Do you know the existence of saunas dates back to somewhere around 2000 BC in northern Europe? This old practice has turned into a modern phenomenon to help people find moments of relaxation during their busy schedules, not just in Europe but across the globe. That’s because of the many benefits, including beauty benefits of a sauna.
As per popular belief, saunas were invented by The Finns and used as baths. These baths were a source to cleanse the body and soul. Initially, they were built from logs and rocks and heated with the help of a central fire. Since there was no proper heating system or gas these days, saunas took one and a half days to heat up, and the heating lasted 12 hours.
People must’ve had to book a sauna a day before! But not anymore. Saunas have become excessively popular and accessible over the decades. They’re used to relieve stress and improve overall well-being.
But do you know saunas render beauty benefits too? If this is your first time going to a sauna, here’s why you should be there already!
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What Are The Beauty Benefits Of A Sauna?
There are a wealth of beauty benefits you’ll enjoy when you go to a sauna. It makes your skin firm, preventing premature aging, including fine lines and wrinkles. Then, it helps you de-stress mentally, a necessity to create beauty from within. On top of that, the heat from the steam opens your pores and detoxifies them, giving you clean skin. Here are some of the other beauty benefits of a sauna that you’re going to enjoy.
Improves Skin Strength
Collagen is a building block of our skin that prevents wrinkles and sagging. Besides foods like eggs, bone broth, and artificial creams, saunas help produce collagen. The production of collagen enhances our skin and gives it a youthful look. All the dead skin cells and debris accumulated on the skin are easily removed by spending an hour in the sauna. This is one of the most noticable beauty benefits of going to a saune.
Relaxing
Tired of your daily routine and need some relaxation? Go to a nearby sauna to relax. The heat and warm ambiance of the sauna helps to relax all body muscles. Most saunas also have massage therapists that remove all knots and relieve your neck and shoulders from stiffness.
The human heart rate rises, and the blood vessels dilate in the surrounding of a sauna, which increases the blood flow and is excellent for overall health. The quiet place without distractions is the perfect getaway to relax for a few hours from the usual noise and pollution of the outer world. True beauty comes from within, which is one of the many reasons it’s important to de-stress.
Anti-Aging
One of the steam’s most famous beauty benefits is its anti-aging power. Several studies have observed that anti-aging is linked with saunas. Sauna exposes us to heat that removes all dead skin cells and adds another layer of new cells. The heat further helps our skin to breathe and function properly- keeping it as young as ever.
Clears Out Pores
Clogged pores cause acne and skin dullness. Instead of buying expensive cleansers and creams to clear out pores, you can spend a few hours in a sauna to clear out pores. This beauty benefit from a sauna is one of the most budget-friendly ways to clean your pores deeply.
Immune System
Saunas include several activities, such as ice swimming, that improve well-being and contribute to fixing the immune system. Regular bathers suffer less from flu and tend to have a low CRP. But please don’t forget, it won’t help if you’re already coughing or sneezing.
Better Sleep
Insomniacs must try the sauna because it regulates sleep. It improves sleep quality and increases it as well. 85% of individuals that visit a sauna have reported that they could sleep peacefully without disturbance after their sessions.
Stress Management
Stress management and beauty go hand in hand, making it a key benefit to heading to a sauna. Instead of taking stress-relieving pills, try a day in the sauna to relieve stress and feel light-hearted. Those hours spent in the ambiance will provide muscle relaxation and detach you from all worries of the world for the time being.
Burn Calories
The high temperatures inside a sauna increase the heartbeat, just like while exercising. If you stand up, you will lose some calories. But don’t spend hours inside a sauna to shed pounds because that won’t happen!
Prevent Fluid Retention
Sweating in a sauna helps eliminate toxins and excess liquid in the body. It aids in weight loss and helps the body to move freely without feeling heavy.
Brain Health
The time spent in a sauna benefits the brain due to the heat and humidity. It improves brain health and mental well-being, protects from aging, and keeps the mind fresh and young. As per research, people who go to a sauna at least 4 times a week are less likely to get dementia, heart stroke, and Alzheimer’s.
Boost Cardiovascular Health
Saunas reduce the risks of heart disease and improve blood pressure. Moderate sauna sessions increase the heart rate to 100 beats per minute, and higher temperatures lead to 150 beats per minute.
Chronic Inflammation
Sauna may reduce chronic inflammation and helps the body deal with the stress that causes inflammation.
Social Therapy
Wanna hang out with friends while relaxing? There’s no better place than a sauna. It’s a place for social therapy, especially for adults, who can chat and relax simultaneously.
Clears Sinuses
No one feels pretty when walking around with a congested head and a tissue box in their hand. To feel beautiful, it’s essential to take care of yourself. That’s how many of the health benefits of a sauna go hand in hand with the beauty benefits of a sauna. The heat inside the sauna room is excellent for removing the sinuses and clearing your head and nose. It opens all mucous membranes inside the body and clears all blockages restricting breathing.
Why does Finland have so many saunas?
Finland is known as the land of saunas. The country has over 3 million saunas for a population of 5 million. That’s a mindblowing figure for a country where saunas outnumbered cars.
Finns love saunas. Because they understand its benefits and the comfort it brings along while living a strenuous life. With distinctive loyalty that marks the enjoyability of a sauna, Finland quickly takes the crown of being the best place to enjoy the sauna.
Finns believe that it’s a place of purity, which is why some of their women give birth in saunas because they’re lined with soot that resists bacteria. They also believe it to be a poor man’s pharmacy as it heals people, and if the sauna fails to cure someone, nothing else will work.
Saunas have been a historic part of Finland’s existence, and the people believe it to be a place of healing and relaxation that keeps them on the go.
What is unique about the Finnish sauna?
A Finnish or dry sauna differs from standard steam rooms or wet saunas. The temperature is set around 80 to 100 degrees, and humidity is kept around 5 – 20%. The dry heat is used to relax the people.
There are four different types of Finnish saunas:
- Tropical Bath
- Bio sauna
- Russian Sauna
- Steam bath
The Finnish sauna has two elements: structure and element.
The structure sauna is made of wood and equipped with benches and a heater to heat the interior. The floor is made from solid treated wood, whereas its grill is formed using thermo aspen wood.
The heater is used to heat the sauna at 80 to 100 degrees. Electric heaters and saunas also warm the stones and raise the heat. High-quality material like OAK is integral in retaining the heat inside a sauna. Other modern elements like stainless steel and glass allow bathers to see outside.
How To Use A Sauna
- Allow your body to get used to room temperature.
- Don’t heat the sauna directly to 80 degrees, and let the intervals do their work, so your body gets used to it.
- For the first 10 minutes, don’t exceed the temperature. The humidity might be annoying, but don’t throw water on the stones.
- First-timers might feel dizzy initially. Try getting up from the bench.
- Regulate body warmth using the shower in the sauna
- Take some rest
- Wrap yourself in a bathrobe and lie down for 10-15 minutes.
- Now, go for the second interval of 10 minutes and repeat the above steps and let your skin get softer and supple.
- Remember to moisturize your skin at the end.
- Take snacks like yogurt, fruits, and herbal teas. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
People Who Need To Avoid Saunas
Saunas aren’t for everyone. Not everyone can tolerate the heat; some people also suffer from claustrophobia. Here’s a list of those people who need to avoid saunas:
- Suffering from heart diseases
- Having frequent chest pain
- People with heart failures
- Pregnant women
- Suffering from epilepsy
- Recently had surgery- unhealed wounds.
- People taking antibiotics
- People on drugs or alcohol
- Children
Precautions To Take When Going To A Sauna
- Hydrate yourself by having herbal teas or water to compensate for the fluid loss
- 15 minutes per session are enough
- Don’t use antipersi[erant spray because they stop sweating.
- Certain medications don’t mix well with the heat. Consult your doctor before coming to a sauna
- Even though sauna is good for the skin, people suffering from eczema rosacea must avoid it.
- Men concerned with fertility should avoid saunas because high temperature decreases sperm count.
- Don’t use a sauna if you’re ill.
- People with heart conditions must consult their doctor before using a sauna
- Ensure you take a bath after your sauna session to eliminate the toxins.
Traditional Sauna Vs. Infrared Sauna
Traditional saunas entice us a lot, but their heat is overwhelming, and people often can’t bear it. Infrared saunas are much better because they provide a calm environment bearable by the human body. And the infrared rays dig deep into the human body, releasing sweat rapidly.
Risks Involved In Using Saunas
- Causes dehydration if you don’t have water or spend too much time inside the sauna. This further leads to dizziness, nausea, and higher thirst levels.
- Severe dehydration inside saunas, if not treated adequately, leads to kidney failure, low BP, heat stroke, seizures, unconsciousness, and in worse cases, coma.
- Stresses the heart hence not suitable for people suffering from high anxiety and major heart diseases.
- Affects fertility by reducing the sperm count
- It may cause leg pain due to sudden temperature changes.
DIY Sauna
Is it possible to have a DIY sauna? Why not! Everything’s possible if you’ve followed the proper instructions. Several people don’t wish to go to a sauna due to multiple reasons, and one of them is the fear of contracting germs, claustrophobia, etc.
Here is a DIY sauna for people who feel comfortable in their own space and don’t wish to spend money elsewhere. Building a sauna at home from scratch might be costly, around $4000 to $7000, but it’s an excellent investment if you love saunas.
It’s best to hire a professional to build a sauna at home. The procedure takes at least 2-4 days, and overall expenditure might reach $13000.
- Make sure saunas indoors are entirely safe.
- The chosen situation shouldn’t have excess humidity or flood risk.
- Choose a location. It could be outdoors, in your basement, or in the bath.
- Rather than building bit by bit, order a sauna kit from amazon and install it to avoid the tremendous hassle.
- You can use gas, wood, or electricity to heat the sauna. The decision is all yours!
- If building from scratch, choose sustainable materials for the insides
- Don’t forget to install insulation, vapor barrier, and paneling
- Add aesthetics of your choice
Tools Needed
- Staple gun
- Hammer
- Saw
- Level
- Drill
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
FAQ
How long should you stay in a sauna?
A maximum of 20 minutes are more than enough in a sauna, but it’s best to spend 15 minutes.
How to use a sauna to lose weight?
The sauna can help you lose a few pounds due to excessive sweating and increased heart rate, but it’s not an ideal way to lose weight. Instead, stick with a healthy diet and exercise regularly to lose 1-2 pounds per week until you reach your desired goal.
Are saunas good for your skin?
Yes, saunas are great for the skin and help rejuvenate dead skin cells. However, people suffering from skin diseases must avoid going to saunas or consulting their doctors before making an appointment.
Where can I find a sauna?
Do a quick google search. Saunas are usually found in gyms, clubs, and salons.
What is the difference between a sauna and a steam room?
Both are used to eliminate toxins from the body and help people relax via sweating, but saunas use dry heat from rocks or stones to heat rooms. Steam rooms have moisture inside them and operate at a lower temperature than saunas.
In Conclusion
Saunas are gaining popularity among people who realize their health benefits and wish to maintain a prosperous lifestyle. Even though saunas have various benefits, from improving skin and keeping you relaxed, avoiding their excess is best recommended. People suffering from heart disease and fertility issues should consult their doctors before going to a sauna.
