bacteria congest the gland and expand the pore.
Acne develops when sebum — an oily substance that lubricates your hair and skin — and dead skin cells plug hair follicles. Bacteria can trigger inflammation and infection resulting in more severe acne.