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You probably have heard about washing your face with cold water is beneficial as it could it help skin tightening or minimizing wrinkles or hot water wash helps in opening of skin pores and possible deep cleansing. All these are myths around the face cleaning practices with cold or hot water. But as a matter of fact, washing your face with too hot or too cold water repeatedly may damage your skin more rather than doing well.

First thing to know is that pores do not open and close. There no clear scientific backing about the steaming your pores open and using ice water to close them. Too hot or too cold water tend to irritate skin causing flare-ups for rosacea patients! It is good to find a perfect in-between temperature for your water to cleanse your face according to a Boston dermatologist, Dr. Jeffrey Dover, who is the co-director of SkinCare Physicians.

"But if the water temperature is too hot, you can scald the skin, causing irritation, and dilating vessels, says" Dr. Jeffrey. He said that washing face with too cool water will not harm your skin, but may just be unpleasant.

However, Jessica Krant, Board-certified dermatologist said in an article on HuffingtonPost.com, that, "While it might feel good to warm up with a steamy splash of water, icy cold or lukewarm water both have their benefits. Excessively hot water will strip healthy natural oils from your skin too quickly."

On the bottom line,

• Don’t wash face with steaming hot water.
• Once a day, at night, wash face with lukewarm water or warm water for best results.
• Hot water could dry skin too much.
• As a final rinse use cool water after cleansing.
• Gently pat with a clean towel after wash.
• Lock in moisture by applying a toner, moisturizer or night cream after drying your face.

-Sumana