On the whole, a bath should last no longer than 30 minutes on the high end. The normal average is anywhere between 15-30 minutes, with prolonged exposure causing severe dry skin which leads to agitation, irritation and promotes bacteria growth, which carries a multitude of health risks.
You're soaking for too long
If you're taking hour-long baths, you might want to cut down you time... a lot. "When taking a bath, you should try to limit it to 15 minutes," Dr. Chimento says.
Jeffery Fromowitz, a dermatologist in Florida, who explained what happens when you lounge in the bath for too long. ""In essence, prolonged immersion in water supersaturates the skin and can lead to skin breakdown," Dr. Fromowitz said. If this is starting to sound like a sci-fi horror film, just stay with us.
The latest research indicates that the body gains the maximum benefit of warm water therapy within 20 minutes. The health benefits of taking a 20 minute soak include lower blood pressure, and weight loss among other things.
But according to a recent study, one hour of soaking in a hot bath (104 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact) burned as many calories as half an hour of walking. We won't even begin to suggest this is a good substitute for exercise, but that's a pretty nice bonus for taking a hot bath. Lower your blood sugar.
The Sleep Medicine Reviews research also found that bathing one to two hours before going to bed is good for our "temperature circadian rhythm" because it helps us fall asleep faster and improves our sleep quality.
Jeffery Fromowitz, a dermatologist in Florida, who explained what happens when you lounge in the bath for too long. “”In essence, prolonged immersion in water supersaturates the skin and can lead to skin breakdown,” Dr. Fromowitz said. If this is starting to sound like a sci-fi horror film, just stay with us.
"If we are getting nit-picky, a shower offers a better opportunity for cleanliness as the water is running down the skin and into the drain. But any dirt or debris is diluted in a bath and if it offers psychological benefit this outweighs any real difference between the two."
If you're adding oils into the bathwater, you may want to shower afterwards to rinse the skin. Likewise if you've been exercising and are hot and sweaty or wear a lot of make-up a shower is likely to be more hygienic because you will be rinsing the sweat, dirt and makeup away rather than sitting in it," he says.
A quick post-bath rinse can be a good idea.
But it's not a bad idea to give your skin a quick rinse after to make sure you get off all the soap (and any residual dirt, salt, or oil it's clinging to).
Don't take a bath every day: Daily baths can dry out your skin by ridding your body of its natural oils. Try for baths no more than twice a week. Shower between bath days. Use warm (not hot) water: Some people may experience dizziness or weakness when the temperature is too hot.
Tons of bacteria live in our showers, tubs, toilets, and sinks. According to the Global Hygiene Study, your bathtub is filled with bacterias like E. Coli, Streptococcus, and staph aureus. However, both bathing and showering expose you to those bacterias (plus, shower curtains contain lots more.)
“Showers are usually better for cleansing your body and getting rid of bacteria and dirt,” he says. “At the same time, baths are great for stimulating the nervous system, exfoliating the skin, and relaxing the muscles.”
Baths Are Just As Clean As Showers
A lot of people feel that baths are somehow "dirtier" than showers since the water isn't draining, but this actually isn't true. According to Hygiene Expert, showers are better than baths only when you're dirty or sweaty from being outdoors or exercising.
Bathing is a private act; it is a sign of a strong and comfortable relationship. When you bath together with your partner, it shows total intimacy, it is something you would not do with someone you are not close to. It gives you the chance to build trust in your relationship and be comfortable with your spouse.
Women take longer showers, but men shower more frequently. Overall, the average length of time in the shower has decreased by more than 50 percent from 2009. Average shower time now clocks in at 6.8 minutes, versus 13 minutes then.
While 20mins of cold water doesn't harm your skin, 20 mins of hot water may give you dry skin. Your skin may feel tight and itchy if you shower in hot water for long periods frequently.
Nearly two thirds of people (65%) take a bath that lasts between 10 minutes and half an hour. Longer baths are a preserve of the young – about two thirds of people aged 50 or over have a bath lasting between 10 and 20 minutes compared to just a little over four in ten people aged 49 or younger.
It found that hot baths can bring about certain similar health benefits to those of aerobic exercise. Heat therapies, including time in a hot tub, can raise core body temperature and improve blood flow, which can lower blood pressure, control blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
Bathing advice for children over the age of 11 (or when puberty starts) Once puberty hits, daily showering is essential due to new hormones flowing through the body bringing along unwanted body odor and acne. Your child should also wash their face twice a day with a gentle noncomedogenic face wash.
And now, we have another reason to add some R & R to our agendas, thanks to research from Loughborough University published in the journal Temperature: Relaxing in a hot bath can burn as many calories as a 30-minute walk, about 140 calories.