Most people have their own routine when it comes to washing up. For example, some of them prefer to jump into the shower in the evening rather than in the morning. At this point, however, there is a recommendation from science. Then proper showering can easily go wrong.
Showering properly? You shouldn’t do this in the evening
Taking a shower in the evening is a great way to wash yourself away from the day, both physically and mentally. It also helps to relax and promotes tiredness, which is so important for falling asleep. But only if we really shower properly. It can also happen that your own Shower routine even keeps you awake at the end.
“When you take a shower just before bed and it’s one especially cold or hot shower the temperature can negatively affect your sleep, ”says Dr. Rachel Salas, sleep neurologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellbeing opposite the Washington Post. The problem: Extreme water temperatures also change your body heat very strongly and away from the actual starting temperature.
This is how showering works, according to science
In order to really shower properly in the evening and not endanger a restful sleep, Salas advises warm but not hot water. People with sensitive skin should be careful. The lower temperatures can tempt you to stand in the shower for significantly longer. However, this in turn has a negative effect on the skin and ultimately allows it to absorb less water or dry out. A rather is therefore recommended short shower of a maximum of ten minutes.
In addition, in order to make the best possible use of the soporific effect, such a shower should be used one to two hours before bedtime take place, explains Dr. Phyllis Zee from Northwestern University. This warms up the hands, feet and head, which in turn cools down more central parts of the body such as the chest and stomach. When your body temperature drops this way, it supports the natural cooling process near bedtime and can help you fall asleep faster, says Zee.
This is because the body’s own circadian rhythm is determined by warmth and light, as the sleep specialist Dr. Whitney Roban describes: “When you get out of the shower, your body temperature will drop and (…) the production of melatonin will increase. And that will help them feel sleepy ”. So having a real shower in the evening is worth a try.
Tips for healthy showering
Taking a shower is not just about looking at the temperatures. If you also want to take a healthy shower in general, the following tips will help you.
- Wash your hair first: While you are soaping yourself, they have more time to absorb conditioners or treatments and let them work.
- Avoid washcloths: Washcloths are well suited for thorough cleaning. But only if you clean them regularly. Otherwise they offer the best conditions for bacteria.
- Wash your face last: Your facial skin is particularly sensitive and cleaning it too thoroughly can damage it. Warm water is ideal to open the pores and rinse the dirt out. A subsequent short cold shower can close this again and stimulate blood circulation.
But not only that. The answer to the question of how often showering is really good can also help. Because in fact, daily cleaning is not necessary. On the subject of cold showers, experts have a recommendation that is no less interesting. After all, you don’t have to worry too much about the risk of showering during thunderstorms.
Sources: Washington Post