Should you have a shower before bed?
Having a shower can be a great way to relax and rejuvenate yourself. The hot water can help to loosen up your muscles, and the steam can help to clear your sinuses. Plus, it feels great to just stand under the spray of water and let all your troubles wash away. If you don't have time for a long soak in the tub, a quick shower can be the next best thing.
Firstly, how often should you shower?
Sweat glands are found across your body and produce sweat when your temperature rises, you're stressed, hormonal, or physically active. Sweat itself is odourless until it comes into contact with bacteria that’s typically found on the skin.
The risk of body odour isn't the only reason to shower or bathe on a regular basis. Infrequent showers or poor personal hygiene can result in a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and perspiration on your skin. Acne may develop as a result of this, as well as other disorders such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.
There's no definitive answer to how often you should shower, as it depends on a number of factors such as your activity level, the climate you live in, and your skin type. However, most experts agree that showering at least once a day is sufficient for most people. If you tend to sweat a lot or live in a hot climate, you may need to shower more frequently. Likewise, if you have dry skin, you may need to shower less often to avoid stripping away your natural oils. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how often you need to shower based on your own personal needs and preferences.
Can a warm shower help you sleep?
A warm shower can help you sleep for a few reasons. Your body temperature and light influence your circadian rhythm, which is your sleep-wake cycle. You want your body temperature to go down so that melatonin production can increase. Your body temperature will drop after you exit from a hot shower, making it easier for you to feel drowsy
You'll have to choose the temperature of your shower depending on what works best for you and your body. A warm shower may make some people feel drowsy, and a hotter shower may feel energising. So it's crucial to figure out what temperature is going to help you feel the most relaxed before you go to bed.
Your body also naturally starts to produce melatonin at the end of the day; a warm shower helps that process. The relaxation a warm shower brings can also signal to your body that it's time to sleep.
A warm shower can:
Help relax your muscles and ease tension in your body
Help improve circulation
Help clear your sinuses because of the steam, making it easier for you to breathe once you're trying to sleep
Can a cold shower before bed help you sleep?
Cold showers might not help you sleep better because of their stimulating qualities. Cold water elevates cortisol and norepinephrine levels in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that encourages people to be more awake, and consequently, cortisol levels in the body usually fall in preparation for sleep.
On the other hand, bathing in cold water might provide benefits that are unrelated to sleep. In an effort to decrease muscle soreness and tiredness, some athletes use cold water. People claim that taking a chilly shower improves their mood and increases blood flow, although not all of these advantages have been scientifically proven. Cold water immersion is also associated with improved metabolism and a stronger immune system
Should you have a shower before bed?
A night-time shower may assist your brain to send the signal that it’s time to go to sleep if it’s part of your bedtime routine. Showering at night ensures that you’ll be cleaner when you go to bed, which helps prevent sweat, dirt, and body oils from accumulating on your linens. Meaning you won't have to change your bed linen as much and it will have other positive effects on your hair and skin.
Hot vs. cold showers
Warm or hot showers at night help people sleep better. Athletes, on the other hand, may discover a cold shower can help reduce muscle stiffness, which might help enhance sleep by reducing discomfort.
Researchers are still working to pinpoint what time frame is best for a pre-bedtime shower. Most evidence seems to indicate that taking a shower one to two hours before bedtime gives the body enough time to reach the right temperature for sleep.
IF YOU’RE EXPERIENCING PERSISTENT DISRUPTIONS TO YOUR SLEEP, CONSULT WITH A PHARMACIST OR TRUSTED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.
Any advice provided in this content is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, health or needs. The information in this post is not intended to substitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be exclusively relied on to diagnose or manage a medical condition. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice we give you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on our advice or purchasing any over-the-counter sleep product.