Should I bathe a lot to cool off on hot days?

I have a habit of taking a shower as soon as I get home or whenever it's hot and I sweat a lot. Is this good? (Hung, 27 years old, Dong Nai )

Reply:

Bathing not only cleanses the skin but also helps keep pores clear, thereby releasing sebum and sweat on the skin surface. Bathing can also help regulate body temperature. However, over-bathing will affect the skin's surface microflora, losing beneficial bacteria when using many chemicals or antibacterial soaps.

In addition, in some people, these chemicals can affect the skin surface, causing changes in skin moisture, irritation, dryness, cracks, and skin cracking... From there, the physical barrier is broken, along with changes in the previous skin surface microflora, which can be the source of infection. In particular, the elderly with weak resistance, people with existing skin diseases, and skin lesions in Cushing's syndrome are very susceptible to infection.

At the same time, when the body is in the sun, the ambient temperature is quite high, going home to take a bath immediately will lead to a sudden change in temperature. At that time, the body's thermoregulatory center must work continuously. Therefore, when coming back from the sun as well as when sweating a lot, do not take a bath immediately but should rest, wait for the sweat to dry for about 30 minutes.

In addition, you should not bathe many times a day to avoid the body's temperature changing continuously, which is not good for your health.

According to research at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA, people exposed to temperature changes are more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases. When that happens, the patient will have symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, sore throat. Especially in the elderly or children, people whose thermoregulation system is not fully adapted.

Sudden changes in temperature can be especially dangerous for people with asthma or allergies. Symptoms can worsen or trigger a new attack.

MD.CK2 Nguyen Viet Hau
Head of Emergency Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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