Doctor finally settles the debate: Is it better to shower in the morning or the evening?
- Dr. Jason Singh from Virginia shared a TikTok about the best time to shower
- He said nighttime has more benefits, including promoting sleep
- READ MORE: Why You Don't Need to Shower Every Morning… Or Ever!
A doctor has determined the best time of day to shower.
Dr. Jason Singh, a primary care physician in Virginia, posted a video on TikTok this week discussing whether it's best to shower in the morning or at night.
About two-thirds of Americans report showering every day, but the best time of day is hotly debated.
Dr. However, Singh said evening showers reign supreme by improving sleep quality, flushing out pollutants and moisturizing dry skin.
However, morning showers can still remove dirt and promote better hygiene.
Dr. Jason Singh, a primary care physician in Virginia, posted a TikTok this week comparing the benefits of showering in the morning versus showering in the evening
More than two-thirds of Americans report showering every day, but there has been intense debate about whether it is better to do so in the morning rather than at night.
“Generally, nighttime showers have more benefits for them, but a morning shower actually has one benefit, and that is better hygiene,” Dr Singh said in the video, which has been viewed more than 688,000 times.
He said a hot shower triggers the production of melatonin, a hormone that tells the body it's time to sleep.
In the hours before bedtime, the body cools down naturally, which promotes sleep. Taking a hot shower and then drying off mimics that process.
“As you dry off, your body cools to the right temperature,” Dr. Singh said. “These two things, when combined, make for better sleep.”
A 2019 meta-analysis of 17 studies found that taking an evening shower between 104 and 108.5 degrees Fahrenheit led to better sleep quality.
Opting for a shower closer to bedtime can also help you feel cleaner before crawling under the covers. Showering at night helps wash away the dirt from the whole day, be it environmental pollutants, sweat or mysterious odors,” said Dr Singh.
In the morning, you're less likely to have as many germ-filled contaminants lurking in your skin.
People with dry skin or conditions such as acne and eczema may also benefit from getting clean at night.
Showering at night can promote the production of sleep hormone melatonin and keep the skin hydrated, Dr. Singh said.
These conditions strip the skin's natural moisture. Showering can help replenish that moisture, and those effects last longer overnight as skin cells then repair themselves.
'If you are prone to dry skin or sensitive skin, then showering at night is a better way to help hydrate your skin,' said Dr Singh.
However, a morning shower still has benefits. Even at night, the skin still collects bacteria and other germs as it sheds sweat and skin cells. Showering in the morning can still eliminate some of these contaminants, Dr. Singh said.
“We know that your body can accumulate certain germs, such as bacteria and fungi, through processes such as swearing and shedding of skin cells,” he said.
'The byproduct of this creates an odor, and so morning showers cleanse the bacteria and skin secretions that have built up, bringing the skin microbiome to a more hygienic base level. '