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Bath Vs. Shower, Which One Is Better?

Whether you are a nighttime bath person or a morning shower aficionado, there’s nothing quite like it. Hot water, steam, fresh smelling soap, you can name the great things about getting clean for hours; the benefits are endless. We all have a preference, bath or shower, and each has great benefits. Do the benefits of one outweigh the disadvantages of the other? Is one better for your health than the other? If you have wondered about these questions, you aren’t alone. There is some interesting research and medical opinions out there on this common subject. Let’s “dive in” to see if one will reign supreme – bath or shower?

 

Advantages Of Baths And Showers

Each method of bathing and cleaning ourselves has some really good points. The advantages are:

Showers

  • Showers send water all over your body and wash off dirt, oils, germs, and dead skin, and mixed with soap, wash all these things off and send them down the drain
  • Hot showers can help to release harmful toxins from your body and soothe aches and pains
  • Cool showers can help to boost your immune system and burn fat
  • A study of adults showed that starting off taking a warm shower and then turning the water to cool resulted in the participants needing less sick days during the year of study
  • Showers can increase and improve vasoconstriction, which is the circulation flow under the skin, known to produce glowing, healthy skin
  • Colder showers have been proven to increase endorphins and stimulate the nervous system, which has shown improvements in the symptoms of depression
  • Showers can help lessen the severity of headaches and relieve anxiety
  • Showers generally take less time than baths do, making them more convenient when you are in a hurry
  • Showers are better at conserving water than baths are (provided you don’t take really long showers)

 

Baths

  • Taking a bath helps your muscles to relax
  • Baths help to stimulate your nervous system
  • Baths are great for exfoliating your skin
  • Baths promote healing for itching, irritations, hemorrhoids, and women recovering from giving birth
  • Aromatherapy baths using essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus can ease sore muscles and relax your mind and body
  • A bath containing oatmeal can ease and heal the effects of psoriasis and eczema
  • Taking a warm bath when you are sick can help to reduce a fever, relieve congestion, and help aching muscles
  • Baths taken at night can help to regulate your body temperature making you more relaxed and allow an easier transition to fall asleep 
  • Being in a lukewarm to warm bath up to your neck can actually help improve your lung capacity

 

Disadvantages of Bath And Showers

We know that everything in life has pros and cons. We’ve talked about the advantages of showers and baths. Now, the disadvantages of both are:

Showers

  • Showers do involve standing, and if you have a health condition that doesn’t allow you to stand on your feet for a while, you will most likely need to find a shower chair or bath attachment to take a shower
  • Standing in tubs and showers can be very slippery when water and soap are involved and brings a greater risk of slips and falls
  • Whether or not you have a good shower relies on what kind of water pressure you have and sometimes that element is out of your control
  • Taking a shower fills your bathroom up with steam, and some people do not care for their bathroom to become a steam room

 

Baths

  • Bathtubs hold the reminisce of the prior showers and baths (microorganisms), making your tub not as clean as you may think
  • Baths can affect the body’s ph levels, and for women, this could mean yeast infections or other kinds of irritations
  • Baths have a tendency to remove essential oils that your skin needs to retain moisture, which can leave skin irritated and inflamed

 

Which One Is The Winner?

Studying the advantages and disadvantages of both showers and baths, the medical professionals seem to choose showers as having a slight lead over baths, but they do admit baths do have some great health qualities. The reality for you is which one you prefer, the one that works best for you and your situation in life. And there is always room for both! Each can work well at different times of day and in different seasons of life for all of us. The main priority is your safety and what helps you be the cleanest your body can be. Leading dermatologists continue to stress how important it is for EVERYONE to apply moisturizer after you bathe, whether you choose a bath or a shower. At the end of the day, whether it’s a shower or a bath, a clean you will most likely be a happy and healthy you, and that’s the important part!

 

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This article is intended to provide an understanding of and knowledge about “health topics” as expressed through the perspective and research of the author. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or counsel, including the diagnosis or treatment of any condition. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, illness or treatment of any listed or non-listed situation above. By using this site, you signify your assent to our Terms and Conditions.

 

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/bath-vs-shower#summary

https://verv.com/shower-vs-bath-which-is-better-for-your-health/

https://www.today.com/series/one-small-thing/dermatologist-explains-why-taking-shower-better-bath-t128600

https://www.thehealthy.com/habits/bath-vs-shower/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/baths-versus-showers_n_57f81387e4b0e655eab4530d

 

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