You’ve had a really hard day at work.  You turn on the faucet, pour bubble bath into the water, and pour yourself a glass of Malbec to enjoy while you are soaking in the bathtub.  Unfortunately, we don’t always have time for a long luxurious soak.  So let us investigate which is better, showers vs baths.

Bathtubs have a lot of pros.  They are good for relaxing sore muscles, and bathing young children.  You can choose from a wide variety of sizes and designs.  There are many features available including air jets and whirlpool models.

If you have skin conditions, you can add ingredients like bath oil, bath bombs, honey or milk to soothe your skin.  I remember putting my daughter into an oatmeal powder bath to sooth her itchy chickenpox.

Cons include they are harder for elderly people or people with injuries to use as they are harder to get in and out of.  They take up more space in your bathroom, and require a lot of water.  Baths use more water than showers, usually about 30 gallons compared to 17 gallons for an eight minute shower.  You also need a water heater large enough to heat and fill your tub.  Bathing is also more time consuming than showering.

Keep in mind that long hot baths can dry out your skin.  It is important to moisturize your skin as soon as you get out of the tub. Some dermatologists recommend not using foaming ingredients like bubble bath, as they contain detergents.  These ingredients can strip your skin of its natural oil and dry it out.