Love Hot Showers? Avoid These Habits That Can Hurt You

No matter what kind of day you had, it always feels great to end it with a nice, hot shower. According to Harvard Health, warm baths or hot showers relieve painful joints, wash away stress, and even encourages sleep. Moreover, Heart journal suggests that a daily hot-water bath—albeit at a comfortable temperature—is good for the heart.

But while soaking in warmth soothes your tired muscles and promotes good slumber, you need to know some of the consequences of loving hot showers. Read on to learn why you need to chill out a bit with a cold bath now and then.

It is a well-known fact that heat causes hair damage. According to a study on the Annals of Dermatology, heat can cause hair roughness, dullness, and even loss of hair color. Moreover, hot water can increase dandruff production—though this has something to do with your skin more than your hair. Hot water can make your skin, or rather your scalp dry, which can lead to flaking and itchiness.

With cold water just as controversial (it can make your hair too oily), it then makes more sense to secure your hair’s health with a little insurance. Sunsilk Damage Reconstruction Shampoo hydrates and repairs hair by fiber, making sure every strand is soft and bouncy.

Numerous dermatologists all over the world suggest that showering every day isn’t a good habit to have. However, amid the current context as well as the Philippines’ humid weather, we can’t blame you if you hit the shower once or even twice a day. Based on another Harvard Health research, washing and scrubbing in hot water daily can cause dry, irritated, itchy, or scaly skin, which could lead to cracked skin, which could lead to infection. The Dermatology department of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) also warns against peeling that’s akin to sunburn.

If you just can’t skip your daily bathing ritual, then make sure not to skip wearing lotion either. After towel-patting your skin dry, apply Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Body Lotion. Pure oat extract and micro-droplets of its patented Vaseline Jelly help repair damaged skin deep within, leaving you with visibly healthier and moisturized skin.

If you’re wondering if there’s a perfect temperature for your shower, UMPC recommends a cool or lukewarm shower a few times a week. If you love soaking in the tub, get out before your skin becomes pruney and wrinkled. 

More than skin damage, however, Harvard Health says that over-showering can also weaken your immune system. While hot water can take away most grime and dirt, too much washing can also strip the skin of good bacteria and microorganisms that create protective antibodies. The combination of diligent bathing and high temperatures might be overly effective. If you’re a frequent bather, tone down the heat since it could undermine your immune system.

Do you love hot beverages? We hate to burst your bubble, but that might be affecting your teeth. A comparative study published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research suggests that continued use of warm water while toothbrushing can speed up dental wear. This effect extends to pretty much any warm liquid you put in your mouth, like tea, coffee, milk. A chocolate smoothie is great, but hot chocolate just isn’t the same when it’s not, well, hot.

Cool your teeth down with closeup All Around Fresh Soothing Menthol Toothpaste. An all-arounder, this trusty toothpaste has zinc mouthwash to eliminate bacteria, silica to brush away plaque, and fluoride to defend your pearly whites against cavities.

Hot showers, cold showers—every temperature, like every decision, has its pros and cons. Whichever you prefer, keep your body protected and taken care of with the right products.