Doctor reveals why women REALLY prefer hotter showers compared to men - and it's not just a personal choice

Daily Mail​

26-05-2025

A UK-based doctor has explained why women might prefer to shower at hotter temperatures compared to men.
When women opt to wash in warmer waters than their male counterparts, it's usually considered a preference.
However, NHS doctor and content creator Dr Karan Rajan, who has over five million followers on TikTok, has claimed that it's not just a choice but a 'biological necessity and a survival tactic'.
Dr Rajan started his clip by re-sharing a TikTok by Micah and Sarah, who go by @micahandsarah, where Micah jokingly placed his pan in a pot of hot water with the writing, 'POV me training so that I can one day shower with my wife.'
The doctor then gave his explanation of the phenomenon, 'If you know a woman who loves boiling hot lava showers, there are a few biological reasons for that.'
'On average, women have a higher core body temperature than men, so you'd think that keeps you warmer.
'Well, when your core is warm, anything cold, like a chilly room, feels even colder by comparison.
'If the temperature between your core and your environment is bigger, you feel it more.
Next, Dr Rajan explained that female hormones might also add to the reasons why women often prefer hotter showers.
He said, 'Now, add hormones into the mix. Oestrogen can reduce blood flow to your extremities - your hands, feet, and even your earlobes.
'That's why when they often run three degrees colder than men. So, even if your core is warm, your toes feel like icicles. And it gets worse during ovulation when oestrogen peaks.
Dr Rajan continued, 'If you're on hormonal birth control, same deal. Oestrogen stays elevated, meaning your cold sensitivity might be dialled up even more.'
The doctor offered a third reason for the phenomenon, 'This scientific misery has one more gift.
'On average, women tend to have a lower metabolic rate than men, so your body produces less heat overall.
'So, those geothermal showers are less of a preference and more of a biological necessity and a survival tactic.'
Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the clip. One said, 'Boiling hot showers is the only time I truly feel warm.'
A second user joked, 'To be honest if the water isn't lowkey burning my skin off am I even clean?'
'I can feel my body relax under boiling hot water,' said a third. While another added, 'No wonder I hate the cold. It's science.'
It comes after a scientist weighed in on the debate of whether it's best to shower in the morning or in the evening.
Advocates of morning showers tend to argue that the habit helps you to wake up and start the day feeling fresh.
But night shower fans are adamant that showering before bed helps you to unwind and relax after a busy day.
So, what does the science say? According to Primrose Freestone, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, the answer is clear.
'As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate,' Dr Freestone explained in an article for The Conversation.
While there's no hard and fast rule for how often you should shower, most dermatologists agree that every other day is sufficient.
Viewers took to the comment section on TikTok to share their thoughts on Dr Karan Rajan's explanation
'Showering is an integral part of any good hygiene routine — regardless of when you prefer to have one,' Dr Freestone explained.
'Showering helps us remove dirt and oil from our skin, which can help prevent skin rashes and infections.
'Showering also removes sweat, which can quell body odour.'
Throughout the day, your body accumulates sweat and oil from your skin, as well as pollutants and allergens such as dust and pollen.
This accumulation supports the growth of bacteria, which may then be transferred from your body onto your sheets.
While you might think the obvious answer would be showering at night, Dr Freestone explains why this isn't the best solution.
'Showering at night may remove some of the allergens, sweat and oil picked up during the day so less ends up on your bedsheets,' she said.
'However, even if you've freshly showered before bed, you will still sweat during the night – whatever the temperature is.
'Your skin microbes will then eat the nutrients in that sweat.
'This means that by the morning, you'll have both deposited microbes onto your bed sheets and you'll probably also wake up with some BO.'
What's more, throughout the night you'll also shed skin cells which can serve as a food source for dust mites.
'If you don't regularly wash your sheets, this could lead to a build-up of dead skin cell deposits which will feed more dust mites. The droppings from these dust mites can trigger allergies and exacerbate asthma,' Dr Freestone added.
In contrast, morning showers can help to remove dead skin cells, sweat and bacteria from your body that you may have picked up during the night.
'A morning shower suggests your body will be cleaner of night-acquired skin microbes when putting on fresh clothes,' the scientist explained.
'You'll also start the day with less sweat for odour-producing bacteria to feed on – which will probably help you smell fresher for longer during the day compared to someone who showered at night.'