Cleaning your skin with hot water, whether in the shower or at the sink, can dry it out. Hot water has the ability to remove the natural protective oils and lipids from your skin, which. therefore, derms recommend washing with warm water.

However, a cold rinse can really help relieve dry and irritated skin. “It can reduce irritation, itching or redness, helping to soothe atopic conditions,” says board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD, founder of SKINFIVE, because the low temperature can help reduce inflammation. Just make sure the temperature stays cool and not freezing as you don’t want to completely shock the skin.