Wellhealthorganic.com: Which Is Better Hot Water Or Cold Water Bath
Whether you’re looking for an anti-inflammatory or an energy boost, a warm bath can be just what you need. It naturally relaxes your body, improves blood circulation, and eases sore muscles.
But it’s important to understand that hot water can also damage your skin and hair if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s a good idea to switch up your showers from time to time.
Increases Blood Circulation
A good shower or bath can help you relax and refresh, but is it better to have a hot or cold one? While the answer to this question largely depends on your personal preference, there are some health benefits associated with both.
* Increases Blood Circulation – When you take a hot bath, the warm water helps your body’s circulatory organs — including your arteries and veins — expand and carry blood more effectively throughout your entire body. This can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other health complications.
In addition to the physical effects of a hot bath, it also has a calming effect on your nerves. This can help you overcome feelings of anxiety, depression, and insomnia and improve your mental outlook.
Another benefit of a hot bath is that it can relieve pain and discomfort from injuries, such as sprains and strains. It can even lessen pain from arthritis and rheumatism.
Some people choose to alternate between hot and cold water for short periods of time. This is called contrast water therapy, and it can be helpful for boosting blood flow to the muscles.
It can also help with shivering in cold weather. It’s thought that a low-level stress response from your body causes you to shiver, which can cause circulation problems.
While a cold water bath can be useful for some people, it’s not the best option for those who have a cough or cold because it may worsen symptoms. It can also weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness.
Reduces Itching
Using hot water to shower can make you feel itchy because it opens pores and removes natural oils in the skin. This makes the itching worse and aggravates dry skin conditions, especially eczema.
Cold compresses or cool showers are another option that can reduce itching. Applying an ice pack to the itchy area reduces inflammation and stops itching almost instantly.
In addition, if you have a skin condition that causes you to itch, like poison ivy or psoriasis, a cold shower can help ease the itching sensation. Similarly, for a skin condition that doesn’t cause itching but just makes your skin feel uncomfortable (like shingles or acne), a cold compress can alleviate itching.
Some people also find that itching can be relieved by rubbing their skin with lotion and/or touching with firm pressure on the itchy area, which can decrease the itching. However, if itching persists even after attempting these self-care tips, it’s important to see your doctor.
Itching may be caused by winter itch, which happens when air is very dry and your skin loses moisture, or it could be something more serious. A doctor can examine your itching and prescribe medication if needed.
Other treatments for itchy skin include steroid injections, laser treatment and surgery. Antihistamine creams, such as diphenhydramine (DPH) or doxepin (Zonalon or Prudoxin), can help relieve itching by blocking histamine receptors on the skin.
Clears Sinuses
Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the cheeks (maxillary sinuses), forehead (frontal sinuses) and around the eyes (ethmoidal sinuses). These spaces can become clogged with mucus and inflammation can occur.
There are many ways to clear up a sinus infection and ease the symptoms of congestion, including over-the-counter medications. Medications such as antibiotics can help to get rid of bacteria and reduce the severity of symptoms.
Drinking plenty of fluids will also help your nasal passages to drain. You may want to try sipping clear broths, chicken soup or juice as well as decaffeinated tea and lemon water.
You can also use a bulb syringe to gently squirt some salt-based saline solution into your nose several times a day to help keep the tissues moist and loosen the mucus. This is one of the best home remedies for sinus drainage, and it can be used regularly to prevent or relieve a chronic sinus condition.
In addition, hot compresses like a towel soaked in warm water applied to the face can relieve pressure and discomfort as well. You can apply this to your forehead, cheeks or forehead area and breathe in the steam for about three minutes before removing the cloth.
Getting plenty of rest and avoiding activities that cause over-stimulation, such as exercise, caffeine or alcohol, can also relieve sinus pressure. The body needs to have a good amount of sleep to fight off infections and repair damage caused by inflammation.
You can also take a warm shower or add some herbs to your water to create steam that will help to loosen the mucus and ease the congestion. You can also use a humidifier to increase the moisture in your sinuses and nose.
Cleanses Skin
Hot water is a great way to clean your skin and remove excess oil. It can also help reduce the appearance of pores and depuff the skin. But it should only be used as part of your skin-care routine.
It can also be a little too harsh on the skin and strip it of its natural oils, which can leave your complexion dry and prone to breakouts.
So, it’s best to use a cleanser that is specifically designed for your skin type and is gentle enough to keep your complexion healthy and happy.
If you’re unsure of your skin type, take a quick quiz to find out what works best for you:
For instance, if you have an oily complexion, it might be wise to wash with cold water rather than hot water. Because the latter will strip away the natural oils that your sebaceous glands produce to keep your skin balanced.
This can lead to clogged pores, which is one of the biggest culprits for acne and blackheads.
In addition, the heat of hot water can irritate the delicate blood vessels under your skin, which will cause redness and blotches to form on your face.
That’s why a double-cleanse with an oil-based cleanser followed by a foaming or gel cleanser is the best way to get your complexion feeling fresh.
Another way to ensure your skin is clean is by staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. This is especially important for those of us with a sedentary lifestyle, as the lack of water can make our skin dry and dull.
Ultimately, which is better for your skin depends on the situation and the time of day. But for most people, a combination of warm and cool water is the best option for cleaning your face while still delivering other benefits like improved circulation.