How to Cool Your Skin with Chilled Thermal Spring Water – Skin Type Solutions

Does your skin flush red and become hot when exercising, lounging at the beach, or due to flare ups of conditions like rosacea ? This common skin concern can be uncomfortable and challenging to stay on top of, especially if you live in a warm climate.

The good news is that managing overheated skin doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Using thermal spring water mists that have been chilled in the refrigerator, for example, is an easy, effective, and inexpensive way to keep your skin cool and comfortable. 

Thermal spring water comes from underground springs where water travels through rock layers, picking up minerals like calcium, selenium, magnesium, and bicarbonate along the way. This often occurs over many years or even decades, allowing the water to absorb significant levels of these minerals over time.

Different springs have different mineral compositions, so the thermal spring water that comes from each spring will also have a different mineral profile. La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, for example, is known for being high in selenium, which has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Thermal spring water typically comes as a spray or mist and can be used to calm red, sensitive skin and add hydration to dry skin routines. When it is cooled in the refrigerator, thermal spring water can also help to keep your skin cool and comfortable.

Heat causes vasodilation, or the widening of the blood vessels in your skin, which leads to flushing and redness. You may also get a red face when exercising. The dilation of your capillaries is your body’s natural way of trying to cool itself down. By increasing blood flow to the skin’s surface, heat can dissipate into the environment, thus releasing internal heat.

For people with rosacea or very sensitive skin, this normal process can become problematic, turning into prolonged flare-ups, visible blood vessels, and/or stinging and burning. Keeping your skin cool helps to counteract this vasodilation by causing vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels, instead. A spritz of cold thermal spring water can help to “shrink” the blood vessels back to normal, reducing visible redness and calming inflammation.

Cooling the skin also helps to:

• Prevent overheating during workouts.

• Soothe sun-exposed skin.

• Reduce the risk of heat-triggered rosacea or flushing.

• Refresh hot skin and make you feel more comfortable.

Your brain controls body temperature through a process called thermoregulation. Specialized thermoreceptors, or nerve endings that detect changes in temperature, are located throughout your skin, but are especially concentrated in areas like the neck, upper chest, and face. These areas are known as “thermoregulatory windows,” where cooling can signal to the brain that the body is cooling down, even if your core temperature is still elevated.

By spritzing cold thermal spring water or placing a chilled water bottle on the back of your neck, you activate these thermoreceptors. This sends a signal to your brain that you are cooling down, so it can reduce blood flow to the skin, which slows sweat production and lowers overall skin temperature. 

Flushing is your skin’s natural response to heat, exercise, stress, or certain foods and drinks, such as spicy foods or alcohol. It’s caused by the dilation of blood vessels in the dermis, often in response to temperature changes.

Redness can also be related to:

• Overheating, which increases blood flow to the skin’s surface.

• Exercise, which boosts circulation and body heat.

• Sun exposure, which damages the skin and inflames blood vessels.

• Hormonal shifts, such as those that occur in perimenopause and menopause.

For people with rosacea, these triggers can be amplified. The skin is more reactive, and flares can last longer and feel more intense. This is why cooling your skin with chilled thermal spring water can be so beneficial – not only does it help to reduce heat, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties because of its mineral content, helping to reduce redness and sensitivity as well.

There are many thermal spring water mists available, each with a unique mineral profile. La Roche-Posay is a popular brand that was founded around its natural thermal spring in France, and its skincare formulas are centered on this soothing, antioxidant-rich water. Thus, you will also find thermal spring water in many of its moisturizers, eye creams, and other products.

You don’t need anything special to chill thermal spring water – here are some easy ways to keep it cool and ready to use:

• Store it in your regular refrigerator. Place your thermal spring water in the fridge for at least two hours before you need to use it. If you’re in a hurry, you can put it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes – but don’t forget about it because aerosol sprays can burst if it freezes completely.

• Take it with you in a cooler. This is a great tip if you are heading to the beach or spending a hot day outside. You can spritz the cool water on your face throughout the day to stay cool and reduce redness.

• Use it during exercise. Spritz your face and neck with the cool thermal spring water mid-workout to minimize redness and flushing.

• Pair with a cold compress or water bottle. A cold water bottle pressed lightly against the back of your neck during a workout or hot flash can also help to cool you down.

Chilling your thermal spring water spray is a simple way to stay cool and reduce red, flushed skin. Most thermal spring water products are safe and effective for all skin types, since they only contain mineralized spring water. However, some people with sensitive skin can have trouble with high mineral concentrations, so it’s still good to double check that the thermal spring water you are using is a match for your skin type.

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