The Surprising Benefits of a Sudsy Soak

January 8 is National Bubble Bath Day, but you don't have to wait for a holiday to swap your usual shower for a bath. Not only do baths open your pores and remove dirt from your skin, but there are other mental and physical benefits to those bubbles, too.

Mental Benefits

Banishes stress. Baths allow you to escape stressors by closing the door, playing relaxing music and incorporating your favorite scents—like eucalyptus, lavender or chamomile. Reduces depression. Baths are a chance for self-care. In the tub, you can practice mindfulness while also lowering negative feelings like depression. Studies suggest a 30-minute bath increases our body temperatures, reducing stress hormones like cortisol and boosting dopamine and serotonin.

Physical Benefits

Muscles and joints. Even better than the mental perks are the physical benefits. Baths can soothe muscle and joint tension, especially with Epsom salt. Wounds and skin conditions. Hydrotherapy can also help heal wounds or infected sores, lower inflammation and relieve pain. Bathing with oatmeal also eases the itchiness of skins conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Sleep. A bath before bedtime can help you fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. Just make sure to wrap up your bath at least 90 minutes before your head hits the pillow. It can also help with digestion, which is important because stomach issues are sometimes why people don't sleep well. Cardiovascular health. Baths are thought to lower blood pressure and increase circulation. One study revealed that an hour-long bath at 104˚F burned as many calories as a 30-minute walk. Breathe better. When you have a cold or allergy problem, the heat and steam from a bath can open your sinus passages. And, if you submerge your body up to the chest in a tub, it's thought to increase lung capacity and oxygen levels. Reduces disease symptoms. Bathing also decreases symptoms in diabetes patients. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels, but baths reduce glucose levels. Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease have also reported baths alleviated some of their pain.