Well, there has always been a debate about showering – The hot water or cold water. Be it summer or winter, some of us are very particular about our morning routine. Someone wants only and only cold water despite season low temperature, while someone demands hot water, however much soaring degree outside. It is absolutely a personal choice really. But have you ever thought the kind of water you shower with daily, has got its own pros and cons? There are health benefits associated with it.

If not, get on to reading this. Let’s see if you switch to the other side after finding out. Here are the advantages as well as the repercussions behind –

Hot water shower –

• Relief from respiratory symptoms – People say often that they find a hot steam quite helpful, when they have signs of a cough and cold. It can help in clearing a nasal blockage, open the nose airways and loosen up the phlegm.
• Helps your skin – Yes, hot water can help in keeping your skin clear and healthy. It opens the skin pores and removes the dust and oil which act as toxins. Your skin will appear to be fresh and hydrated.
• Result in a better sleep – A stressed out day needs some relaxation. Hot water not only flushes out all the dirt and germs from the body but soothes and calms your mind and body. It relaxes, lessens fatigue and pain. So that you have a good sleep at night. Practicing hot water showers routinely before bed, manages stress and improves sleep quality.
• Burns some calories – A hot water bath cannot help you as much as exercise, however it can still benefit you on a certain level. An hour in hot water can burn out up to 140 calories. Just to let you know, that a hot water bath is an added effort that can help you with shedding some calories. It cannot replace exercising.
• Cardiovascular benefits – Hot water shower reduces the risk of a heart disease, preventing a cardiac arrest. It facilitates blood flow to the vessels, improving circulation and reducing blood pressure.
• Relief in muscle pain and joint ache – A hot water bath relaxes muscles and relieves from a joint pain. A sore muscle can be easily relieved. After exercising too, the discomfort and ache in your body can be reduced by a hot shower.

Despite the above reasons, there are some cons of bathing with hot water. These are discussed below –

• Dry the skin and cause itching – Hot water disrupts the keratin cells on the epidermis (uppermost layer of the skin). As these cells get damaged, it leads to dry skin and no moisture gets locked. Dry skin further gets worsened to conditions like eczema.

Due to the heat, mast cells containing histamine release their contents in the skin which can cause itching.

• High blood pressure – The hot water can make the heart beat faster and increase the blood pressure. People with cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure should be aware and choose accordingly.

With this, we move on to our next section that covers the pros and cons of bathing with cold water. Check it out –

Cold water shower –

• An improvement in circulation – With a cold water shower, your body is able to increase blood circulation. It is able to maintain its core temperature. An increase in blood circulation helps in redistributing blood delivering new oxygenated blood wherever needed in the body. Blood flows through the body more quickly and circulatory system is able to function better.
• Reducing inflammation – Muscle soreness leads to inflammation. This can overcome by ensuring that the oxygenated blood flows back to the tissues. The cold temperature will tighten your blood vessels (vasoconstrict) which makes the blood flow to body’s important organs.
• Energizes you – As you wake up in the morning and bathe with cold water, there is an increase in the heart rate as well as the intake of oxygen. It makes your mind and body alert.
• Hydrated skin and shining hair – The cold water tightens the skin constricting blood flow. The sebum layer which protects the skin and hair is safe with cold water. Thus, using cold water makes your skin and hair stay healthy, at the same time adding that natural glow.
• Boost your immunity – The leukocytes (blood cells fighting infection) get stimulated by cold water. And if you go from a hot water to a cold shower, your body stays protected from viruses. Studies have shown that people who bathe with cold water fall less ill.  

Let’s get on to the cons of taking a cold shower. These are –

• Sickness – The cold temperature is not at all suggested. It can cause sickness which will ultimately weaken your immune system.
• Not worthy if you have a problem with the joints – For example, a person with arthritis can never benefit with cold water. He always will prefer warm water only, as it will help him with an increased mobility. Warm water will be easy and effective on his joints.

Coming to the end, by now you know all about taking a hot shower or a cold shower, the positives and negatives too. And you might be still confused which one is the best for you. There are two approaches to this – Friedman suggests taking shower with lukewarm water, so it’s tolerable for you. Meanwhile, Keferstein, says to alternate the hot water and cold water cycles. As the cold water constricts the blood vessels which leads the blood to flow to middle of the body, while the hot water opens the blood vessels. The blood goes completely through the muscles and organs.

Again, it is completely an individual choice, which water to bathe with. Adding, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. However, you must take advise of your physician in case you have got some health concerns. And, bathing with too much hot or too much cold water shall never be done. Make sure, you keep everything in mind before choosing one.