Can I sauna or cold plunge with a wound?

Sauna and cold plunge are two popular thermal wellness practices that have been in use for centuries. A sauna is a heat therapy that involves exposure to heat in an enclosed wooden cabin. Regular use of a sauna helps with recovery and cardiovascular health.

Cold plunge, on the other hand, is a form of cold therapy and it involves immersion of a part of the body or the entire body in cold water. Cold plunging is popular among athletes and fitness enthusiasts for its recovery and mental health benefits.

Since both wellness practices assist with recovery, many people inquire about their role in the recovery of wounds after injury or surgery. A common question that exists is, can I sauna or cold plunge with a wound? In this article, we will understand different mechanisms through which sauna and cold plunge can impact wound healing.

Basics of Wound Healing

Wounds can be of different types. The two major categories are open wounds and closed wounds. Closed wounds are those in which the skin surface remains intact, and the damage occurs beneath the skin. In contrast, an open wound is when the skin surface is compromised, exposing the tissues beneath.

Open and closed wounds can further be divided into different categories based on their cause, depth, and the type of tissue involved. The mechanism of wound healing can be slightly different for different types of wounds, but it majorly involves four phases. These phases are:

1. Hemostasis: This is the initial stage of wound healing, and it focuses on stopping blood loss. The blood vessels in the wound area narrow to reduce the blood flow while blood clot starts to form.
2. Inflammation: In this phase, the immune cells travel to the wound area to remove damaged cells and harmful agents, like bacteria.
3. Proliferation: During this phase, the body begins to rebuild new tissues at the wound site. This involves the formation of new cells and blood vessels.
4. Remodelling: The final phase of wound healing is remodelling, which involves scar tissue formation. The unwanted cells are removed, and the newly formed tissue starts to function.

Throughout these phases, it is critical to keep the wound clean and free from infection. Otherwise, it can result in delayed healing and other serious complications.

The question here is, can sauna or cold plunge help you keep the wound clean and protected, or do these practices make the wounds more vulnerable to infection and other complications?

Using a Sauna with a Wound

There is a negative association between heat therapy and the healing of open wounds. Heat and humidity in the sauna moisten the wound, increasing the risk of bacterial attack and infection. Heat is also likely to cause sweating and irritation at the affected site, which can disturb normal healing.

Another downside is that heat from the sauna can trigger excessive inflammation and swelling. While inflammation is critical in the initial phase of the wound healing process, continued and excessive inflammation can result in delayed healing.

Taking a Cold Plunge with a Wound

Increased blood supply to the wound is essential for the inflammation phase of wound healing. But when you take a cold plunge in the early days of a wound, let’s say within 2 to 3 days, the cold exposure reduces the blood flow toward the affected site. This hinders the inflammatory process and can result in delayed wound healing.

Another risk of taking a cold plunge or ice bath with a cut is infection. Since most people use shared plunge pools, the risk of contamination is higher. Even if one uses a personal plunge pool, there is still a chance of contamination.

Taking a cold plunge with a wound also moistens the wound, which provides a favorable environment for the bacteria to grow.

Expert Recommendations

There are limited studies on the direct impact of sauna or cold plunge on wound healing. However, the effects of heat, cold, and moisture on wounds give a significant hint of what to expect from a sauna and cold plunge.

Experts usually suggest avoiding a cold plunge or sauna with a fresh wound. A report by Cambridge University Hospitals recommends waiting for at least 48 hours before even taking a shower after a surgical wound. The exact duration can vary, and doctors usually guide patients and attendants regarding this.

For a better understanding of how exposure to water can impact surgical wounds and when it is ok to expose your wound to water, I recommend you watch this YouTube video titled “When Can I Shower After Surgery” by two licensed health professionals from Canada:

When Is It Safe to Resume Sauna or Cold Plunge?

The best practice is to ask your doctor when it is safe for you to take a cold plunge or use a sauna with a wound. Doctors usually recommend waiting until the wound is healed. Some common signs that are an indication of a healed wound are closed skin, no discharge, and no redness or pain.

During your initial sauna or cold plunge sessions, make sure to cover the wound properly. Covering the wound site prevents it from coming into contact with extreme temperatures and moisture. You must also monitor for irritation and swelling afterward and consult your doctor if you notice any such signs.

Benefits of Sauna for Healed Wounds

Once the wound is healed properly, the sauna infection risk is significantly lower, and it can support the recovery of the affected area. Sauna improves blood flow, which helps transport oxygen and nutrients to the healing tissues, supporting long-term tissue health. Sauna also helps reduce muscle stiffness, which is a common post-surgery complication.

Besides recovery, you can enjoy the sauna benefits for the overall body. For example, regular sauna use improves heart health and lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications in the long-term.

If you are interested in details on how sauna benefits heart health and improves other body functions, here is a great video by the MedCram YouTube channel. In this video, Dr. Rhonda Patrick, who is a biochemist and health educator, dives deep into the benefits of sauna use and how to use it optimally.

Benefits of Cold Plunge for Healed Wounds

Many people complain of swelling and inflammation in the later stages of wound healing, which isn’t a normal part of the wound healing mechanism. Cold plunging at this time helps reduce inflammation and swelling around the wound site. It also helps reduce muscle soreness and pain that may continue even after the wound is healed.

And besides recovery, you can enjoy cold plunging for many other health and wellness benefits. Regular cold plunging helps improve immunity, supports cardiovascular functioning, and benefits psychological health.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a safe recovery method after an injury or surgery, a sauna or cold plunge might not be the perfect choice. In the initial days of wound healing, it is advised to avoid both sauna and cold plunging due to their potential adverse effects on wounds.

Using a sauna with a wound that is not healed properly can result in increased inflammation, swelling, irritation, and delayed healing. Similarly, cold plunging can leave the wound moist, increasing the risk of bacterial attack and infection.

However, after the wound is healed, cold plunging or sauna can facilitate the recovery of the affected tissues. In simple words, it’s the timing that determines if using a sauna or cold plunge is helpful or a risk to healing wounds.