After a long and arduous day, nothing could be more indulgent than a comforting, hot shower. But, have you ever wondered: how hot should a hot shower be?
There is no absolute rule for how hot a shower should be, but most dermatologists recommend keeping the temperature at an average of 98°F (37°C) to 101°F (38.3°C) or no more than 105 °F (41°C). In fact, according to Sejal Shah M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, she believes that the ideal shower temperature for the skin is above lukewarm. This is so to avoid risking your skin’s health.
Apart from a satisfying sensation, a warm shower at the right temperature is also good for us in many ways. Let us walk you through the benefits of a warm shower at the right temperature:
As featured by Quora, Women’s Health Mag and Skin Vision, shower temperatures below 105°F (41°C) are said to be the most suitable temperatures to relax, refresh and relieve your skin contractures.
Believe it or not, but this shower temperature affects the appearance of your skin. In fact, a warm shower that is neither too cold nor too hot water can help your skin to be more hydrated, balanced and smoothened with closed pores. It also replenishes the natural oils you have scrubbed or steamed off, moisturizes your skin and shows off a fresh and white glowing skin.
According to Carl Thornfeldt MD, a dermatologist with 30 years of skin research experience, this temperature range also strengthens the contractile fibers around pores, muscles, and hairs, which improves the firmness of our skin and enhances our skin’s ability to both constrict and dilate, strengthening its ability to respond to injury.
According to New Scientist’s study on depression, this shower temperature range has a greater effect on one’s mind than physical exercise. This is because taking a regular warm bath is often associated to a moderate but persistent lift in mood among people with depression.
Further on the study, researchers at the University of Freiburg in Germany assigned 45 people with depression to either soak in 104°F (40°C) water for up to 30 minutes or take 40 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a week. Eight weeks later, those taking regular warm baths scored six points lower on a commonly used depression scale, while the exercise group scored three points lower on average.
If you are experiencing some mood swings or going through a difficult time recently, you might want to consider soaking in a warm bath or showering at 104°F (40°C). Who knows, those worries could be easily washed away in a jiffy!
Other than getting a massage or enjoying an intimate time with your partner, a warm bath or shower can also do wonders in helping you get a restful sleep at night.
Here’s a fun fact for you: the human body is controlled by a clock master called a circadian rhythm. This clocks tells when it’s time to wake up, eat or sleep. But how is this related to warm showers at night?
Well, as it turns out: taking a warm bath or shower with the right temperature at night can help to regulate your body temperature to prepare for bedtime. In addition, warm baths or showers at night can help to control and balance your emotions. So, whether you’re stressed, angry or sad at night, a warm bath or shower before bedtime can certainly go a long way in providing you with a good sleep.
According to Skin Vision, showering at temperatures above 105°F (41°C) can cause skin inflammations like eczema, psoriasis, or even drop in blood pressure. Prolonged and repeated use may also lead to a severe case of scalding and lightheadedness.
A hot shower is, after all, nice and soothing but if too much, could be your skin’s worst enemy. So, nozzle down your water heaters below 105°F (41°C) as this is the safest and most enjoyable way to enjoy a warm shower or bath.
To experience a comforting but also safe bath, Rheem recommends setting your water heater temperature at an average of 98°F (37°C) to 101°F (38.3°C) or no more than 105 °F (41°C).
So now you know what is the ideal temperature to shower in. Both instant and storage water heaters from Rheem can provide you with the ideal hot water you need to enjoy a great shower experience.
To learn more about our range of instant or storage water heaters, visit us at https://www.rheemasia.com/products/.
Your hot water temperature isn’t the only thing that needs to be “right.” Find the perfect water heater with Rheem!
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