Should you shower -in the morning or in the evening? The microbiologist reveals a “clear answer”

Are you a sunrise soap or sleeping hour swimmer?

It is the final hygiene debate, and the North -Americans are deeply divided. A survey of 2022 Sleep Foundation found that 42% of adults begin their day with a refreshing rinse, while 25% hoped to wash -before hitting the hay.

But according to Dr. Primrose Freestone, a senior professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, there is a “clear response” in this slippery confrontation when maintaining bacteria, dust mites and other little desired beds.

But first: What are the benefits of shower?

The shower is an essential part of any good hygiene routine, with two thirds of Americans who make it a daily habit.

When you shower, you wash dirt, sweat and dead skin cells that naturally accumulate in your body. This is crucial to stay clean and stop the accumulation of bacteria, which can cause infections and body smell.

The usual showers also help keep pores clear, reducing the possibilities of outbreaks and other skin problems.

Experts say the bathroom can also make wonders for your mental health. The shower can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by releasing hormones that increase mood, relieving muscle tension and soothing the nervous system.

In addition, let’s be honest, feel clean and well careful, can provide a momentum of trust, helping to improve general self-esteem.

Soap wars

People have strong opinions about the right time to rinse.

Morning shower faithful swear is the best way to wake up and start the clean day, while night devotees argue that scrubbing dirt and dirt is key to end before bed.

But there is a surprise player in this debate: your sheets.

According to Freestone, the body and hair collect a mixture of pollutants, allergens, sweat and oil throughout the day, which feed bacteria that can alter the natural microbiome of the skin.

Night deposits argue that it rinses before the bed helps to eliminate all the accumulation before it ends in the sheets. But Freestone warned that you will still sweat during the night, no matter how much your bedroom is.

“Skin microbes will eat nutrients in this sweat,” Freestone wrote in the conversation this week. “This means that in the morning you have deposited the microbes on your bed sheets and probably you will also wake up with a little good.”

Things get worse if you do not keep your clothes clean. The dirty sheets can transfer those microbes that cause smells just to the freshly rubbed body while sleeping, he pointed.

The shower at night also does not stop the body from seeing the skin. The average person loses approximately one and a half grams of dead skin cells a day, which is almost half a teaspoon of flakes, according to Dr. Alak Vij, dermatologist.

“Any type of friction comes from the outer layer of skin cells,” Cleveland Clinic Health Essential, “so it is a lot when it is in contact with sheets in bed at night.”

These flakes can accumulate in their bedding and become a buffet for the dust mites of the house. Microscopic pests feed mainly on dead skin and reproduce rapidly. Although they do not bite, their feces may trigger irritation of the skin and make allergy or symptoms of asthma worse.

“A morning shower suggests that the body will be cleaner of the microbes of the skin purchased at night when we put fresh clothes,” Freestone wrote.

“You will also start the day with less sweat to produce smells for nourishment, which will probably help you smell cooler during the day compared to someone showering at night,” he added.

At the end of the day, whether you shower in the morning or at night it is a matter of personal preference. But Freestone emphasized that one thing is not negotiable: to regularly clean the bedding.

The SLEEP Foundation recommends washing sheets and pillowcases at least once a week, although you may have to do so often in the warmer months, when you are likely to sweat more at night.

For some, washing bedding is more often essential. If you have pets, especially if they share the bed, it is recommended to wash every three or four days.

If you suffer from allergies or asthma, it is worth increasing the frequency to see if it helps to relieve the symptoms.