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- Both morning and evening showers offer benefits.
- Morning showers can help increase energy and boost circulation.
- Evening showers can promote sleep by helping you relax.
Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? It’s a question that’s probably crossed your mind at some point—and the truth is actually more complicated than you might think.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all answer,” Hannah Kopelman, DO, a board-certified dermatologist and host of the podcast Derm Club, told Health. Both options have pros and cons for your body, so the decision ultimately comes to preference and priorities.
Morning Showers Are Helpful for Energy, Hair, and More
Starting your day with a shower offers a range of perks, a major one being some pep in your step—a Sleep Foundation survey found that 73% of people say they feel refreshed or energized after showering in the morning. That rejuvenated feeling likely stems from the increase in alertness and circulation that an a.m. shower can bring, Kopelman said. A morning wash also rinses away sweat that may have accumulated overnight, leaving you feeling fresher.
Beyond providing a potential energy boost, research suggests morning showers may offer health benefits, especially if the water is on the cooler side. Cold morning showers have been linked to reduced inflammation, and pain relief. On the flip side, hot showers—which you might be more likely to have before bed—can deplete your skin’s oils and leave it dry and itchy.
A morning shower can also benefit your skin by helping to tamp down on puffiness—and it might also benefit your hair, too, Kopelman said. According to her, going to bed with wet hair can cause breakage due to friction or even irritation and fungal growth on the scalp.
Evening Showers Promote Sleep and Skin Health
Meanwhile, evening showers come with their own benefits. While a morning shower can perk you up, a warm evening shower can help you relax, dropping your body temperature and signaling to your brain that it’s time to decompress, said Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and global dermatology innovator at Anna Chacon MD.
Another major benefit is that you get to rinse away the dirt and debris that have accumulated from the day. Not only can it feel more comfortable to climb into bed when you’re clean, but washing away sunscreen, makeup, pollution, and other residue promotes skin hygiene and reduces the risk of irritation and breakouts, said Anna Andrienko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Dr. Ducu Clinics. While many people who take morning showers still wash their face at night, that doesn’t necessarily help the rest of the body.
Your skin also repairs itself overnight, so applying moisturizer after an evening shower can support your skin health by helping seal in moisture and keeping your skin hydrated, Chacon added.
What To Consider When Deciding
Deciding between morning and evening showers means examining your lifestyle, schedule, and goals.
If you tend to have more time in the evening or you want to promote sleep and skin health, showering at night may be best. But if you have trouble getting going in the morning, a morning shower may be what you need.
Regardless of which one you prefer, Andrienko said that showering after exercise is crucial. Sweat mixed with bacteria can clog pores and increase breakouts or irritation, especially on the back or chest.
Read the original article on Health
