By Lakshana N Palat
Copyright gulfnews
You’ve probably debated whether it’s better to be a morning person or a night owl among your friends and family, and maybe lost a few arguments over it. But there’s another divisive question that sparks just as much passion: When’s the right time to shower? Morning or night?Some people swear by the energising power of a morning rinse. Others won’t so much as touch their bedsheets unless they’re clean first. So, is there a scientifically proven ‘best’ time? Spoiler alert: No. There’s no definitive answer for the global population on whether to take an evening vs. morning shower, as dermatologists note. But for each individual, there tends to be a right answer. And it’s all based on preference.Still, knowing what morning and evening showers do for your skin, scalp, and even your mood can help you figure out which team you belong to. We spoke to Dr Vimi Ponnamparambath, Specialist Dermatology & Cosmetology, Aster Clinic, Al Warqa, to help us detangle this confusion. For starters, regardless of the time: It’s a full-on sensory takeover — sight, sound, touch, smell, even taste. You feel the cool rush of water on your skin, the air almost has a flavour to it, and there’s a scents drifting around you. Put all those sensations together, and it’s no wonder you instantly feel calmer and more at ease..The case for morning showersIf you’re someone who hits snooze four times before dragging yourself out of bed, the morning shower might just be your answer.It wakes you up. There’s nothing like standing under a stream of water to shake off that groggy, just-woke-up haze. A morning shower can boost alertness and make you feel fresh before you face the world.It gets rid of bed funk. Your bed is a cosy place — but it’s also where sweat, bacteria, and skin cells accumulate overnight. A quick shower rinses all that off so you’re stepping into the day feeling fresh, not funky.It preps your skin for skincare. Morning showers are perfect for washing away leftover makeup or skincare products from the night before, so your serums and sunscreen go on smooth.Bye-bye, bedhead. Your scalp produces natural oils overnight that can flatten or mat your hair. Morning showers give you a chance to start the day with bouncy, style-ready strands..The case for evening showersThen again, there’s nothing quite like washing the day off before sinking into your pillow.You go to bed clean. Evening showers rinse away sweat, dirt, environmental pollutants, and sunscreen, so you’re not dragging all that grime into bed with you.It can help you sleep better. Showering before bed can signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down. The drop in body temperature after a warm shower can also help you drift off faster.It’s a reset button. After a long day, a night shower can be pure therapy. Plus, your sheets will stay cleaner longer — a win-win if laundry day keeps getting postponed..But what matters more than timingWater is comforting. Soothing. And, it just relaxes you. Amarylis Harris, a Dubai-based psychologist had explained it to us, as ‘neuroception’. “It is the unconscious process of registering signals of safety and danger in our environment from a variety of perceptual cues that include stimulus from what we see and hear. Water can create soothing sounds. This experience is so strong as to be effective when no water is present, for example, when utilised in audio recordings of water to support relaxation and sleep. “Rhythmic sounds produce a physiological soothing response, like the effect of the rhythmic noises, produced in a lowered tone, parents instinctively make for their babies when easing distress,” she adds.It’s in tandem with what Dr Vimi Ponnamparambath, Specialist Dermatology & Cosmetology, Aster Clinic, Al Warqa, tells us: The focus should be less on whether you shower at dawn or dusk — and more on why you’re showering in the first place.“Our skin and scalp are exposed to sweat, oil, pollution, and bacteria daily. But the need to shower should be guided by your activity level, particularly whether or not you’ve exercised,” she says.And here’s the big one: Don’t skip a shower after a workout.“When you work out, sweat activates the apocrine glands, found in areas like the armpits and groin. These glands produce a lipid-rich secretion that, when mixed with bacteria on the skin, leads to body odor,” explains Dr. Vimi. “That’s why it’s crucial to shower after any workout, regardless of whether it’s morning or evening, to maintain good hygiene and prevent clogged pores or irritation.”In other words: post-gym selfies can wait — hit the shower first..Is the gym grind hiding a male body image struggle? Why the pressure to bulk up harms men.Perimenopause isn’t just ‘hot flashes’—how hormones disrupt women’s lives and why support is crucial .Why you might be ‘quietly cracking’ at work: UAE experts explain this dangerous burnout and how to fix it.Do you feel invisible at work? How to fight the office loneliness
