Saunas, a soothing and relaxing experience popularized in Northern Europe, has become a popular holistic practice around the world. In Finland, saunas are a key part of keeping a healthy body, mind, and social life. While many praise the benefits of using a sauna, others ask, what are some of the sauna skin benefits?
Saunas, whether dry saunas, infrared saunas, or steam rooms, offer enticing warmth and a quiet ambiance that promotes a healing and powerful wellness experience. This serene relaxation is perfect after a grueling day at work or an intense workout, making it an ideal addition to your wellness routine. But, while you reap the mental and other physiological benefits, you also boost your skin’s wellness.
As your body’s largest organ and the first line of defense against environmental aggressors, your skin deserves some much-needed sauna pampering. Saunas boast skin wellness benefits, including detoxification, improved elasticity, and anti-aging benefits. Some studies show that saunas can help treat various skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
From skin detoxification to reducing inflammation, learn how saunas benefit the skin. See how you can take advantage of sauna sweat therapy for a healthy and glowing complexion. Explore how to get the most out of a sauna session when it comes to your skin.
Sauna Skin Benefits: Detoxification
“Detox” and “detoxification” are buzzwords that get thrown around frequently in the health and wellness community. But what does it mean, especially in terms of skincare? Detoxification is the natural process of eliminating or neutralizing toxins throughout the body. The colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, and lymphatic system do enough to keep your body toxin-free.
Studies have shown that sweat-induced detoxification offers the potential to assist with removing toxins from the body. The National Library of Medicine found trace amounts of heavy metals in sweat, such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. However, sweat doesn’t remove many toxins from inside the body, as most sweat is water, minerals, and sodium. However, sweating has helped remove toxins found on the skin’s surface.
Sauna-Induced Sweating
The warm, soothing heat of the sauna raises your core body temperature. As this happens, your blood vessels open up, allowing blood to flow better. Blood plays a vital role in temperature regulation by distributing heat around the body. Increasing blood flow reduces body temperature. But, as your body continues to heat up, it produces sweat to cool itself down.
The heat also opens up your pores, helping to remove dirt, toxins, and dead skin that have collected on your skin over time. Sweating is like a natural cleansing routine that can help leave your skin looking healthier.
Removing surface-level toxins keeps skin healthy over time. Not only does detoxification of your skin remove toxins, but it keeps the collagen fibers in your skin from degrading. Combining saunas with regular washing and moisturizer allows skin to develop a brighter complexion, fewer acne breakouts, and relief from conditions such as eczema.
Sauna Skin Benefits: Anti-aging
Many professionals praise the anti-aging benefits of regular sauna use. In addition to cleansing the skin and helping with skin issues, saunas may promote healthy skin at a cellular level.
Maintaining Skin Elasticity
A vital aspect of healthy skin is its ability to maintain shape through a lifetime of facial expressions and body movement. Skin elasticity, determined by the collagen and elastin proteins in the dermis layer, is the key to youthful-looking, smooth, and firm skin. Studies show that regular sauna use can increase skin elasticity.
Collagen gives the skin structure and strength. It forms connective tissue within the dermis, which helps grow new cells and replace old, dead skin cells. Elastin makes up the elastic fibers in the skin, allowing it to stretch and recoil. Both are needed to keep skin looking healthy. However, both are difficult to replenish as you age.
Various factors can degrade these proteins over time, including lifestyle choices such as poor diet, smoking, and stress. Environmental factors include pollution, UV radiation from the sun, and blue light overexposure. However, time and natural aging are the most significant factors in elasticity degradation. Collagen and elastin degradation leads to saggy, wrinkled skin.
To truly reap the sauna skin benefits and fight the signs of aging, it’s essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition, good sleep, and regular exercise alongside your sauna sessions.
Sauna Skin Benefits
As mentioned before, the heat of a sauna allows blood vessels to open up, a process known as vasodilation. Increasing blood flow improves blood circulation, nourishing the skin and encouraging fresh skin cell growth. This process can also aid in repairing damaged skin cells. Combined with regular cleansing, dead skin cells are removed, revealing rejuvenated and refreshed skin.
While all types of saunas offer the same skin benefits, a few differences can make a difference in your sauna skin wellness routine. A dry sauna vs. steam room vs. infrared sauna offers different environments that add to your experience. Steam rooms increase skin’s hydration thanks to the steam, which keeps skin cells plump and healthy. A dry sauna and infrared sauna can dry out skin cells, leading to fine lines and dry skin. However, hydrating before and after can reap all the sauna skin benefits and avoid dehydration.
It’s easy to see why people turn to regular sauna sessions as part of their holistic skincare routine. By combining hydration and increased circulation, you can improve skin elasticity and delay the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a practical approach to achieving beautiful, youthful-looking skin.
Saunas and Skin Conditions
Another sauna benefit for your skin is its potential to relieve certain skin conditions. Many people worldwide suffer from skin ailments, from acne to psoriasis. Some can leave skin scarred, scaly, or rough. Others can cause redness, irritation, or darkening or lightening spots.
Using saunas as a skin condition treatment alongside your dermatological care routine may help alleviate common skin problems.
Acne
Can sweat cause pimples? Acne is most common among young adults. However, many can experience this well into adulthood. Often, abundant bacteria and sebum on the skin, which inflames sebum glands, create acne. While you might think sweating increases bacteria, studies show sweat is antimicrobial. Additionally, sauna sessions have shown a change in the skin’s pH levels. These sauna skin benefits work to prevent bacteria from growing, reducing acne flare-ups.
Eczema
Eczema is a skin inflammation disorder that causes scaly patches and itchiness. It can be caused by numerous factors, such as a family history or an overactive immune system. Some studies have shown that infrared sauna can help with certain types of eczema. For most types of eczema, a steam sauna acts as a moisturizer and offers relief alongside dermatological treatments.
Psoriasis
Another common skin scaling disease is psoriasis. Mainly caused by inflammation, psoriasis shares many symptoms with eczema. While more research is needed, some studies say that saunas, near-infrared, and red light therapy show promise for treating this skin condition. A common treatment for psoriasis is reducing inflammation, a well-known benefit of sauna use.
How to Use a Sauna for Better Skin
Sauna therapy can enhance skin health. It can promote anti-aging and keep your skin wrinkle-free. But it’s important to tailor your sauna routine to your needs. Everyone is unique, so what works for one person may not work for another. The best way to make the most of your sauna session is to start with a balanced approach and adjust as needed.
Here are ways to use a sauna to enhance your skincare routine and promote a healthy, holistic lifestyle.
- Optimal Sauna Duration—Be mindful of your heat tolerance level. Start off with short 5 – 10 minute sessions and increase the duration until you are comfortable for at least 15 minutes. The recommended maximum time is between 15 – 20 minutes.
- Optimal Sauna Sessions Per Week—Studies show that using a sauna 2 to 3 times a week can lower your risk of early death by 24%, and using it 4 to 7 times a week can reduce it by 40%. The standard recommendation is to create a sauna routine based on your needs.
- Optimal Sauna Temperature—Most standard sauna temperatures range from 140 degrees Fahrenheit to as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to pay attention to your body and your heat tolerance. If you feel uncomfortable, leave the sauna and hydrate.
- Hydration—It is essential to hydrate before and after a sauna. Whether you are using a dry sauna or a steam sauna, sweating will result in water loss. After each session, it is vital to replenish lost water, minerals, and electrolytes.
- Speak with a Healthcare Provider—Using a sauna is generally a safe practice. However, speaking with your medical provider before starting new treatments or therapies is always essential. This will help you reap the benefits of sauna while avoiding any potential risks.
- Speak with a Dermatologist—Before creating your sauna routine, speak with your dermatologist to ensure the best sauna skin benefits. Their professional insight can help you find the perfect balance while keeping your skin healthy and radiant.
Ultimate Sauna Benefits for Healthy Skin
Saunas are known for their health and wellness benefits. Regarding healthy skin, scientific studies underline the promise and potential of all types of saunas. A balanced sauna routine benefits overall skin health, from detoxification to increasing elasticity and improving skin conditions.
Sauna aids in cleansing skin and removing bacteria. The improved blood flow and increased circulation promote new skin cell growth, improving vital proteins such as collagen and elastin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. They provide relief to those with conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Sauna and heat therapy perfectly combine relaxation and rejuvenation.
When you step into the cozy warmth of a sauna, remember you’re not just entering a hot room—it’s a place full of potential benefits for your skin and overall health. The advantages of using a sauna go beyond just skin care; they support a balanced approach to health that helps your mind, body, and skin feel refreshed and revitalized.
