It is a personal preference as to what is better a bath or a shower. Showers tend to be faster, more convenient and use less water, so are their benefits to a bath?

Bathing in water that is too warm can cause heat stress to the body, where your internal organs cannot regulate themselves, and this can be bad for the heart, which may make showers a more viable option for those with heart conditions.

Since a shower drains away waste water and any dirt washed off of the body, some argue that a shower is more hygienic. There is truth to this for those who have just returned from a workout. Some believe a shower will get your hair cleaner, which also has some truth to it, as there is greater water pressure in a shower than a bath. By the same token, since your skin is not resting in the suds of used products, there is also a valid point that a shower is softer and therefore better for the skin.

So what, if any, are the benefits of bathing? Well they are largely psychological, and occasionally can be targeted at a specific medical concern. There are six benefits to a warm bath: 1) being horizontal in water helps your mood 2) baths can help with skin conditions, such as psoriasis 3) bath heat can help with muscle pain 4) a bath before bed helps with sleep – it helps the body produce melatonin 5) steam helps to reduce cold symptoms 6) a bath can help calm chronic pain – such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or muscular pain, the calming benefits are increased by adding salt, even regular table salt 7) a detox bath can aid in weight loss. Adding epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, or baking soda to a warm bath helps to detoxify the skin and body, which aids in weight loss.

A lot of pharmaceutical and skincare companies know these facts and have their own brands of bathing products. For people who suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), or women who suffer from yeast infections, the ingredients in some products may irritate these conditions. Even if these are not recurrent or persistent concerns, problems such as UTIs and yeast infections may suddenly present themselves, if this happens the first thing to do should be to check your bathing routine and the ingredients of your products.

Some of the worst offenders for these concerns are bubble baths, shower gels/body wash, and even shampoos. The “dirty dozen” are the worst offenders as they are often endocrine disruptors and can cause cancer, in addition to being bad for fish and wildlife. Anything that disturbs the PH balance of the body, either from the dirty dozen or any other fragrance or dye, can cause an infection, either immediately or eventually.
Although the conclusion to this is still that the bath shower debate is a personal choice, the underlying theme is that it is important to check the ingredients that make up your bathroom products and skincare routine. The advice is to use all natural products for the benefit of the bather and the environment.