Steam Saunas: Benefits, Features & What You Need to Know

STEAM SAUNAS

Characteristics of a Steam Sauna

Steam saunas also known as steam rooms, heat up thanks to very large water boilers that are generally stored reasonably far away from the steam room itself. Generally speaking it’s this reason why home steam saunas or home steam rooms are undesirable from a price point of view as they are more costly to install as you require plumbing to and from the two rooms and can be costly to maintain.

Water boilers today are generally electric today but very old school water heaters actually sometimes used wood-stoves similar to wood-burning saunas. So, while a traditional sauna will use steam only to cool down the air occasionally, steam rooms use that same steam to actually heat the room as a whole. The result is that the air in a steam room is humid and holds in heat easier.

In the same way that humid climates generally feel hotter than dryer climates, the same can be true for steam rooms. Even though wood-burning saunas consistently run hotter than steam rooms, it’s not uncommon to hear people say that they believe steam rooms are actually the hotter of the two.

Steam Sauna & Wet Sauna Benefits

While it may look like other sauna types have all the benefits one could ever look for in a sauna or home sauna, there are still several good reasons to seek out and invest in a steam sauna.

Regarding skin health, some sauna experts may be surprised to see skin health being tied to steam saunas and wet saunas rather than old school traditional saunas. There is a good amount of research that shows traditional saunas and dry saunas are rather good for skin health but every reason that they benefit skin health is actually even more true in steam saunas! Any sauna that can get you sweaty is good for skin health because the body releases natural oils and compounds while you sweat which are very helpful for restoring the natural shine and health of your skin.

But a key benefit that steam saunas hold which can make a big difference in your skin health is the humidity in the air. Humidity is actually very helpful for keeping our skin elastic and away from a state of being too dry. By making regular trips to a steam sauna or wet sauna, you can conceivably boost your skin health two-fold. Especially if you live in an especially dry or cold climate, the humidity of a steam sauna could easily make a big difference in your skin health. So investing in a steamroom for home is wise for those with dry skin or skin conditions.

Because of the humidity in a steam sauna and wet sauna, these steam rooms are uniquely good for clearing out and restoring the sinuses, which is unique compared to the other sauna types. By spending time in a steam sauna, you are functionally giving your sinuses access to the same environment as a room with a humidifier. Each deep breath into your nose or mouth will begin to hydrate the build-ups in your sinuses and nasal cavity and make it easier to dislodge them later.

One thing worth noting about steam rooms and sinus health is that if you are dealing with a serious illness, you should ask a medical professional before taking on steam room therapy to clear out your sinuses. The heat and intensity of a steam room can easily overwhelm a sick person.