To tell people NOT to take cool showers if they want to stay cool in the heat

[bumblingbovine49]

I don't much mind the heat generally myself but so many people are discussing the best ways to keep cool and I see advice to take cool showers all the time

I've posted this advice before but I think it is worth repeating. If you want to feel cool in a hot environment in a way that lasts longer, take warm ( or even hot if you can bear it) showers and baths

This is advice I was give by family who live in a climate that is constantly much hotter then ours and who don't have air con . I. have found their advice effective and always take a hot shower before bed on hot nights. When I get out of the hot shower, my bedroom seems to feel cool even if it in fact very warm in there and I don't start sweating again right away like I do after a cool shower.

I was pleased to see that this advice is backed by science

theconversation.com/health-check-do-cold-showers-cool-you-down-71004

Just though it may be worth a try if you are finding it too hot to sleep in the next few days

I always feel better after a cold shower in 40° heat

Surly that’s stupid advice! Make yourself even hotter so the heat feels cool! Heard it all now. With this advice people will probably pass out in the bath from dehydration.

I can’t say having a hot bath has ever made me feel cool in hot weather.

Not to also mention your internal organs getting hot….that’s ok though, just as long as your skin feels cool???!!!

I wouldn’t follow your advice of hot showers and baths in this heat, it’s just plain silly in my opinion.

Could not face that! I have cool showers even in winter though.

I don’t think it makes a huge difference either way, everyone should do what they prefer. Some people like the sensation of cool water on their skin and that’s enough for them to stop sweating. Others feel like you.

Having my hair wet with cool water helps enormously, so I absolutely won't be doing this.

I understand the theory that cooling your body down dramatically will make your body try to conserve heat, which won't help when you get out of the shower, but as long as it's not ice cold and not for a reeeeally long time, I don't see that being a problem.

People who live in hot climates are generally used to the constant temperature and live accordingly. This heatwave coming is unusual and intense, and therefore people need to do whatever they can to keep feeling cool and comfortable for a short space of time. I don’t believe that taking a hot showers and heating up even more when you’re not used to it is a good idea at all!!

You do feel better because of temp receptors on your skin. But you'll have less blood flow to your cooler skin after a cool shower, so reduced heat loss through your skin, and your core will be warmer

Don't dry yourself after the shower - evaporation uses energy which means it lowers the temperature of the surface it evaporates from.

The temperature of the shower won't make a difference, but cannot see how a hot shower can help.

Any sort of shower will make you feel a bit cooler afterwards which happens as the water evaporates from your body. A quick lukewarm or cool shower does the trick. Sitting in a hot bath for any length of time would be madness. If you don’t have a shower a quick cool bath should do the trick.

Optimum is tepid/lukewarm shower or bath in hot weather. Cold constricts your blood vessels, reducing your ability to cool yourself for a bit, Hot is literally going to make you hot in the moment, lukewarm will not raise your body temp, but getting you wet allows the cooling benefit of evaporation.

don’t mistake ‘don’t take cold showers’ for ‘do take hot ones’ 😁

There's going to be enough strain on our infrastructure without encouraging more energy use

I understand your point but the article says a warm shower of about 33 degrees
rather than a hot shower - I would say a hot bath or shower would be 37-39.5. I don’t know if this would be helpful when it’s 38-40 outside.

I think it's recommended to have a lukewarm shower, rather than a freezing one (as that means your body tries too hard to warm yourself up afterwards). I don't think they mean a boiling hot one though...

Could just have a cup of tea if you want to make yourself warm?

Op, you’re right. I spent many years as a child in a hot country with no aircon. We were indeed taking hot showers and were encouraged to drink hot tea.

Could just have a cup of tea if you want to make yourself warm?

My Dad always said that in India they used to have tea to keep cool. It makes you sweat and thus cools you.

Mind you, that was in the 1930s.

Personally my favourite thing to do is just shower on the highest pressure setting, the blast of water feels comforting regardless of the water being cool or lukewarm

I almost pass out having a hot shower in cold weather nevermind about a heatwave

My Dad also said this!

Worked in Aden and places like that. I guess if a hot shower works it probably does..

I've heard that tepid showers work better than cold ones as you don't immediately start noticeably heating up again. I don't know about hot ones, though.

Cool showers are just such lovely relief in a heatwave.

Has anyone else read the linked article ?
Or even just the conclusion at the end of it ?

OP is right.

I weirdly crave hot drinks when the weather is hot. People think I'm weird but it does help.

Yes I've heard before that it helps but I'm still not wasting energy on a warm shower