What are the harms of using water that is too hot for washing your face?

Using water that is too hot for washing your face can cause various skin problems, including damaging the skin barrier, causing dryness and dehydration, worsening sensitivity and redness, accelerating skin aging, and stimulating hair follicles leading to related issues. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Damages the skin barrier**: A natural lipid film on the skin's surface helps lock in moisture and protect against external irritants. Water that is too hot can aggressively wash away this lipid film, damaging or even removing it entirely. This leaves the skin unprotected, more vulnerable to environmental damage, and prone to various subsequent skin issues.

2. **Causes dryness and dehydration**: High temperatures accelerate the evaporation of moisture from the skin’s surface while also impairing the lipid film’s ability to retain water. Long-term use of excessively hot water leads to faster moisture loss than replenishment, gradually resulting in dry, rough skin with tightness, flaking, and overall worsening skin condition.

3. **Worsens sensitivity and redness**: Overly hot water dilates facial capillaries, causing noticeable redness. For individuals with sensitive skin or visible blood vessels (telangiectasia), this irritation reduces capillary elasticity, exacerbating recurring redness and possibly causing discomfort such as stinging or itching.

4. **Accelerates skin aging**: High temperatures can damage collagen and elastic fibers in the skin—key components responsible for maintaining firmness and elasticity. Once collagen is lost, the skin gradually sags, and fine lines and wrinkles appear earlier, speeding up the skin aging process.

5. **Irritates hair follicles and triggers problems**: Very hot water can irritate facial hair follicles, potentially causing abnormal dilation or constriction of follicular openings. In people with oily skin, this disruption can imbalance sebum production, increase the risk of clogged pores, and lead to follicle-related issues such as blackheads and acne.

The risks associated with using overly hot water for facial cleansing should be assessed based on individual skin type, water temperature, and current skin condition. To avoid harm, it is recommended to use lukewarm water and pay attention to how your skin responds.