As summer temperatures soar, many people struggle to find ways to cool down before bed, and a cold shower may seem like the perfect solution. However, an expert warns that this could actually make things worse.
For those lying awake in the heat, unable to sleep, the discomfort can feel unbearable. Despite the best efforts with fans and cooling methods, the internal heat seems to be the real culprit. But before you hop into a cold shower, think twice.
Ashley Hainsworth, a bed furnishings expert from Bed Kingdom in the UK, suggests that a lukewarm or cold shower may not be the best way to cool off and may even backfire. Instead, she advocates for a surprising solution: taking a hot shower before bed.
According to Hainsworth, a warm shower can help regulate your body temperature and promote better sleep by signaling to your body that it’s time to wind down.
Taking a cold shower is not recommended on a hot day (Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty)
Ashley shared that ’if you’re already feeling cool and refreshed when getting into bed, it’ll be easier to fall asleep’, and while a ‘cool or lukewarm shower may seem like the obvious choice, they can be stimulating and may keep you energised for longer, preventing a good sleep’.
So, the cold water will actually work against you as it’ll boost your energy and keep you up at night.
The founder of Ocean Skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan Beach, California, also talked about cold showers being a source of energy after she was invited on Huffington Post’s Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast.
“Should you be taking a hot shower? No. Ideally, you should be taking a cold one,” Dr Shokeen explained.
“I actually went down a huge rabbit hole on PubMed [National Library of Medicine in the US], which is basically a scientific database that goes through all these articles, [and I found studies that show] a cold shower not only invigorates you more, it helps with hair follicles, it helps with hair growth, it helps with skin rejuvenation, with blood vessel dilation – it’s awesome for you.”
Hot or warm showers on the other hand can help your body to cool down as you’ll release more heat through your hands and feet, lowing your core body temperature so you can snooze easier.
Ashley also shared that instead of a shower, a bath could be the perfect way to cool down and relax after a hot day.
It’ll also help to wash away the sweat and oil, making you feel relaxed and as clean as a whistle.
You can also sleep better if you have hay fever by taking a nice bath or shower as it’ll also wash away any pollen that has landed on you throughout the day.
It can make you feel too energized to sleep (boonchai wedmakawand / getty)
If you want to really take it to the next level? Try these other tips she shared as per the Liverpool Echo.
She explained that wearing chilled socks can cool down your overall body temperature as foot vessels divert heat from the body.
Ashley said: “If you feel hot throughout the day, putting your socks in the fridge a few hours before bed and wearing them while you sleep may help cool you down – especially if you’re someone who is already used to the sensation of wearing socks in bed.”
She also suggests wearing loose clothing at night that are made from natural fabrics, or tight or synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester, can make you sweat because they don’t allow you to breathe.
If you’ve got a moo moo, it’s time to throw it on tonight!
You could also put your pillowcase in the freezer in a sealed bag for half an hour before you go to bed so that it’s chilled and nice to sleep on.
Or drink lots of water in the day so that your body temperature is regulated and you won’t become dehydrated when you sweat out fluids.
Just don’t take a cold shower.