Bathing is a way to cleanse the body and help you feel more comfortable. However, there are 5 times when you should absolutely avoid bathing to prevent negative effects on your health.

1. Do not bathe right after exercising

When you exercise, your heart beats faster to supply oxygen to your muscles. That’s why before exercising, you need to warm up, and after exercising, you also need time to rest instead of rushing into the shower.

After you stop exercising, your heart rate is still fast, your body temperature is high, and your pores are dilated. If you bathe immediately, blood may not circulate properly to important parts of the body, leading to a temporary lack of blood supply to the heart or brain.

At this point, you may feel dizzy, fatigued, nauseous, and face other serious problems.

2. Do not bathe when the body is exhausted

Bathing when you’re completely worn out will not make you feel better; instead, it can cause harm to your health. When you’re exhausted, the body has difficulty regulating temperature, making it easier to catch a cold, faint, or in severe cases, even face fatal consequences. The best choice is to rest and recover your strength before bathing.

3. Do not bathe right after being in the sun

In hot weather, many people rush to take a bath as soon as they get home. However, when the body is still sweating and radiating heat, bathing can block the pores, prevent sweat from escaping, lower body temperature too quickly, and easily cause colds.

It’s recommended that anyone who has spent a long time outdoors should wait about 30 minutes for the sweat to dry before bathing.

4. Do not bathe when overly full or on an empty stomach

When you’re too full or too hungry, you shouldn’t bathe either. Bathing on a full stomach can lead to intestinal and stomach problems. On an empty stomach, blood sugar levels are at their lowest, which can cause dizziness or even fainting.

The most appropriate time is about two hours after eating, or one hour before a meal.

5. Do not bathe late at night

After 10 p.m., people are more prone to conditions such as headaches, neck and shoulder stiffness, limb pain, and difficulty moving. More dangerously, it can lead to stroke or sudden death if not treated in time.

For young people, bathing late at night—especially with cold water—can cause blood vessels to constrict, hinder blood circulation, and result in body aches or even chronic headaches.

For the elderly, since their blood vessels are hardened and blood pressure tends to be high, bathing late at night greatly increases the risk of stroke.

Particularly for those with a history of high blood pressure or vestibular disorders, bathing late at night with hot water can dilate veins, lower blood pressure, and cause severe complications.

Women during their menstrual period should also avoid late-night bathing, as it can worsen cramps and headaches.

So when is the right time to bathe?

Bathing in the evening

This is considered the best time to bathe, ideally between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

After a long day of work, your body is exposed to dirt and sweats a lot. Bathing at this time helps remove impurities, makes you feel relaxed, and improves sleep quality.

Bathing in the morning

Bathing in the morning during summer helps promote blood circulation and refreshes the mind to prepare for a busy day.

Ideally, you should bathe about 30 minutes after your morning exercise, once the sweat has dried, and it’s best to use warm water.

Morning baths not only help late sleepers feel more awake but are also beneficial for people with oily skin. After a night’s sleep, excess oil accumulates on the skin; a morning shower helps clear this, keeps the skin fresh, and supports nutrient exchange.

However, note that you should not bathe more than twice a day.