In winter, the water coming out of your showerhead is scalding hot, easing any chills you've felt during the day. During the cooler months, the shower becomes almost like a sauna, so much so that steam rises from the shower. However, taking hot showers when it's cold isn't necessarily so beneficial for raising your body temperature.<\/p>\n
When the cold sets in, we have several options: wrap ourselves in a thick blanket, sit by the fire, or relax under a hot shower. After a day of shivering and braving polar gusts, we dive headfirst into the shower and create an impromptu steam room in the bathroom.<\/p>\n
In the middle of a heatwave, we seek the coolness<\/a> under the showerhead and readily tolerate an icy downpour, but in winter, we rush to warm up in the shower. We turn up the temperature, even if it means running up a bit on the water bill. Under the influence of heat, muscles relax, tension eases<\/a> , and problems are flushed away. However, while heat is often prescribed to soothe aches and pains and relax the body, hot showers are somewhat of an exception to the rule.<\/p>\n They're not bad in themselves, provided they remain occasional. Taking hot showers in winter is an experience of unparalleled bliss. Hot water acts like a "pause" button for the nervous system. It dilates blood vessels, relaxes muscles, and stimulates circulation. As a result, the brain receives a message of security. However, the thermal contrast with the outside is so strong that it can "shock" the body and tire it out instead of simply relaxing it.<\/p>\n What if the rough texture of your skin wasn't the result of harsh cold but of excessively hot showers? Taking hot showers in winter might feel good mentally, but the same can't be said for your skin.<\/p>\n It is protected by an invisible film made of lipids, called the skin barrier. This barrier prevents water from evaporating too quickly and protects you from external aggressors. Very hot water dissolves this film much faster than lukewarm water. As a result, even if your skin is clean, it also becomes more vulnerable.<\/p>\n In winter, it's a double whammy. The air is already drier, heating dries out the atmosphere, and scalding showers only exacerbate dehydration. Skin feels tight, itchy, and more reactive. Many winter rednesses, especially on the legs or face, don't come from the cold alone, but from this contrast between intense heat and dry air.<\/p>\n The key isn't to abandon hot showers altogether, but to moderate them. Ten minutes under scalding water doesn't have the same impact as three minutes. Slightly reducing the temperature, especially for the face, already makes a big difference. And moisturizing your skin right after, while it's still slightly damp, helps restore that crucial protective barrier.<\/p>\n In winter, a shower can still be a moment of comfort, but it's even better when accompanied by proper skincare. A rich cream, oil, or balm becomes an essential ally to prevent the warmth from turning into dryness. And in winter, you can also space out your showers: after all, your body is protected from bacteria under its thick layer of clothing.<\/p>\n And there's no debate, you have the approval of Dr. Mostefa Rafaa, a dermatologist in Paris. "A shower every two days is recommended for people without dermatological problems and less frequently for patients with atopic eczema," he explains to Au F\u00e9minin<\/a> .<\/p>\n The final word? Hot showers should be enjoyed in moderation. If you need warmth, you can find it elsewhere: in a steaming mug, a cozy blanket, or your partner's arms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In winter, the water coming out of your showerhead is scalding hot, easing any chills you've felt during...","protected":false},"author":8340,"featured_media":432398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5639],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-432394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bien-etre"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Douche-chaude-en-hiver-mauvais-peau-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Douche-chaude-en-hiver-mauvais-peau-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Douche-chaude-en-hiver-mauvais-peau.jpg","author":{"name":"\u00c9milie Laurent","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/cropped-2f5d8c00d5d5c27f8ce4d9b3f9015467-96x96.png"},"categories":[{"term_id":5639,"name":"Well-being","slug":"bien-etre","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5804,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","parent":360,"count":1718,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":5639,"category_count":1718,"category_description":" The Well-being section of The Body Optimist shares practical advice on staying active, sleeping better, managing stress and understanding everyday aches and pains. Written for women of every size and body type, it starts from a simple idea: taking care of your body works best through enjoyment and consistency, not pressure or guilt.<\/p>\n When you return to physical activity, consistency matters more than intensity. A few ways to ease back in:<\/p>\n Everyday movement counts too: walking or biking to get around, taking the stairs and gardening all add up as physical activity.<\/p>\n Here, your body isn't a project to fix. We talk about exercise for pleasure, mood and health, never as a way to \u201cmake up for\u201d a meal or to lose weight, and every tip should work for you whatever your body type. The articles in this section provide general information and do not replace advice from a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as brisk walking. It also stresses that some activity is better than none: every session counts, even a short one, and what matters most is finding a pace you can keep up over the long run.<\/p>\n Consistency is the first lever: go to bed and get up at similar times, weekends included. A quiet, dark, cool bedroom, less screen time in the evening and a dinner that isn't too late all make it easier to fall asleep. Loud snoring or waking up gasping for air is worth mentioning to your doctor.<\/p>\n Ongoing fatigue can have many causes: lack of sleep, stress or mental overload, but also iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or depression. If it lasts several weeks despite rest, or comes with other symptoms, see your doctor to find out what's behind it.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Explore all our topics in the Health section<\/a>, follow moms-to-be in the Pregnancy section<\/a> and enjoy a varied way of eating, without restriction, with the Nutrition section<\/a>.<\/p>","cat_name":"Well-being","category_nicename":"bien-etre","category_parent":360}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8340"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432394"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":432585,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432394\/revisions\/432585"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/432398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} But also a bad experience for your skin<\/h2>\n
What you can do instead<\/h2>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
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How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
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Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n
What you'll find in the Well-being section<\/h2>\n
\n
How do you get back into exercise after a long break?<\/h2>\n
\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to get you started<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
How much exercise do you need each week?<\/h3>\n
How can you sleep better?<\/h3>\n
Why am I tired all the time?<\/h3>\n