Are Hot Showers Bad For You?
Short answer
Hot showers can be great for your health, just don’t be in there too long.
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Not only does a quick hot shower feel amazing, it’s also very beneficial to your overall health, muscles and mood. Let’s first talk about the reasons why it’s good for you.
First of all, a good hot shower is a natural stress reliever. It relaxes your body, mind, nerves and relieves tension so that you can get a more restful night’s sleep. Studies have shown that a hot shower can also increase oxytocin (“the love hormone”) in your body and therefore ease anxiety.
Enjoy a hot shower like a nice gentle massage to circulate blood flow and loosen up your stiff muscles. If you take a shower before you exercise in the morning this will warm up your muscles to get a better workout. If you’ve got a stiff neck, shoulders, or back, let the hot water run down that area for about 10 minutes to relieve the tension.
A hot steamy shower opens up your pores cleaning out toxins and removing impurities from the skin which helps prevent acne. Follow it up by rinsing with cold water to close up the pores and refresh the skin.
Hot showers are great for getting over cold symptoms. Steam acts as a decongestant that moisturizes your nasal passages and helps get rid of mucus and phlegm that can cause coughing and a sore throat.
Some people live for a good long hot shower. But can they be bad for you?
Yes, exposing your skin to hot water for a long period of time can severely dry it out. The heat from the water strips away the skin’s oil barrier taking away its natural moisture and its defense against dryness and irritants. Granted this oil barrier is where all the dirt and sweat is trapped, so we want to clean it off, scalding off all the oil on your skin isn’t necessary. This could lead to worsened skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dandruff.
Just like your skin, your scalp needs to stay hydrated, too, and hot water can do just the opposite. Cool water rinsed over the scalp closes the hair cuticle keeping the moisture in and increasing the shine of your hair. If you already have an itchy irritated scalp, it’s better to wash with cold water.
Possible short-term side effects
- if in the shower for too long:
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itchy dry skin
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dry scalp
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moisture depletion
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worsened skin conditions
Benefits
- relieves stress
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relaxes body, mind and nerves
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relieves tension in muscles and joints
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promotes good sleep
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decreases anxiety
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circulates blood flow
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warms up muscles for a workout
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cleanses pores
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relives cold symptoms
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Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Aubrie Robinson
Published on: 05-19-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Aubrie Robinson
Published on: 05-19-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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