Saunas were invented in Scandinavia more than 2,000 years ago, and sauna-goers would jump into the snow to work up a sweat and even sprinkle brandy on the coals to make the steam more active. Americans may not be as enthusiastic about saunas, but more and more people are using them at health clubs or at home.
They sunbathe in a dry sauna and sweat in a steam room. A dry sauna is a wood-paneled room that is drier than the desert and has temperatures ranging from 170 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam rooms, on the other hand, have nonporous walls, usually made of glass or tile, have 100 percent humidity, and temperatures range from 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Stephen Baum, vice president of Baths International, a major sauna importer in New York, said: “Twenty years ago, these were ultra-luxury items that were just part of the Hollywood lifestyle. Now they are in the hands of Lisa Wolf, who works in the international newsroom of The New York Times in New York. Now these pieces of furniture belong to homeowners who want to have a comfortable home.”
There are no national sales figures for saunas and steam rooms, but major retailers estimate that more than 25,000 home saunas were sold in 1985, up from 1,000 20 years earlier, and that 1,000 home steam rooms were sold in 1985, up from virtually nothing 20 years earlier. The average cost of a home sauna or steam room is $2,500.
However, as saunas and steam rooms become more commonplace in homes and fitness centers, there are many misconceptions about their use. Dermatologists and estheticians say it is a common misconception among women that 10 to 15 minutes in dry or moist heat will open pores, draw out impurities, and leave skin soft and clear.
“All the evidence suggests that saunas provide little, if any, benefit to the skin,” said Dr. Darrell Riegel, a clinical instructor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. “In fact, saunas are potentially problematic. Saunas are a fun way to improve overall health, but the key is to use them correctly.”
When used correctly, a sauna can indirectly improve a person’s condition by relaxing the body and mind, improving circulation, clearing the sinuses, and reducing facial swelling. Here are the basic rules: If you have high blood pressure, do not enter the pool. If you have a chronic medical condition, consult a doctor. Remove contact lenses, jewelry, and other items that could melt or catch fire. Shower before entering the sauna, do not stay in the sauna for more than 15 minutes, and shower when leaving the sauna. You should also be careful to avoid hazards such as dry skin or hair, broken capillaries, and infections.
In addition, to fully utilize the beauty potential of a sauna, you need to consider the specific needs of your skin type and experiment to find what works for you. The first thing to know: Moisturizer is to a sauna what the right shoes are to jogging. Dermatologists say that women often mistakenly believe that the humidity in a steam room can moisturize their skin. In fact, the heat of the steam can actually dry out the skin. This causes sweating, which draws moisture and natural oils from the skin.
Moisturize your face and body before or immediately after using the sauna. If you have oily skin, use a light moisturizer (like a day cream), and if you have dry skin, use a thicker moisturizer (like coconut oil). You can use both types of moisturizer at the same time, using a thicker moisturizer for the eye area. After the sauna, when you have finished showering and your skin is still damp, it is best to reapply moisturizer.
Don’t forget about your hair. Some hairstylists claim that, aside from sun exposure and excessive hair coloring, the most common cause of excessively dry hair is improper sauna use. If you don’t want to worry about hair care anymore, you can use a damp towel as a turban to protect your hair. Otherwise, apply your usual conditioner or oil, such as baby oil, to your hair before or immediately after your sauna session. To enhance penetration, put a shower cap on your head – many women say this trick makes their hair softer and shinier than using these products in the shower.
Another popular myth is that saunas help remove blackheads and blemishes from the skin, says Dr. James J. Lydon, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He said you can’t remove blackheads by “sweating them out” because, contrary to popular belief, blackheads are not made of dust but concentrated skin pigment. Saunas also don’t reduce the appearance of blemishes. Dr. Lydon said he helped conduct an experiment in the late 1960s in which 25 women had their pimples counted two to three times a day for three months before and after steaming their faces. He said, “These women love the steam, and it boosts their self-esteem, but it doesn’t do anything to reduce the appearance of blemishes on their skin.”
In fact, dermatologists often recommend that people with oily skin and acne avoid saunas and steam rooms. “If you have problem skin or acne,” says Dr. Riegel, “you may be producing excess oil in the heat. You may also be sweating. That will only make the problem worse.”
People with thin skin are also advised to avoid saunas. Thinner skin means that capillaries are unusually close to the surface of the face, making them more likely to burst when exposed to heat.
For sauna lovers with oily and thin skin who don’t want to avoid the sauna, Ilona from Hungary recommends covering the face with a damp cloth for protection.
Doctors say another danger of saunas is that they can become a breeding ground for bacteria. The most common infections are athlete’s foot, plantar warts, and folliculitis, an inflammation of the hair follicles that causes tiny white heads to appear on the skin. To prevent these unpleasant sensations, lie down on your own towel while in the sauna, wear something like rubber sandals on your feet, and try to disinfect the sauna at least once a day.
Once you have followed these basic guidelines, you can try recommendations from dermatologists, estheticians, or even the person sitting next to you. For example: shaving your legs in a sauna or steam room. The moisture in the air will soften the hair on your legs, making for a smoother, more even shave. While some gyms won’t let you shave inside, others will allow it if you use your own towel.
Rub your skin with a loofah, polishing powder or pumice stone. Sauna users report that the skin becomes silky and smooth.
If you swim or take a hot tub, you can use a sauna to remove the chlorine smell from your skin. Before entering the sauna, wash yourself with soap and shampoo, let yourself sweat for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cold water. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin before entering the sauna, otherwise the chlorine will penetrate deeper into your open pores.
On cold winter days, take a bit of summer warmth from the sauna. After the sauna, put on socks instead of tights and warm materials, such as cotton instead of silk. Practitioners claim that in this way, even in harsh winter conditions, the heat brought by the sauna can be retained in the body.