Health Problem Fact

Night bath bad for health

Many people feel that taking a shower at night will restore their spirit and endurance. But others think it is harmful to the body and may lead to illnesses. While there is no scientific proof for this, there are dos and don’ts various hazards             

Decades ago, people had to go to wells and rivers to bathe. Old folk advised against bathing at night as it posed various hazards, such as poisonous creatures.

IS  taking a shower at night  bad for the health. Many Malaysians, apparently, think so.

But how true is the perception? What does the medical fraternity say?

Dr Anies Tan, who works at a private hospital, says research shows that taking a bath helps to ease  stress levels.

She says showering plays an important role in improving the health of the immune system apart from helping to ward off skin diseases like eczema and other health and medical problems.

"Most chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, renal failure and cardiovascular problems, are caused by failure of the body's system and our lifestyle.

"There is no (medical) evidence that says having a bath at night can lead to these diseases."

Dr Tan says a warm water bath opens pores that can help remove toxins from the body.

"A warm bath can heal sore muscles and helps keep the colon working properly.

"However, if you experience stress, a cold shower would be the right answer."

But what about taking a bath at night?

In a tropical country where the climate is hot and humid, taking a bath at night poses no problems, she says.

"Unless you are suffering from pneumonia and living in a  country where there is winter, then showering  at night is good, as a bath will help to get rid of bacteria and virus from the skin.

"Taking a bath is good for healthy living.

"Even in hospital wards, patients who can walk and   bathe are encouraged to shower."

She says  failure to take regular showers, including at night, can cause  skin disease apart from creating body odour.

"Bacteria can act on the perspiration and sweat on our bodies, thus creating an odour," she says, adding that the fresh feeling that comes from taking a bath will make the  body become healthier, as showering also removes certain bad bacteria that live in the skin.

"It will be better if we use antibacterial soaps and body wash," she says, adding that the same principle applies to handwashing.

"It is hygienic if you wash your hands regularly, particularly before eating.

"The same principle applies to taking baths, including  at night," she says.

Eczema is a chronic skin disorder that results in dry, easily irritated, itchy skin.

There is no cure for eczema, but good daily skin care is essential in controlling the disease.

"When your skin is dry, it is not because it lacks  oil, but because it fails to retain water.

"For this reason, good daily skin care that focuses on the basics of bathing and moisturising is essential."

Dr Tan says the most important treatment for dry skin is to put water back in it and the best way to do this is to briefly soak in a bath or shower and to moisturise immediately afterwards.

"The goal of bathing and moisturising is to help heal the skin. To repair the skin, we need to reduce water loss.

"Some dermatologists recommend that you perform your bathing and moisturising regime at night just before going to bed.

"You are unlikely to dry out or irritate your skin while sleeping, so water can be more thoroughly absorbed into your skin."

There are many people who find taking a bath regularly a difficult task.

There are reasons for this. Among them is a  tight job schedule or being far away from home.

Homeopathy practitioner Hassan Saidin says a tight job schedule is one of the main reasons why many traders and businessmen fail to take baths regularly.

He says many traders usually go to work early in the morning and they come home very late at night.

This makes many of them go to sleep to restore their energy for the next day, rather than  take their bath first.

"Failing to take regular baths, including at night, is bad for our health.

"If we don't bathe regularly, we will experience many illnesses.

"Problems like skin irritations will affect our performance and our confidence."

But why do some elderly people advise against taking a shower at night?

"Such advice is not relevant today. Decades ago, many people stayed in rural areas with houses at that time not having piped water.

"Many who lived in the rural areas had to go outdoors and used wells and rivers to bathe.

"Of course, going to wells and rivers at night with no lights and only darkness posed various hazards, such as poisonous creatures.

"That could be the reason why elderly folk advise the young against taking baths at night.

The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad