2 days ago
Doctor shares one mistake many people make when showering and the risks it poses
It's something that many people look forward to at the end of a stressful day - that long, hot shower. But if you are someone who tends to turn the temperature to extremely hot, you could be causing significant damage to your skin and hair.
The Express reports of the little-known health impacts associated with overly hot showers, with one doctor warning that there are a number of impacts that come with excessive heat while washing.
Dr Max Maddahali, who boasts more than 560,000 followers on TikTok, shared his thoughts on extremely hot showers in a recent video on the social media platform, in response to one man who revealed that he finds it impossible to take a shower with his wife because they have very different opinions on how hot the water should be, with his spouse enjoying the water "just below boiling."
In the video, Dr Max explained that "there are some natural oils on your skin that are keeping your skin moist, but hot water can completely wash them off so dryness can happen."
The medical practitioner also revealed that "hot water can cause hair damage."
Standing under very hot showers for an extended period of time could also have an impact on your blood pressure.
Dr Max added: "Not to mention if you're taking hot showers for too long, it can cause your blood pressure to drop and cause you to faint." The video, which has been viewed over a million times, closes with the doctor saying: "Finally, having a shower that is too hot can compromise your immune system."
The warning sparked quite the debate in the comments section, with some insisting that they intend to continue taking hot showers, but others backed up Dr Max's advice with one admitting that "my fiancé use to take boiling showers and would always faint."
A second person commented: "Yeah I definitely passed out couple times." A third added: "I turn it slightly down for washing my hair. But I won't stop getting it hot for the rest of the body."
A fourth TikTok user detailed their approach: "I use hot or warm water to open up the pores and then at the very end I use the coldest water possible to close the pores." Whilst a fifth noted: "The blood pressure issue and fainting happens to me a lot. I always have to take care to keep the water temp right."
Expert advice from Mira Showers seems to confirm Dr Max's theory on excessively hot water, with a company spokesperson saying that "hot water strips your skin of natural oils, which can lead to dry and itchy skin, so it's best to stick to an average shower temperature of between 37°C and 38°C."
