My mother has the same oily scalp and skin as me and always takes a shower in the morning. That’s why even now that I’m an adult, I only take a shower in the morning. In general, I thought the choice of when to shower was a personal one influenced by your upbringing. My parents inherited my love of horror movies, my hazel eyes, and my need to wash my hair before leaving the house.
But I’m often in the minority when it comes to showering in the morning. Of course, sometimes it lathers up at night. For example, after CorePower at 7pm, after a concert, or after a long sweaty day on the subway. But I wash my hair almost at dawn. Most days, I wash my face, dry myself with shower wipes to remove the day’s grime, and jump right into bed.
I started thinking that there might be benefits to either approach. Is the pre-bedtime shower brigade working on something? If all showers end before 10am, am I missing something? Is someone doing it right? So I asked a dermatologist.
Is it better to take a shower in the morning or at night?
From a skin health perspective, there are pros and cons to both camps, says dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah. “Evening showers help remove environmental pollutants, sweat, oil, and allergens that accumulate throughout the day, and are beneficial for overall skin health and keeping your bedding clean,” he explains. However, he added, “A morning shower can help remove sweat and bacteria that have built up overnight. A shower may be preferable for people who exercise early in the morning, want to be more mindful at the start of the day, or have oily scalp or hair that takes longer to style.” Obviously, this has its challenges.
Going to bed at night with clean skin reduces the risk of transferring these bacteria to your bed (similar to sheets, dirty pillowcases are often a major cause of breakouts). So that It was done In that case, it is wise to take a shower before going to bed. But there’s more to consider. I often sweat while sleeping (no matter how much air conditioning I have on). Therefore, even if you go to bed clean, you may wake up sweaty and greasy, which can lead to body odor.
Dr. Shah recommends taking a shower at night if you live in a city with high air pollution. But for most people, “a morning shower is adequate as long as you change your pillowcases and sheets regularly.” Because honestly, showering is only part of the equation. Washing your bed sheets and pillowcases at least once a week can help prevent breakouts, the spread of bacteria, and even dust mites.
“For most people, the timing of your shower is more important than how you shower,” says Dr. Shah. “Using lukewarm water, limiting cleansing time, and avoiding overly harsh cleansers are key to maintaining the skin barrier,” he points out. The skin barrier can be weakened by over-cleansing.
Should I shower every day?
“Daily showering is generally well tolerated by most people, especially those who are physically active or exposed to environmental pollutants,” explains Dr. Shah. “But not everyone needs a full-body wash every day.” In fact, over-washing (especially if you use hot water, scrub, and don’t moisturize your skin afterwards) can lead to dryness and irritation. What we hope to achieve here is the opposite effect. He recommends using a washcloth or a cotton pad soaked in micellar water to focus on the odor-prone areas (underarms, groin, back, and chest).
“From a dermatological perspective, the best approach is to tailor cleansers and post-shower products to your skin type and specific concerns,” he added. Here is a quick guide to help you.
And immediately after showering, moisturize with a body cream or butter, says Dr. Shah. “I usually recommend applying moisturizer while the skin is still a little damp to help lock in moisture into the skin,” he says. “Overall, showering too often doesn’t have to damage your skin, but it does mean you need to be more intentional about using a good cleanser and follow-up with barrier-supporting moisturizers and treatment products.”
Final thoughts:
So it’s not Really That’s the correct answer, but in most cases, showering at night before going to bed to remove all germs from your skin, and then “washing” your skin in the morning to reduce odor may be effective. “The most important factor is maintaining a consistent hygiene routine that fits your lifestyle,” says Dr. Shah.
Meet the experts:
Muneeb Shah, The doctor is a board-certified dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology in New York, NY. He is also the founder of the award-winning skincare brand REMEDY.
why trust cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette I am the beauty editor of cosmopolitan I have over 7 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skin care stories.
Beth Gillette is a beauty editor. cosmopolitancovers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She is usually seen wearing bright eyeshadow and enthusiastically typing up the latest features or hemingwaying about new products that she “must try.” prior to cosmopolitanwhere she wrote and edited beauty content as an editor for The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram to see her makeup selfies and new hairstyles every few months.
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