Re: why do the first few splashes of hot water in the shower feel cold?

I think that this phenomenon is physical rather than perceptual. The first 
few droplets that hit your skin evaporate upon contacting your skin, which 
is usually much warmer than the surrounding air. The large amount of 
heat energy required for evaporation is rapidly absorbed into the water 
from your skin. When the water changes from liquid to gas, all of this heat 
energy is lost from that part of your skin, making it temporarily cooler. 
The loss of heat is then sensed by receptors in your skin and the water 
feels cold. As you know, the main reason that you sweat is to cool your 
body, and this works through sweat glands secreting sweat onto the skin to 
evaporate.