When it comes to skincare, there are countless ways to smooth, tighten, and moisturize your way to a glowing complexion. You can zap red lights at your forehead to reduce wrinkles, or you can slather on the K-beauty staple ginseng to refresh dull skin. And, if you don’t mind a little heat, you could spend some time in a steamy sauna to transform your epidermis.
First, a little background: Though saunas are available worldwide, these blazing-hot rooms are thought to have originated in Finland. The practice is so beloved that sauna culture was even added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, a fancy way of signaling just how significant saunas are to Finnish life. Today, saunas are found in both private homes and public facilities, and some stats suggest that 90% of Finns use a sauna at least once a week.
The benefits of sauna-ing become obvious once you try it: It can be warming in the winter, and it’s a great way to relax and take a time-out from daily life. But if you step out of a sauna and notice how flushed and sweaty your skin looks, you might wonder if the practice is good for your skin or if you’re only doing damage. However, the answer isn’t always straightforward.
The skin benefits of sauna sessions
If you feel like your blood is pumping when you spend time in a sauna, that’s because, well, it is. And that alone can do wonders for your skin. The better your circulation, the more efficiently your body delivers nutrients to your outer layer. This is thought to help the skin in multiple ways, from speeding up repair (such as if you have a cut or an acne scar) to boosting collagen production.
Saunas are particularly powerful for those with acne-prone skin. As Dermatologist Dr. Erum N. Ilyas told Women’s Health, “The steam our skin is exposed to in a sauna has been shown to have two major benefits: improve the hydration of skin and reduce the acne-causing sebum content of our skin.” If you’re looking to up your skin’s moisture levels and banish zits, a few minutes in the sauna could do the trick.
Finally, you can do your skin some good by working up a sweat. Some experts suggest that sweating in a sauna helps remove toxins from the body — which could leave you feeling and looking better after — but there’s little scientific research to back this up. One claim that has been confirmed1, however, is that sweating creates a protective barrier on the skin. Dermatologist Dr. Kathleen S. Viscusi explained to Allure, “Sweat has been found to contain potent antimicrobial peptides, which provide the skin with natural protection from acne-causing agents like germs and bacteria.” Just be sure to wash the sweat off after your sauna session so sweat and other impurities aren’t left lingering.
Saunas aren’t always good for your skin
If you decide to take after the Finns (or if you’re from Finland yourself) and use saunas on the reg, watch out for adverse skin reactions. The heat from a sauna can be drying for some skin types, and sweating can lead to dehydration (which isn’t so good for your skin cells and body in general). After stepping out of the sauna and cleansing your skin, use a rich toner and moisturizer and make sure to drink plenty of water.
Besides washing after a sauna session, you’ll want to wash up before sauna-ing too, especially if you’re wearing makeup. As the pores soften and open from the steam, dirt and cosmetics can be absorbed into the skin, eventually causing bumps and blackheads. Sure, it can feel like a lot of work to hop in the shower twice in one day, but your skin will thank you later.
Finally, consult your doctor before taking up a sauna habit, especially if you have sensitive skin, a health condition, or if you’re taking certain medications. While saunas can be useful for some ailments (such as psoriasis2), they can worsen others.