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

This. When I was young we were always told a hot cuppa was more cooling than a cold drink.

I think it’s to have lukewarm showers that’s what I do

tea is refreshing and hot drinks are drunk throughout the day in many hot counties by locals along with lots of water often served together

hot meals are served at lunchtime to

My extremities start to swell in the heat, and after a cold shower they don't and I feel cooler and non sweaty for a decent period. I can't see how lowering your body temperature could possibly be a bad thing.

They do say a hot cup of tea cools you down. Something to do with making you perspire more. My daughter is on a medication that she has to drink at least 700 ml of water with. If she doesn't she struggles to regulate her temperature, can't sweat much and overheats. So it's important we sweat as much as possible especially in the heat.

What a silly idea...

I spent my childhood and teenage years on a Mediterranean island where in August and July temperature would routine go up to 35 degrees.

No one had the habit of taking a hot bath or hot shower to stay cool in the middle of summer...

Al you are going to do if you try this here in the middle of a heatwave is over-heat even more.

Of course you don't want freezing water either and should just aim for a comfortable lukewarm temperature.

I did continue to drink warm tea during the hot summers but my body was also used to the temperatures and the way of living general was adapted to the heat (more air conditioning, shops/office shutting between 12 and 2pm, places being open later in the evening and so on).

Be sensible and don't suddenly try gimmicks.

Bonkers

No OP is not!

The advice is a warm shower c 33 degrees, compared to a usual shower temperature of c39, with a hot shower possibly being 41 (obviously depends on individual perception & preference).

OP mentions taking a 'hot' shower several times.

Clearly a warm shower will work in the way described in the article - that's not a hot shower though.

Not sure whether this will work but worth a try. I did notice that in hotter countries the cleaners seemed to draw the curtains and leave the window or patio door open. I think that works.

this.

Used to live in Saudi, if it was very warm used to have a very tepid bath. Soaked for a while. Loved it, always felt very refreshed afterwards.

This advice was also given by a Dr. on tv yesterday.

I live in Melbourne. Some summers we've had 6-7 days in a row in the 35-40 range.
Unless someone is in their house all day and has icy air conditioning blasting no-one is having a hot shower on a day of 40 - except first thing in the morning after a sweaty hot night.
Luke warm showers during the day, lay a wetted sheet over yourself overnight, wet your head and hair.

I always have a hot shower. Can’t say it makes a difference, sweaty again in ten mins anyway 😂

We will all be moaning about the cold weather soon enough.

I live in a country that is much hotter than the UK is now. We don't even use hot water and always take cool showers.

By heating up your core temperature your blood vessels dilate on the surface of your skin to regulate your temperature. Drinking ice cold drinks while initially refreshing have the opposite effect and cool your core and constrict your blood vessels reducing the cooling effect of the skin to eradicate body heat.
Drinking hot or warm drinks and having lukewarm showers will be more effective in regulating body heat.
Spraying/spritzing the skin with a water mist will aid the cooling effect of evaporation and cool you. Carry a damp face cloth in a zip lock bag to refresh yourself.
Water bottles can be kept cool by wrapping in a damp material, paper, cloth even a sock. Wine chiller collars are great too.
Evaporation is the king of keeping cool!

Regarding the tea it’s def a thing in hotter countries to drink hot drinks and even eat hot spicy foods to encourage you to sweat, this lowers your core body temp which is the main thing

A cold or tepid shower will make you feel cooler temporarily but won’t encourage you to sweat and lower your body temp which is the function that will keep you from overheating

A short hot shower and leaving your skin wet is probably the best combination to feeling cooler + lowering body temp

A cold or tepid shower will make you feel cooler temporarily but won’t encourage you to sweat and lower your body temp which is the function that will keep you from overheating

I always take cold showers in the heat and feel very comfortable in the day and overnight afterwards.

Theres nothing that makes me more hot than sweating, the idea it cools you down is only any good if you're sitting in a breeze and even then it doesnt work. First thing in the morning after I leave the house my face sweats so much its running down my face, driving with the windows open so there is a breeze on my face still doesnt dry the sweat off and it makes me hot and sweaty and itchy.

Cold showers for me, cold drinks, much more cooling.

So should I avoid hot baths and showers in the winter? 🤔

Thanks OP! Really useful article. I do agree with other posters who have observed that you are jumping to slightly the wrong conclusion - the article recommends 33 degree water, which is not cool but is not hot either. Lukewarm.

Nah, I will be taking cool showers ta.

Definitely wasn't a thing when I lived abroad. Cool showers all the way. No one had baths due to water shortage and hot showers were for winter.

Some people will believe anything no matter how counterintuitive or silly it seems.

LOL - yeah, should we all take cold baths in winter, so the cold feels warmer. ???? Daft! 😂

Yes you should have ice baths in the winter. I have a friend who used live in the North Pole and they always have icy showers to warm up.