Both showers and baths clean the body. Yet, some people believe that showers are more hygienic than baths. Others believe it is the opposite. The ongoing debate still leaves the question open. So, shower vs bath: which cleans you better?
It’s common for people to think that showering cleans better than bathing because the water flows straight to the drain. This is undeniably a good point. However, this should not make you think that bathing would not clean the body. In most cases, baths are more than enough.
While you can’t help people choose their own ways to improve sanitation at home, especially with today’s national health at risk, you should know that both baths and showers clean the body. The question should be when to bathe instead of taking a shower and vice versa.
When Are Showers Better Than Baths?
Since the water constantly flows together with the dirt that you washed off, it is better to take a shower than a bath after too much exposure to pollution, sweat, and dirt. For example, it is better to take a shower after a workout session, playing sports outside, or doing some heavy construction.
While you can’t enjoy your favorite fragrance oils and bath bombs when you shower, there still are different ways to enjoy showers and its benefits. For example, you can be creative with the type of showerhead you use and benefit from hydrotherapy.
This therapeutic use of water helps improve the circulation of blood in the body. With good circulation, you avoid developing varicose veins and high blood pressure.
When Are Baths Better than Showers?
When it comes to the cleaning effects, showers are the best approach. However, baths perhaps have as many advantages as showering. Examples are they soothe body sores, help alleviate skin allergy symptoms, and revitalize your mood.
On the other hand, it is also biased to think that baths are not hygienic at all. Baths do clean the body, and people are not as dirty most of the time. If you are going to clean yourself after a regular day, bathing is already a great way to remove dirt and odor.
Hot Baths Open the Pores
Also, hot baths open the pores and release trapped dirt, thus making your skin cleaner. You can add essential oils and moisturizers that help nourish the skin with baths, something you cannot do with showers.
Still, remember that hot baths should be at a healthy temperature or they would do more harm than good. Water that is too hot washes away natural oils and leaves the skin dry and flaky.
When Too Clean Is Not Healthy
Are you still confused about which way to go? If it is only because you are worried about not removing all the dirt from the body, then please don’t be.
Dirt and the Immune System
According to Harvard Health Publishing, dirt, pollutants, and normal microorganisms are important because they help stimulate the immune system. These environmental exposures help the immune system develop protective antibodies and improve immune memory.
Do you ever wonder why many pediatricians discourage daily baths for kids? This is one explanation for that. So if you worry that bathing is not enough to clean the skin, then you should be worried more about how too much cleaning can be bad for your health.
Too frequent showers and baths, especially with hot water, do not only make the skin dry. They can also weaken the immune system and make you catch diseases easily.
Conclusion
Showers and baths are effective ways to clean the body. For regular days, baths are already enough to wash off the dirt. For body odor and too much dirt though, you should opt for a shower. Yet, in general, choosing between showering and bathing is a matter of personal preference.