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While we know that cold showers are beneficial, one dermatologist is setting the record straight on the exact temperature the water should be when you shower/bathe. Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic, says that ideal temperature is 112 degrees Fahrenheit. She says this temperature is enough to wash away environmental dirt and bacteria.
Hot water from the tap can get as hot as 140 degrees Fahrenheit and that’s too hot, according to many doctors. Of course, to see the temperature of your water you would have to hold a thermometer under the spigot to get an accurate reading. Dr. Piliang says your shower/bath water “should feel warm and not uncomfortably hot.”
It’s important not to use water that is scorching hot or else you’ll damage the protective layer of your epidermis. “It is what keeps bad water and germs out and good water in, and keeps our skin moisturized,” Dr. Piliang told the Wall Street Journal. She explains the protective layer of people’s skin essentially melts away if water above 112 degrees is used.
She also notes that your age will play a factor. Younger people’s skin will replace the protective layer faster than older people’s skin. Taking too hot of showers can lead to dry and irritated skin that even moisturizer can’t fix.
Next time you shower or bathe, keep the number 112 in mind!
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[Photo: Shutterstock]
