You Can Score Major Skin, Mood, And Recovery Benefits From Sweating It Out In A Sauna
There are few things that feel as good as warming up with a good sweat sesh in a sauna. Okay, yes, there may also be the minor details of feeling flushed with a red face and getting drenched after a while, but you’ll enjoy some legit sauna benefits by just spending some time in one.
Whether you prefer a sauna or steam room (which is a type of sauna, BTW), both can do wonders for your health. For one, the heat inside a sauna can cause various changes in your body, such as ramping up your heart rate. This can help improve your circulation, which has positive trickle-down effects on your heart, blood pressure, skin, and more, according to Harvard Health.
And that’s just one part of the picture. Saunas may also help you manage various conditions, including rheumatologic and various skin diseases, such as psoriasis, says Michele Bailey, DO, a primary care physician at Rush University Medical Group in Chicago. That said, more studies are needed to confirm that saunas can actually accomplish all these things.
While there are many kinds of saunas out there and each works a little differently, they all offer similar benefits, says Dr. Bailey. Most saunas and steam rooms can be accessed at local health clubs or gyms, but some people also opt to install one at home for convenience.
All right, what’s a sauna?
Saunas use dry heat. They’re typically heated between 180°F and 195°F with very low humidity, heated by wood, gas, electric, or infrared technology (a.k.a., using light to create heat). “It’s like sitting in an oven,” says Dr. Parikh. That’s why people often pour water over heated rocks in a sauna room—it creates steam for a little bit of humidity, she explains.
ICYMI, there are many variations. The most traditional type is a wood-burning sauna, which uses fire and very low humidity to heat up the space. Then there are electric saunas, which produce heat with electricity and is typically the kind people choose to add to their living space.
Infrared saunas, as the name suggests, utilize infrared light waves to warm your body up directly without raising the temperature of the air around you. They are said to bring about the same effects in your body as a traditional sauna but at a lower temp, making it easier to tolerate.
Lastly, steam rooms are characterized by moist heat. They are not as hot as saunas, and they are much more humid. Typically, steam rooms are heated between 100 and 120°F and have nearly 100 percent humidity, says Dr. Parikh. But even though they are not technically as hot, you will likely feel the heat more in steam rooms than in saunas because of that extra moisture in the air.
What are the health benefits of sitting in a sauna?
The effects of heat are the same whether it’s dry or moist, says Dr. Parikh. This means you’ll still get the same benefits whether you sweat it out in a sauna or steam room.
There is, however, one extra benefit to steam rooms for anyone who has respiratory problems like asthma or allergies. “Medications for these kinds of respiratory problems might dry out your breathing passages,” says Dr. Parikh. “Steam will moisturize and open the lungs a little more and hydrate the respiratory tract.” If you struggle with congestion, the steam can also act as a humidifier and help clear your nasal passages for easier breathing.
Research on the use of dry saunas has shown that they can provide these benefits.
1. Improved circulation
Anything that raises your body temperature will increase your heart rate, which in turn increases your circulation, says Denise Millstine, MD, an internist at Mayo Clinic’s family medicine office in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Sitting in a sauna is almost like walking on a treadmill at a regular pace, says Dr. Parikh. Because of the heat, your heart has to pump harder to circulate your blood, which means you’re getting some cardio benefits even though all you’re doing is sitting in the heat. (Keep in mind, though, it’s still no replacement for exercise, which has tons of other body-benefits.)
2. Lowered blood pressure
Spending time in a sauna can lower your blood pressure, says Dr. Millstine, but you wouldn’t want to go into a sauna if you have uncontrolled blood pressure.
“Studies have shown that traditional Finnish sauna bathing is associated with overall lower blood pressure when people are using it regularly, she explains. “So physiologically, much like exercise, your blood pressure would go up initially and then long-term, it would likely result in better management of your blood pressure and a lowering of your blood pressure.”
In fact, people can see improved cardiovascular health from sauna use. Research shows that people who regularly use a sauna (at least four times a week for 20 minutes) have a significantly lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and dementia, notes Dr. Parikh.
3. Stress relief
Sauna bathing is a regular part of Scandinavian culture, says Dr. Millstine, and is viewed as a way to destress and relax.
“If using a sauna becomes a regular practice for you and it’s something that you can do fairly easily, such as on your way from home from work for a brief session, or if you’re able to socialize while doing it, it likely will reduce your stress levels,” she says.
4. Glowy skin
Using a sauna can benefit your overall skin health, as it’s bringing blood flow to the surface of your skin before you start sweating.
“Regular sauna use makes the skin more robust, meaning it sort of firms it up and makes it more elastic, which is good for aesthetic reasons, but also because the skin acts like a general health barrier,” says Dr. Millstine.
5. Reduced joint stiffness and muscle soreness
Using a sauna is beneficial for workout recovery, as it’s going to result in loosening up any tense muscles after a workout.
“The heat can make your muscles more pliable and elastic, so it would probably help with workout recovery soreness,” says Dr. Milstine. Anecdotally, people with stiff joints and body aches swear by saunas for easing pain. Sauna use can also help with tension-type headaches, likely because it reduces muscle soreness that contributes to them, she adds.
6. Stronger immune system
Using a sauna isn’t directly tied to better immunity, but if you associate sauna bathing with relaxation, it can reduce stress, which can impair your immune system’s function. Sauna usage has also been shown to decrease circulating levels of inflammatory markers, which mess with your immune system response too.
“There was also a small study that looked at sauna use in some healthy volunteers and they were able to show reduction in their incidence of the common cold,” says Dr. Millstine. “So it’s possible that it can help improve your immune system or potentially make your tissues better able to fight off a virus that you’re exposed to.”
7. Better mood
Some studies show that sauna sessions can lift your mood, which could, again, be tied to the relaxation factor. However, men in Finland who regularly used a sauna had a decreased risk of psychosis, according to one study, and sauna usage can reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, another study showed.
“It’s unclear if those benefits are directly related to sauna use or, again, or if it’s simply tied to a healthy lifestyle that involves socialization and relaxation,” says Dr. Millstine. Either way, there seems to be some positive brain and mental health perks to visiting a sauna.
Does using a sauna help you burn fat?
It is thought that the changes your body goes through while in a sauna mimic those after you do a moderate- to high-intensity workout (such as walking) and saunas boost your metabolism, per Dr. Bailey. However, this needs to be further studied, as the data on this is not consistent.
Any actual pounds dropped will be water weight, you know, because of sweat—and that goes for both the sauna and the steam room. And that’s not the same as fat loss.
Another myth? The idea that you can detox from a night of drinking in a steam room. You can sweat off product on your skin, like sunscreen, but simply sweating won’t help your body process something you’ve ingested, like food or alcohol, says Dr. Millstine.
Are there any risks to using a sauna?
As far as risks go, you’re mainly looking at dehydration and dizziness from the heat, says Dr. Parikh. So it’s important to make sure you’re well hydrated before and after your sauna or steam room session. You’ll also want to skip the sauna if you’ve recently had a heart attack or any other cardiovascular issues, like high blood pressure, since it increases your heart rate, adds Dr. Parikh.
Pregnant women and anyone who has autonomic dysfunction, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, or is generally frail should consult their doctor before heading inside one, says Dr. Millstine.
Everyone handles heat and humidity differently. It’s always a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
How long can you sit in a sauna?
Most people’s sessions are only five to 30 minutes. But how long you can safely use a sauna or steam room depends on how acclimated you are to it, or how hot the sauna or steam room is.
“If you feel lightheaded or you’re feeling dehydrated because you perhaps just came back from a long run, it’s not a good idea to spend a long time in the sauna,” says Dr, Millstine. “But if you’re well hydrated and feel fine, you can stay a bit longer.”
It’s also common practice to get out of the sauna or steam room for frequent breaks, so leave and drink water whenever you feel you need to, she says.
Dr. Parikh suggests starting low and slow. The lower you sit in the sauna or steam room (i.e., the closer to the floor), the less intense the heat will be because heat rises. While it’s best for your health to use a sauna or steam room regularly (several times a week, if you can), maybe start with one trip to the spa for no longer than five or 10 minutes at most to see how well you can handle it, then add on from there.
What should you wear in a sauna?
In shared public steam rooms or saunas in the U.S., most people prefer to at least wear a towel, but if you’re lucky enough to have one in your own house, you’ll likely be more comfortable going naked. If you do prefer to wear clothes, natural fibers such as a cotton towel or loose-fitting shirt will likely be most comfortable, says Dr. Millstine. If you are at a gym that allows for nudity in the sauna or steam room, you’ll still want a towel to sit on, she notes, since these areas can be breeding grounds for germs.
What kind of sauna should I choose a sauna?
Again, if you have respiratory issues, it’s best to stick to steam rooms in order to keep your respiratory tract hydrated (a sauna might dry it out even more), according to Dr. Parikh. Otherwise, it’s all about personal preference, and you get health benefits from both.
The bottom line: Saunas offer many health benefits (and risks), and when choosing the best type for you, it’s all about personal preference and finding out which one works for you.
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