The first bath and the second bath. Do you know which is gentler on the skin?

It is said that bathing in a bathtub “removes seven illnesses and brings seven blessings,” and is considered to be a source of good fortune. A decade ago, it was customary for the “mainstay of the family” to take the first bath, but this custom has been discontinued, and only a minority of households are particular about the order in which they take baths. In this issue, we introduce some trivia about baths. Do you know which is more gentle to the skin, the first bath or the second bath?

The second bath is gentler on the skin! Impurities such as sebum and sweat dissolve into the water, making it softer to the touch.

Although it seems that the first bath, which is freshly heated and clean, is better for the skin, it is actually said that the second bath is gentler on the skin. This is because the first bath contains residual chlorine, which irritates the skin. When you take a bath, impurities such as sebum and dead skin cells dissolve in the water, neutralizing the chlorine and making the water milder and less irritating to the skin. Incidentally, the same reason why the water in the second and subsequent baths feels softer is the same.

Even after hearing these reasons, there are still those who think, “The first bath is definitely the best! or you live alone and have no choice but to take the first bath. For such people, we recommend bath salts containing chlorine-removing ingredients. For example, vitamin C and monosodium glutamate are effective in removing chlorine, so when choosing a bath salt, check to see if it contains these ingredients.