Hot vs Cold Showers: What Are the Benefits?

We’ve evaluated the benefits of cold showers and hot showers to help you decide which one might be best for you or whether switching between the two could revolutionise your routine. We’ve also looked at your options if you’re considering upgrading your existing shower, including showers with temperature control.

Thanks to the chilly British weather, hot showers are far more popular than cold showers in the UK. Besides warming us up on bitterly cold mornings, hot showers have plenty more to offer. Whether you’re experiencing muscle pain post-workout or want to unwind after a busy, stressful day at work, these are some ways a hot shower can help:

• Relieves muscle tension – Heat is excellent at soothing muscle tension or stiffness. Hot water paired with a powerful showerhead can massage any knots, aches and pains caused by intense exercise or sitting at a desk for long periods.
• Eases stress – If you're feeling anxious or stressed, a hot shower is the best remedy. Studies show that hot showers stimulate your brain's oxytocin production, lifting your mood. 
• Improves sleep – A hot shower's stress-relieving benefits can help your body relax before bedtime and enhance sleep quality. 
• Relieves congestion – If you're struggling with a cold and finding it hard to breathe through your nose, jump in a hot shower. Steam acts as a decongestant, helping open and drain your nasal passages. 
• Regulates body temperature – When you've been out for a chilly morning run or swim or got caught in an icy downpour, a hot shower is the best way to warm your body up gradually. Research suggests we contract viruses more during winter because cold temperatures suppress our immune systems, so restoring and maintaining your body's natural temperature is vital.

For most people, the idea of a cold shower is highly unappealing. But are cold showers healthy? The truth is, they have many health and well-being benefits that hot showers don’t provide, including:

• Improving mental alertness – If an entirely cold shower sounds too extreme, try turning the temperature down for the last few minutes. This works best for morning showers, as the sudden change in temperature helps wake up your body and mind.
• Boosting mood – Research has shown that taking cool showers (not freezing cold, but around 20˚C) for a few minutes can help treat depression. The cold water sends electrical impulses to the brain, boosting your mood. However, this is not a standalone treatment and should only be employed with a therapist's approval.
• Protecting hair and skin – Hot water can be bad for our hair and skin. It can cause dry, itchy skin and split ends. Cold showers are good for your skin, as cold water is much more hydrating and closes the pores to prevent grease and dirt from building up.

Read more about the power of a cold shower in our guide.

On different days, at various stages of life, and in other circumstances, you might want a warmer or a colder shower, so let’s examine the optimum shower temperatures in different scenarios.

The ideal shower temperature for your skin is lukewarm or cooler. 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.

If you have sensitive skin, the spray settings on your shower and the water temperature can also affect your showering experience. Opt for the Mira Switch, a showerhead with dermatological accreditation from the Skin Health Alliance. It has four spray modes to choose from, including a soft-pressure spray designed for sensitive skin.

Young children have very sensitive skin, which means that they are easily scalded by water that is too hot. For toddlers and small children, the ideal shower temperature is between 37°C and 38°C, while for babies, aim for water temperature around 36°C. Always check the water before your child gets under the shower to ensure it’s the right temperature for them.

As we age, we should slowly decrease our average shower temperature, as our skin and our hearts are less tolerant of hot water. Skin may react more severely to hot water and become dry and itchy, while excessive blood flow to the skin can strain our cardiovascular system. The ideal shower temperature for the elderly is, therefore, between 36°C and 38°C.

Having a cold shower after a workout can help your muscles recover more quickly and prevent you from feeling stiff the next day. However, hot water helps to relieve tense and tight muscles, so switch to a hot shower the next day to soothe any stiffness.

According to the NHS, a significant rise in your core body temperature could be harmful during pregnancy. As such, it’s best to set your shower to the same temperature as your body temperature: around 37°C.

Yes, taking a long shower in water that is too hot can raise your body temperature and cause dizziness and even heat stroke. Similarly, taking a long cold shower can also decrease your body temperature, which can make you feel dizzy and decrease your breathing rate.

It’s important to remain aware of how you’re feeling while in the shower and keep the temperature as moderate as possible.

To maintain the perfect temperature repeatedly, consider installing a thermostatic mixer shower like the Mira Opero.

Thermostatic showers work by taking water from both your hot and cold water supplies and combining them to create your desired temperature before releasing the flow through your showerhead. The temperature is maintained for the duration of your shower, even if someone flushes the toilet or runs a tap elsewhere in your home, so there are no sudden bursts of scalding or freezing water.

The Mira Opero features the new Mira HydroGlo™ technology, which lights up the shower when the water hits your chosen temperature, so you know when it’s ready to get in.

Digital showers work like thermostatic mixers, taking hot and cold water and mixing it to produce the required temperature. However, a digital shower controller gives you even more precision when it comes to setting the temperature.

Some wireless models have a remote control that allows you to set the temperature from up to 10 metres away. Others, like our Mira Mode and Mira Activate ranges, have an app that lets you control the shower from your smartphone.

All Mira digital showers have a warm-up feature, which means the shower will heat up to your chosen temperature and then pause until you’re ready to get in – a much better alternative to standing there getting chilly while the shower heats up!

Ready to enhance your showering experience? Browse our full range of showers today, including electric, mixer and digital showers.