Is Hot Water Better for Oily Skin?
No, hot water is not better for oily skin. In fact, it's detrimental.
Hot water strips your skin of its natural oils. While this might seem beneficial for oily skin, it actually weakens the skin's moisture barrier and triggers it to produce even more oil to compensate. This can lead to increased breakouts and other skin problems. Multiple sources, including this article and this Quora answer, emphasize that lukewarm or even cool water is a much better choice.
Several forums and articles (Acne.org, Cruise Critic, Reddit) support the idea that hot water can exacerbate oily skin issues by drying it out and triggering an overproduction of oil. One article even states that hot water causes "skin to become really dry and flaky".
Best Water Temperature for Oily Skin
For optimal cleansing, use lukewarm water to open pores and remove excess oil and debris. Follow up with a splash of cold water to help close the pores. This method, discussed in several sources like Quora, combines the benefits of both warm and cold water.
