Yes, sauna is great for your skin. A good sauna session will cleanse your skin and flush out toxins and impurities. As your body temperature rises – your pores open and trigger a deep cleaning sweat. It will boost your heart rate and send increased levels of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to your skin tissue.
WHAT DOES SAUNA DO FOR YOUR SKIN?
When you enter a sauna the first thing that happens is your body temperature begins to rise. This triggers a series of biological responses including – intense sweating, cleansing of the skin, system detoxification, and increased cardiovascular activity.
Each of these plays a role in cleaning and rejuvenating your skin. Let’s take a look at each of these and see exactly how they affect your skin.
SWEATING IS KEY
The first thing you’ll notice when you enter a sauna is the heat. And spending just 10-15 minutes inside will result in a substantial increase in body temperature. Sweating plays a key role in cooling the body down and is great for your skin. The heat of a sauna will open the pores of your skin and kick-start a healing sweat.
Sweating is great for your skin. As sweat droplets push through your pores and land on the surface they carry with them a powerful natural anti-biotic called dermcidin.
Dermcidin is a protein released by the eccrine sweat glands. It’s part of our natural defense system and kills microbes and pathogens that accumulate on our skin. Sweating is our skin’s natural way of cleansing itself.
SKIN CLEANSING
Sauna is a great way to remove impurities from your skin and get a deep skin cleanse. As sweat droplets push their way through your pores they cleanse the skin of toxins and by-products.
Spending just 15 minutes in a sauna will really help remove trapped toxins and clean your skin at a cellular level.
Both the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands will get to work and begin removing embedded grime leaving the skin looking and feeling much fresher.
DEEP SKIN DETOX
Sauna is great for detoxing your whole system – especially your skin tissue. The cleansing sweat you experience during a sauna session flushes out harmful toxins and begins to detox your skin in just 10-15 minutes.
Sauna helps remove harmful pollutants such as BPAs, PCBs, heavy metals, and pesticides that can accumulate in and on the skin.
BPA (Bisphenol A) and PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are particularly worrisome. These are industrial chemicals that are particularly harmful to the body. BPAs are found in plastics and often leach into our foods when stored in plastic containers.
PCBs were widely used in electrical equipment until they were banned. However, they remain a persistent threat in our food and water sources to this day. For more information see our guide to Sauna and Detox.
INCREASED BLOOD FLOW
As your body heats up in the sauna, your heart rate increases, boosting cardiovascular activity. This results in great benefits for the health of your skin.
Increased cardiovascular activity means increased levels of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood are being pushed through your body. This is great news for your skin.
The increased blood supply really helps the skin repair damaged tissue and generate new healthy cells. Not only will you be feeling much better, but you’ll look fresher too.
HOW DOES SAUNA CLEANSE YOUR SKIN?
Sauna cleanses your skin by opening your pores and triggering a deep sweat that flushes toxins, impurities, and byproducts from deep within the skin tissue.
It is a great way to get an all-over, healthy deep clean of your skin and pores. As the sweat droplets move through the pores they wash away pollutants that have accumulated with time. Make sure you dress appropriately for best results, see – what to wear in a sauna.
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ARE INFRARED SAUNAS GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN?
Yes, infrared saunas are great for your skin. An infrared sauna heats the body directly using light waves called ‘infrared energy’. This is different to a traditional sauna that heats the air around the body – that then in turn heats the body.
However, the results from the two are the same. Both types of sauna trigger an all-over healthy sweat that gets to work cleaning and rejuvenating the skin. Check out the Best Infrared Saunas of 2024.
WHAT ABOUT SENSITIVE SKIN?
If you have sensitive skin, or any type of skin condition, you should consult a healthcare professional for advice before taking a sauna.
Saunas are suitable for the vast majority of people, but if you have any concerns you should talk to a doctor. For more information see our post on – Is Sauna Safe?
Some people with sensitive skin produce sweat with a higher level of salt. This high salt sweat can lead to irritation. And, people with the skin condition rosacea should consult a dermatologist before taking a sauna.
Is Sauna Good For Wrinkles?
There is no evidence to say that saunas are good for wrinkles. Beware of sites that claim otherwise. They may however help prevent wrinkles by flushing out the toxins and impurities that contribute to the formation of wrinkles.
Is Sauna Good For Psoriasis and Eczema?
Sauna therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, especially infrared sauna. Infrared light energy has been shown to reduce inflammation, cleanse the skin, and increase circulation to the affected areas.
It also boosts the immune system and reduces stress levels which can help prevent flare-ups. For more information see – treating psoriasis & eczema with infrared sauna.
Is Sauna Good For Acne?
According to the good people over at the Peak Recovery & Health Center – sauna may help control the basic causes of acne by clearing away the blockages that cause the condition.
Sauna makes you sweat. This softens the skin and removes excess oil and pieces of dead skin that have built up and clogged your pores. This action may help prevent acne.
If you have acne, you should consult a dermatologist to discuss your condition before jumping into a sauna and hoping for the best.
• WHAT ABOUT STEAM SAUNAS?
Do you like the feel of hot steam against your skin?
Check out the best home Steam Saunas → over here!
Can You Have a Sauna Every Day?
There is no fixed rule for how often you should use a sauna. Experienced users sauna 3-4 times per week. However, if you are a beginner it is best to start low and gradually work your way up.
The best advice is to stay within your comfort zone. Everyone is different. Don’ push the body too hard and gradually work your way up to a more regular routine if you feel happy to do so.
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About the Author
ELLIE COLE
• Health & Wellness Consultant
Ellie is a fully trained and highly skilled massage therapist. Hailing from sunny Florida, she brings a wealth of expertise to the health and wellness realm. She holds a LST qualification in Massage from the esteemed Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and specializes in techniques that promote relaxation and healing.
Her experience extends beyond massage and encompasses a diverse range of therapies including infrared sauna. She developed her expertise at the Equinox Sports Club in San Francisco and has led sessions in pilates fusion, outdoor run clubs, and vinyasa yoga. Ellie is highly regarded for her ability to tailor treatments to individual needs.
When not immersed in the world of holistic wellness and local sports and fitness clubs she enjoys exploring Florida’s natural beauty and participating in outdoor activities. With her unique blend of expertise, experience, and passion for wellness Ellie looks forward to helping you discover the benefits of sauna and sauna therapy.
sauna is good for skin. sweating cleans your skin and helps it stay healthy. people who sauna a lot have great skin.
Yeah, sauna is GREAT for your skin. Defo. Although you can look a little red faced when you first come out. But dont worry, drink lots of water and in a little while the redness will fade away. But when you first come out you can really look hot and bothered. 😀
sauna makes my skin feel so silky too. it’s great for a quick pick me up.