Discover the benefits of showering in the morning or evening to determine the best time that suits your lifestyle. Find out which works best for you!
Some of us prefer an invigorating, cool shower in the morning, while others swear that a warm shower in the evening helps us fall asleep easier. But which option is preferable from the point of view of science and medicine?
On the Internet you can often find statements that it is important to take a shower at a certain time. However, many doctors do not agree that there is a clear answer to this question. “There is no clear recommendation in the scientific literature about what time of day you should shower,” says Dr. Thomas Russo, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the University at Buffalo.
And yet, in many cases, it matters what period of the day we choose for water procedures – this can be especially important for people with certain chronic diseases.
By taking a shower in the morning, we get rid of the impurities that have accumulated during the night’s sleep. “Bacteria, sweat, and dead cells accumulate on the skin overnight,” explains dermatologist Cindy Wassef, MD.
A morning shower can also help us perk up and wake up faster. “Habitual morning rituals (such as showering) that we do at the same time every day act as wake-up signals for our bodies, adjusting our biological clock,” says sleep medicine specialist Christopher Winter. Winter, MD).
We all know that a cold shower is especially good for waking up. “This happens because a sudden change in temperature causes a release of norepinephrine and dopamine in our body, which gives us a feeling of increased energy [1],” explains Christopher Winter.
Morning showers are also good for those who prefer to exercise in the morning.
“We take a shower primarily to cleanse our skin of impurities, and during exercise, sweat, dirt, and sebaceous gland secretions come into contact with the skin, so it’s logical to shower right after physical activity,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. Zeichner, MD).
Arguments in favor of an evening shower
Despite all the benefits of showering in the morning, sometimes it is better to postpone water procedures to the evening.
By showering before bed, we cleanse our skin of dirt, pathogens and potential allergens that have accumulated during the day. This helps keep your bedding clean (however, it still requires regular washing). This is especially important if you or your partner (if you sleep in the same bed) for some reason have a reduced immune system or are allergic, for example, to pollen (allergy symptoms often worsen at night and disturb sleep) or you suffer from skin diseases (for example, eczema).
“External irritants – allergens, dirt and dust particles, etc. – can aggravate symptoms of dermatological diseases. It’s often helpful to shower before bed to get as much cleansing as possible,” says Cindy Wassef.
Another benefit of taking an evening shower is that it can help us fall asleep more easily. Firstly, as already mentioned, if showering in the evenings turns into a habitual ritual, this becomes a signal for our body, setting it up for the upcoming sleep.
Secondly, by taking a warm shower, we temporarily raise our body temperature, and then our skin cools as the water evaporates. Our body perceives this slight decrease in temperature as a signal to sleep [2]. “It’s best to take a warm shower about 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed,” says sleep medicine specialist Robert Oexman.
Some people prefer to take a cool shower before bed. But this method of cooling the body before bed is less effective. “A decrease in body temperature activates processes in brown adipose tissue that send a signal to our brain that it’s time to sleep.”
It seems logical to cool down before bed by taking a cool shower. In practice, this may be counterproductive.
Cold showers can cause hypothermia and chills, increase blood circulation in the internal organs and, despite cooling the skin, the core body temperature will rise, which can prevent us from falling asleep,” explains Axman.
Why you shouldn’t shower twice a day
Despite the different benefits of morning and evening showers, dermatologists do not recommend repeating water procedures too often and advise choosing one of these options for yourself. “Excessive exposure to water and soap strips moisture from the skin and contributes to dryness,” explains Cindy Wassef.
If you still feel the need to shower more than once a day (for example, if you sweat excessively or exercise vigorously), Wassef advises using cleansing and moisturizing gels and oils instead of soap.
Let’s summarize: when choosing the optimal time to take a shower, it is worth considering several factors: your physical activity regimen, the presence of skin or allergic diseases, sleep problems. But first of all, it is important to choose a time that will be comfortable for you and fit most harmoniously into your daily routine.
