Bathing is a ritual that helps to cleanse your body and eliminate the dirt and pollutants that stick to your skin. A hot bath at the end of the day is a perfect way to relax and rejuvenate and prepare your body to rest at night; while in the morning it is a great way to help you to wake up and energizes your body.

While some prefer a shower to a bath and hot water to cold; which is the best form of cleansing is debatable. Bathing is a form of cleansing that has been in practice for centuries. A normal bath consists of you soaking in a tub of water for a few minutes. A bath is directly linked to relaxation and in our fast paced lives a few minutes of rest and relaxation can go a long way.

A bath helps to eliminate toxins from the body and thus it is a great way to cleanse not only your external body but your internal system as well. However, you must be very particular about the temperature of the water. Using water that is very hot can cause skin irritation as hot water reduces moisture content in your body. If the water is hotter than your skin can bear it can lead to the surface of the skin getting cracked, blisters appearing and dehydration of the skin leading to white patches or dry skin.

It may even cause a burning sensation and hence in the attempt to be clean and thereby healthy; you may end up with burning your skin; so be careful. The other down side to a bath is that after the initial washing out of the germs and bacteria; you are soaking in the same dirty water and this can cause your pores to get clogged.

Showers are a relatively newer concept and the practice came about as a quick remedy to washing ones self after a long day’s work. You could have the run the same risks as a bath if the water you use in the shower is too hot. Though the steam in the shower is great for opening your pores and cleansing it from deep within; you also run the risk of dehydrating your skin from within if the water is too hot. A cold shower has no impact on the germs but merely washes away any dust and sweaty buildup on your skin. Showers have lesser health hazards but they are not very effective in eliminating dirt and bacteria from your body either.

In my opinion; the best method to clean your body and prevent illnesses is to take a bath. Wash of the dirt from your body and then get rid of all the dirty water and then soak in fresh water. It is a perfect way to relax and you must indulge in baths at the end of a long day. Though it is your preference as to the best mode of cleansing you must be careful about the amount of water and the temperature that you use.