The average shower lasts about eight minutes. Since the average showerhead has a water flow of 2.1 gallons per minute, each shower uses more than 16 gallons of water! Across the United States, we use more than one trillion gallons of water each year just for showering. Never fear!
Most dermatologists say that your shower should last between five and 10 minutes to cleanse and hydrate your skin, but no longer than 15 minutes to avoid drying it out. You can still benefit from the shower length you prefer, whether long and luxurious, quick and efficient or somewhere in the middle.
What makes an optimal shower then? Ideally, it should be about 5 to 7 minutes and no longer than 15 minutes, says Yousuf Mohammed, PhD, a senior research fellow in dermatology at the Frazer Institute of the University of Queensland in Australia.
Five to 10 minutes is ideal for showering. If you stay in the water too long, it can dry out your skin. Use non-drying soap. Whether you prefer a bar or liquid body cleanser, choose one labeled as moisturizing to help keep your skin hydrated.
A quick daily rinse is not the same as a marathon hour-long shower or soak in the tub. The more time you spend in the water, the worse the effects can be on your hair and skin. Shoot for 3 to 5 minutes and concentrate on the important body parts: armpits, groin, and face.
There is an ideal amount of time to spend in the shower. The average shower lasts about eight minutes. If you're spending more than 15 minutes in the shower, you may need to make an adjustment.
The total running time of this kind of shower can last less than two minutes – using an initial thirty seconds or so to get wet, followed by shutting off the water, using soap and shampoo and lathering, then rinsing for a minute or less.
Anna's symptoms are common with prolonged exposure to hot water. “Long, hot showers dry skin and cause skin capillaries to open to increase skin blood flow,” Cynthia Bailey, a California dermatologist and president of Advanced Skin Care and Dermatology, tells me.
Cold showers can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, lower stress levels, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue. Hot showers, meanwhile, can improve cardiovascular health, soothe stiff joints, and improve sleep.
A shower timer is a way to stop the flow of hot water to your shower at a preset time. Most homeowners will set their shower lengths to either 5 or 6 minutes. Depending on the model you install, you will get a warning (usually a quick burst of cold water) one minute before the shower is turned off.
Spending long periods in the shower can be very mindful and relaxing. Washing, conditioning and getting all the knots out takes me quite a while. I have hair that knots easily.
Women spend just over one minute more on average in the shower than men (16.8 minutes vs. 15.4 minutes)
Also known as a military shower, this technique was developed to help reduce consumption of water which was very limited on navy ships. To try it out, shower for 30 seconds or so, then turn off the water while you lather up or apply shampoo. Turn the water back on when you're ready to wash the soap off.
To test the hypothesis, an approach to treating depression is proposed that consists of adapted cold showers (20 °C, 2–3 min, preceded by a 5-min gradual adaptation to make the procedure less shocking) performed once or twice daily. The proposed duration of treatment is several weeks to several months.
Boosts Metabolism and Weight Loss
Regular cold showers stimulate the production of brown fat, a type of fat that generates heat by burning calories. Over time, this can aid in weight management and potentially support weight loss efforts when combined with a balanced diet and exercise.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.
“Your muscles are relaxed, and you're not as tense.” That's because hot water widens your blood vessels and increases blood flow, which helps transport soreness-inducing lactic acid away from tired muscles. Likewise, the water massaging your skin can improve circulation, which has a similar effect.
As a general rule of thumb, “if you're showering more than one or two times a day most days, you're probably flirting with too much,” says Dr. Deanne Mraz, president and co-founder of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Conn., and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Start the change by lowering the thermostat to a lukewarm range of 37 to 40 deg Celsius. Of course, hot showers are only one cause of premature skin aging. Keep at a moisture- and antioxidant-rich skincare routine to maintain a youthful appearance.
Optimal Shower Temperature
Hot water is typically described as somewhere between 110°F and 140°F. However, you should never turn your shower or bath water anywhere near 120°F due to the risk of a serious burn injury. Cold water is generally defined as 60°F to 80°F, though it can be even lower.
Navy showers use 90 seconds of running water, plus scrubbing time. Experienced navy showerers can clean up in under 2–3 minutes total, while others who take a bit more time can shower in 5 or 6 minutes (or less). If you're looking to save time when you're getting ready, this is the method for you!
Upon leaving the trenches Soldiers received weekly showers, often using chemical decontamination equipment. At the same time they received a change of clothing. Units received the showers and laundry services together in order to prevent the infected Soldiers from spreading lice.