Is it Better to Have a Shower or a Bath?

It’s been a long-standing debate about whether or not having a shower is better than having a bath and vice-a-versa. Where each one, admittedly, comes with disadvantages, there’s actually far more to be gained by experiencing either one of them.

In summary, no one option is any better for the mind or body, but it might mean a change in energy and even water bills. In addition to that, it could also mean that you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint – a welcome change in a world where we’re dedicated to saving the planet.

So here are the benefits of having a shower and some advantages of having a bath instead.

7 benefits of having a shower over a bath

Showers offer different pros in comparison to having a bath. But the following benefits may sway you into taking more showers than baths. From being more eco-friendly to evidence that suggests an improvement in blood circulation, there’s a lot to be gained by choosing to have a shower over a bath. Other benefits are as follows:

1. Having a cold shower can help to improve the immune system

According to a study that was carried out in 2016, it might actually be possible for the immune system to be boosted if you take a hot-to-cold shower in the morning. The results of the study found that workers had fewer days off sick over the course of one year. Although, it’s actually the reduction in temperature that’s thought to be the driving force behind the health improvement, which is why so many people continue to shower in colder temperatures.

2. Showers can help to make the hair & skin glow

Showers can help to improve blood circulation, which we’ll get onto in a moment, but as a result of that, it boosts circulation under the skin, a process that’s known as vasoconstriction. This helps to make the skin look as though it’s glowing and the hair to look long, shiny and flowing, all thanks to the blood flow that occurs under the scalp. However, if the water in your area is particularly hard, it can have a negative effect on the hair and scalp, making it dry and prone to breakage; something that’s worth making a note of.

3. Showers can help to improve blood circulation

We’ve already discussed how taking hot-to-cold showers can improve the immune system, but there’s another way in which doing that can help and that’s boosting your blood circulation. This is because the hot water makes the blood rush to the skin, whereas cold temperatures will send the blood rushing to your internal organs. If you then switch back to having a hot shower, it will bring the blood back to the skin. This switch is what helps improve circulation of blood around the body, according to Active.

4. Showers are hygienic

It’s long been thought that having a shower over a bath is more hygienic, for the simple fact that you’re not sitting in “dirty” water, so to speak. The constant flow of clean water from a power shower rinses dirt, grease and dead skin cells off the skin and right down the drain. We’ve already discussed the benefits it can have for the skin, but it’s boosted even more by the fact that your natural skin oils won’t be stripped off by things like shampoo and conditioner as they’ll rinse right off.

5. Showers are easy to clean & maintain

Showers, depending on the set up you have, often just consist of a cubicle and a shower tray. This makes cleaning the shower far easier and more straightforward. It would also be more simple to maintain as there will be fewer parts that could become damaged or may need to be replaced as time goes on, mainly due to wear and tear. Showers are something to be considered if you find you’re always pushed for time when it comes to cleaning the home.

6. Having a shower is better for the environment

There’s a lot to be said for having a shower over a bath. This is because baths take on a lot of water, especially if they’re deep. Having a quick 5-minute shower over washing in a full bath of water is, by far, the more eco-friendly option. To put that into perspective, a bath can take up to 80 litres of water, whereas a shower that only lasts a few minutes will use around half of that.

7. Showers supply a consistent temperature

Unlike a bath, the water temperature will remain somewhat the same. You’ll also be able to adjust it as and when needed. With a bath, you’ll have to keep adding hot and then cold water to regulate the temperature, something that’s much harder than simply turning a knob in the wall to the desired setting and leaving it there until you’re done. You’ll also find that, in turn, it won’t take as long for you to get clean.

7 benefits of having a bath over a shower

There might be people who do not have a shower or maybe you simply prefer to have a bath instead of a shower. Either way, just as there are advantages to having a shower, there are pros to choosing to have a bath instead. Just in case you needed some more encouragement to give a bath a go, here are some benefits to having a shower over a bath:

1. Baths can soothe inflammation & sore muscles

A lot of sportspeople will choose to have a bath after their chosen activity and it’s easy to see why. The heat of the water will help to soothe sore muscles by making them relax rather than contract, especially with the addition of epsom salts. You’ll find that, after having a bath, your muscles will feel less sore the morning after if you’ve been working out beforehand, according to Medical News Today. Alternatively, a bath can help to soothe inflammation, particularly with conditions such as eczema and even psoriasis.

2. Baths could help to delay the ageing process

Aptly, the University of Bath claimed that a bath can help to prevent the muscles from ageing. But just as it can help to reduce inflammation caused by eczema, it can even help to reduce the effects of the condition, making the skin look younger and more healthy. Having a bath can also help to reduce stress, which is another reason why having a bath could delay the ageing process. Stress causes the body to release a hormone called Cortisol which actually causes things like acne and breakouts, but it can also induce premature ageing. Having a bath can help to keep this hormone at bay.

3. Baths help to relax the body & mind

TubYoga claims that increasing the temperature of the body improves circulation, calms the nervous system, releases endorphins and even detoxifies the body in some cases. The aforementioned endorphins are great for the body and the mind because they cause us to feel good. This helps to alleviate stress that’s experienced throughout the day. Add a few candles and essential oils to your bath for the ultimate relaxing bath.

4. Baths are good for heart health

A study by the National Library of Medicine found that having a bath actually helps to lower blood pressure which, in turn, reduces the stress of the heart and cardiovascular system as a whole. In addition to lowering blood pressure, it was also found that baths can help the heart in the following ways:

• Decreased arterial stiffness
• Increased blood vessel dilation
• Reduced stress levels

5. Baths do wonders for the skin

Just like showers, having a bath can help to improve the appearance of the skin. The hot temperature causes the blood to rise to the skin and it’ll stay there until you get out of the bath and your temperature reduces back down to that of the room. However, unless you moisturise the skin after having a bath, the water alone can actually dry out the skin once you dry. What you should do to help make the skin glow and feel soft and smooth after having a bath is to put additives into the water, such as:

• Essential oils
• Oatmeal
• Honey
• Mineral salts
• Bath bombs
• Bath soaks

6. Baths can help cure colds & flu

A nice warm bath can help to relieve the symptoms of cold and flu. This is because the steam can help to unblock noses and clear the airways, making it easier for you to breathe in and out. It can also help to break a fever, if you have one, as well as relax and soothe sore muscles that have derived from more severe types of cold and flu.

7. Baths are just as clean as showers

It’s long been thought that having a bath isn’t as clean as having a shower, but you’d actually be mistaken. According to Hygiene Expert, the only scenario that would make having a shower more hygienic than having a bath would be if you were particularly dirty or sweaty, such as after a workout or if you’ve been gardening. Other than that, you’re simply washing off everyday dirt and debris as you would in a shower.