Can Cold Showers Help With Acne?

Standard skin care recommendations aside, there's certainly no shortage of acne treatment ideas floating around the Internet. As is the case with most home remedies, some of these have more validity than others. 

The latest skin-clearing trend taking social media by storm is taking cold showers. “Cold showers for acne” videos have garnered over 105 million views and counting on TikTok as a growing number of people seek them out as a remedy. So, do they actually work?

Cold showers can potentially help with acne, but certainly not in the cure-all way as is often portrayed online. Cool temperatures constrict blood vessels, which can reduce swelling, inflammation, and overall redness. All of these are components of acne, but they're not the only ones - excess oil, clogged pores, and bacteria are also key players. Acne has multiple factors and requires a multi-prong treatment approach like an effective daily skincare routine.

It's also possible for cold showers to have the opposite effect and end up exacerbating your acne, as cold water isn't as effective at removing potentially pore-clogging dirt and oil from the surface of your skin. Super icy water that is too cold can be harsh on the skin and end up weakening the skin barrier and causing redness. 

Cold water may have some temporary benefits when it comes to calming inflammation and breakouts, but it's certainly not a singular solution for clear, acne-free skin. At the end of the day, your best bet is to avoid extremes on either end, both super-hot and super-cold water, and stick with lukewarm temperatures when washing your face and in the shower. Your skin will thank you for the gentle approach.

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