Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of I Heart Radio, Hey brain Stuff Lauren vog O bomb Here. An informal poll conducted by the author of the article that this episode is based on found wide ranging opinions on the day versus evening shower. Some people can't get through the day without starting it with a good scrub down, whereas others simply can't settle in for the night unless they're squeaky clean. Then there are those who prefer to go
with the flow based on schedule and exercise habits. All of these conflicting opinions made us wonder whether one time of day is actually superior to another for the purpose of showering. Often, the answer to such a seemingly innocuous question isn't as simple as one would think. Let's look at it from a few different angles. First, there's the
sleep factor. Although many people prefer a morning shower to help them wake up, the evening shower is actually a valuable tool for winding down at night, particularly for those with sleep problems. For the aforementioned article that this episode is based on, how Stuff Works, spoke with Bill Fish, a certified sleep science coach with Tuck dot Com, who noted that the human body thrives on structure and routine.
He said, if we are looking at showering strictly from a sleep perspective, there's no question that someone should be showering at night versus in the morning. Indeed, research has shown that a soothing, warm bath or shower before bedtime raises the body temperature enough to set the tone for a good night's sleep. Raising your body temperature and then
allowing it to cool seems to hasten sleep. A fish said, if you make it a point to shower roughly thirty minutes prior to going to sleep each night, your body will begin to know that the sleep ritual has begun, and you will begin to naturally feel sleepy after your nightly shower. On the other hand, a regular morning shower could be a must for people who need an extra jolt to get going. How Stuff Works also spoke by
email with psychiatrist Dr Damien Jacob Sendler. He said research shows that there is a positive aspect of water in improving our ability to become awake faster. Showering in the morning is refreshing and makes us feel clean and ready for the day, and something to pay attention to if we want to boost our confidence. The verdict evening showers are best for people with sleep problems, but if you sleep well and need it to feel alert in the morning,
there's no harm in showering when you rise. But what about dermatologically speaking, in the skin sense, there's not much difference between morning and nighttime showers, though experts note that getting good sleep is good for the skin. Some people prefer to wash the grime and allergens of the day away before hitting the hay, and this is a great strategy for people who experience allergies and asthma. As pre bedtime showering removes pollen and other allergens from the hair
and skin. However, morning exercisers often smartly shower before heading off to work. The feeling, not to mention smell of dried sweat is anything but comfortable, So the skin verdict shower whenever you feel like it, because your skin won't know the difference, but when you do may affect your sleep and confidence as discussed above. Finally, let's consider hair once again. The morning versus night debate must take into
account specific characteristics of an individual's hair. The people with fine or oily hair are generally advised to wash up in the morning, otherwise hair could appear flat, dull, and
possibly greasy. On the other hand, people with thicker hair can really choose either time depending on the style they seek, but many do opt to shower at night in order to skip the heated tools, which can damage hair if used too often, or their hair may be naturally on the dry side and doesn't need to be shampooed more than once a week. And don't forget about your scalp health.
If you wash your hair at night, it's best to make sure it's totally dry before turning in because the prolonged moisture can cause microbes to build, potentially resulting in dan druff or other scalp irritations. So the hair verdict people with fine hair should shower in the morning. Otherwise, do whatever suits your schedule and style. A few people, of course, hedge their bets in shower both in the
morning and the evening. Dermatologist Dr Gary Goldenberg told The New York Times this was fine as long as the showers are short and you don't have a skin condition like eczema or dermatitis. Today's episode is based on the article morning versus Evening Showers discussed on how stuff works
dot Com, written by Leo Hoyt. Brain Stuff is production of by Heart Radio in partnership with how stuff Works dot Com and is produced by Tyler clang Or More podcasts my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows,