People with eczema are commonly encouraged to avoid hot water, leading some to lean toward cool-water showers. “I was always told not to take a hot shower or bath, as this irritates the skin. I have also started to turn on cold water to cool the skin down before I leave the shower, and this helps stop itching,” one MyEczemaTeam member said. However, is a cold shower really necessary, or will lukewarm water suffice?

Here’s some research on cold showers and what other members of MyEczemaTeam have discovered.

Potential Health Benefits of Cold Showers

Cold bathing is a popular practice around the world that ties back to ancient civilizations. According to historians, the Romans plunged into cold water after spending time in heated rooms. Interestingly, this practice isn’t so different from what current members of MyEczemaTeam describe doing.

“I am curious to know if anyone else has had success using a sauna followed by a very cold water bath or shower,” commented one member. “It has been the best thing to calm my skin, but I have found no references for this treatment anywhere.”

Another responded, “I’ve been living with eczema for over 25 years and will say that using a sauna and jumping into cold water after feels so good on my skin! There are articles and research on the benefits of using both individually, but nothing that I’ve seen about using the sauna and then a cold plunge after :)”

Many cold-shower fans believe that exposing the body to cold temperatures enhances the immune system. Cold showers are also reported to provide a caffeinelike energy boost and may reduce the number of sick days taken from work. Some of these benefits seem to be related to the fact that cold showers temporarily affect certain hormone levels, but the long-term impact on overall health or specific health conditions remains unclear.

Cold Therapy for Eczema

Cold therapy, known as cryotherapy, is a medical treatment intended to help with pain, migraines, mental health, weight loss, and sometimes eczema. Some people who use it to treat skin conditions find that cryotherapy offers instant relief for itch and pain, improving quality of life indicators like sleep. Doctors suggest that cold therapy can help calm the nerves and reduce the discomfort of eczema, but there’s not enough research to prove that it actually heals the skin.

Although cryotherapy isn’t the same thing as a cold shower, the concept is similar. Cryotherapy takes place in a metal chamber that surrounds the body but not the head. Air in the chamber is cooled with liquid nitrogen to temperatures below 200 F. As a result, circulation increases, blood vessels constrict, and inflammation decreases. Since cryotherapy is rarely covered by insurance and comes with known risks, including frostbite, cold showers can offer a less extreme alternative to take advantage of the soothing effects of temporary skin cooling.

One member described how cryotherapy fits into their son’s eczema management plan: “Sometimes we go to cryotherapy, but it is expensive, and the results do not last a long time. But when all else fails, it is a good way to get some relief and try to reset.”

Cooling Off Your Skin Care Routine

If you want to experiment with cold showers to improve your eczema symptoms, you can start by taking a lukewarm shower and turning down the temperature for the last minute or so. Some experts recommend cooling the skin for two to four minutes during cryotherapy sessions to reduce inflammation. However, other research shows that the most significant effects of a cold shower happen within the first 30 seconds, so there may be no extra benefit to withstanding the cold for longer.

Even a brief blast of cold water to affected areas of your skin may be enough to help you feel refreshed and offer some temporary relief. Members of MyEczemaTeam have used variations of cold therapy to alleviate eczema symptoms. “Cold baths and ice packs help — anything that will cool the inflammation and help slow the flare,” one member said.

Another member shared how they cool off to sleep better: “I used to make my skin bleed from scratching in my sleep. You need to keep yourself cool at night. When you itch intensely, use really cold water to cool it down. You’re going to be awake from it anyway, so you might as well get up and do something for relief. Depending on how big of an area that’s bothering you, use ice or a cold shower with no soap, just water.”

Studies suggest that showering frequently — once or twice a day — is beneficial for atopic dermatitis (the most common subtype of eczema) for keeping the skin hydrated, as long as you use a moisturizer afterward. Avoiding harsh detergents, gently patting your skin dry, and applying cream or lotion to still-damp skin are also best practices when showering with eczema.

Although cold showers are likely beneficial (or at least harmless) for most people, talk to your dermatologist if you’re considering more intense treatments like cryotherapy, ice baths, or other changes to your bathing routine. It’s important to monitor a new strategy’s impact on dry, itchy skin and other eczema symptoms. By paying close attention to your body, you can see for yourself whether cold showers seem to boost your skin health and well-being.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyEczemaTeam is the social network for people with eczema and their loved ones. On MyEczemaTeam, more than 49,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with eczema.

Are icy cold showers part of your eczema skin care routine? If so, have you noticed a difference in the frequency of eczema flare-ups or other symptoms like itchiness and soreness? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.