In Indonesia, we've grown accustomed to taking a shower two times a day: once in the morning, and again in late afternoon, or as soon as we arrive home after a long day. Since we were kids, our parents, grandparents, and even teachers, have repeatedly told us to never skip a shower. They also warn us to never take a shower after sunset. Why? Because you can all kinds of diseases and maybe even experience some supernatural sh*t, or so they say. But honestly, since when do the working class arrive home before sunset? After a long day at work, most of us still have to brave the rush hour traffic for a second time. Taking a shower before the sun sets is the least of our problems. We have to settle with taking a shower as soon as we get home—which is usually late. Andre Cahyo, a 27 year-old video editor in Jakarta, said that he usually gets home from work around 8 pm, a couple of hours after sunset. He can only fall sleep once he's finished taking a shower and he's been doing it since he was a kid. Andre told me he's never experienced anything weird with night showers. If anything, Andre said, he feels better after taking them. "So far I never caught cold, masuk angin, or experienced any joint pains," Andre said. "I take a shower because I want to clean my body after a full day of activities, and exposure to dust and pollution."Maybe Andre is just a lucky guy because, as it turns out, our parents have been right all along—showering at night can actually be bad for your health. But it has more to do with our metabolism than when we take a shower. Mahesa Paranadipa, from the Indonesian Doctors Association, said that the state of our metabolism falls into two categories: before we sleep and after sleep. Our body temperature rises as we go about our day. So when we take a shower at night and the overall temperature of our bodies are relatively colder, the water could "shock" you, Mahesa said. "It's like pouring cold water into a hot glass, it will break," he explained.Why is the water cold? Because a lot of Indonesians have a traditional water reservoir and ladle for showering, not Western standing shower with hot water. So, in this situation, it's better to wait and sleep for a couple of hours so our metabolism can recover, he continued. "The effect of the cold water weakens our immune system," Mahesa said. "So taking a shower at night after a whole day of activities isn't recommended. But if you get some sleep first before taking a shower, your body temperature will have adjusted. That would actually improve our blood circulation."But what about joint pains? Mahesa said that pain in the joints usually occurs when the temperature drops, because the joint fluid thickens. The cold temperature also worsens joints frictions, but it doesn't cause them. OK, I'm relieved. But only partially, since there's a different myth we need to debunk. In some local cultures, taking a shower late at night is associated with mystical rituals. Dewi Sundari, a Javanese mystic, told me that for hundreds of years, people have been taking showers or baths in the middle of the night as part of a water petal in a ritual in the traditional Javanese belief system "Kejawen." The ritual is called tirakat pembuka aura, which roughly translates to the "aura-opening ritual," and its purpose is to enhance our appearance and boost our confidence, Dewi said. She explained that the ritual is typically done between midnight and 2 am, and during a full moon.This ritual is pretty popular among celebrities. Some say that Julia Perez, the late dangdut singer, liked soaking in the bathtub full of water petals, just like the fabled "Queen of the South Sea," a goddess in Javanese and Sundanese mythology. "The night is brightest during full moon and the air temperature is expected to get really cold," Dewi told VICE. "You have to say a prayer when you take the bath. Hopefully, during the brightest time of night, and during the coldest temperature, it's easier for us to internalize the prayers."As for myself, I'll put my faith in the doctor. Besides, I'd much rather get my beauty sleep than take a shower in the middle of a cold night. Hopefully sleep can enhance my aura, too.
Tagged:indonesiaKejawenμύτηshoweraurasupernatural
ONE EMAIL. ONE STORY. EVERY WEEK. SIGN UP FOR THE VICE NEWSLETTER.
By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisem*nts and sponsored content.
FAQs
"So taking a shower at night after a whole day of activities isn't recommended. But if you get some sleep first before taking a shower, your body temperature will have adjusted. That would actually improve our blood circulation."
Is it bad for your health to take a shower at night? ›
Benefits to morning showers include feeling more alert in the morning, getting clean after a workout, and washing off any nighttime sweat or skin cell buildup. However, showering at night may be a better option for people with skin conditions or allergies, and it can help prepare the body for sleep.
Why shouldn't you shower every night? ›
But while frequent washing of hands is key for stopping the spread of germs, according to most medics there is no inherent physical health benefit to the daily shower. In fact, it can even be bad for you by drying out your skin and undermining your immune system.
Is it pointless to shower at night? ›
“A shower helps to wash off all the grit and grime, environmental toxins and pollutants that might negatively impact your skin,” shares Dr. Vij. It eases you to sleep. As mentioned, showering at night can be part of your nighttime routine and helps you get a good night's sleep.
Is it unhygienic to shower at night? ›
Turns out, showering in the evening is actually way more hygienic than showering in the morning. And it feels like way less effort. Our sleep experts explain the three key reasons why you should opt for an evening shower, plus they answer your most commonly asked questions on the subject.
Is it better to shower at night or morning? ›
If you want to unwind after a stressful day, nighttime showers might be better for you. Experts say that if you plan to shower at night, ninety minutes before bedtime provides the best result. Hot water raises your overall body temperature. Although that's not good for morning showers, it's great for evening showers.
Is showering at night bad for hair? ›
Support hair health by making sure to fully dry wet strands before going to bed. So, is it okay to shower at night? While keeping your head and body clean before bed can be beneficial, avoid going to bed with wet or damp locks. Wet hair is more fragile and brittle, especially if it is highly porous.
Is it OK to go a night without showering? ›
Not showering before bed means you may spend all night caked in various bacteria and dirt - which is a long time to go without cleaning it off. This is especially true if you have allergies. Conditions such as hay fever can be worsened if you carry allergens such as pollen to bed with you.
Which country bathes the least? ›
When counting people who shower every day, Mexicans and Australians led significantly, followed by Americans and the French. Brits, Russians, Swedes and Germans averaged less, with Chinese coming in the least frequent.
How late is too late to shower? ›
It is recommended to shower before 8 p.m. Start by wetting your body from the neck and allowing your hands and feet to get accustomed to the water before washing your hair. Moreover, keep your shower time around 10 minutes and avoid staying in the water for too long.
Now admittedly most adults do shower in the morning (41.8 per cent of people in the US choose to wash first thing while only 25 per cent do it exclusively at night).
How often should a woman shower? ›
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Does showering at night lower blood pressure? ›
A warm bath or shower before bed might do more than just improve sleep. In a study of older adults, a bath between about 104.5 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit lowered blood pressure. View Source before and during sleep.
Why is it bad to shower every night? ›
Yes, you could be making your skin drier than it would be with less frequent showering. This is not a public health menace. However, daily showers do not improve your health, could cause skin problems or other health issues — and, importantly, they waste a lot of water.
What is the disadvantage of showering at night? ›
Shower night causes the body's metabolism disturbed
Our body temperature rises as we go about our day. So when we take a shower at night and the overall temperature of our bodies are relatively colder, the water could “shock” you, Mahesa said.
Why you shouldn't shower before bed? ›
That said, taking a hot shower too close to bedtime may delay the cooling-down process too much and make it more challenging to fall asleep. And in some cases, a hot shower can stimulate the body and increase alertness, which may make it more difficult to relax and transition into sleep.
Is it bad to take a shower without sleep? ›
Yes, you can certainly take a bath without having to sleep. Bathing is a daily routine for personal hygiene, and it can be done at any time of the day or night. Whether you choose to take a bath in the morning, afternoon, or evening is entirely up to your preferences and schedule.
Is bath safe at night? ›
Safety at night:Safe
Bath is considered relatively safe for travelers, including solo female travelers, even during nighttime. Like any city, it does have instances of petty crime such as pickpocketing, particularly in crowded tourist areas.
