Why cold showers are not the answer in a heat wave

It’s a scorcher. You’ve been outside all day, maybe running errands or spending time by the pool or kicking a ball around a park. And you’re finally home, ready for the thing you know — or at least think — will be just what you need: an ice-cold shower.

Truth is, it’s counterintuitive, but because of the physics of cooling down and how your body works, a cold shower can actually make you hotter.

A freezing shower tricks your brain into thinking it's cold, trapping core body heat inside. It triggers vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of blood vessels near the skin's surface. 

(MORE: 5 things you should know to stay safe during a heat wave)

A lukewarm shower, about 80°F, is actually best. It keeps blood flowing to the skin, allowing heat to escape through evaporation long after you dry off.

Depending on the intensity of the heat you’re experiencing, taking a cold shower can actually be a dire mistake, since if your core body temperature stays too high for too long, it can lead to organ damage. Heat is the number one weather-related killer.

While your skin might feel nice under cold water, the reality is that your core body temperature isn’t improving, holding the heat in and around your organs.

(MORE: Heat can turn deadly fast. Here’s what your body is trying to tell you)

And hey, cooling down might be the only reason you crave a shower after a hot day outside — sometimes you’re just a stinky, sweaty mess.

A cold shower actually won’t help much with getting clean, either.

When we sweat, it mixes with sebum, which is what creates body odor. 

Cold water is actually less effective at removing and breaking down sebum, which means it’s not as good at getting rid of any stink as tepid water, too.

So, next time you think you’re doing yourself a favor by keeping the water cool, turn up the temperature for a more efficient result.

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.