Let’s be honest with ourselves: at the first sight of a pimple, your first reaction is probably not, “Let me go for a good sweat in the sauna!”, right? And we can probably guarantee that you don’t have a steam room that you’ve constructed for yourself right in your home to rid yourself of blackheads and whiteheads. When we think of saunas, the image we call to mind is immediately that of people sweating in their towels, surrounded by steam as they either relax peacefully or squirm around in the discomfort of the heat. If you can take a little sweat for as little as 15 minutes at a time, steam rooms and saunas actually present tremendous benefits for your skin.
Sit Back and Open the Pores
The temperature and the steam of the sauna works to open up the pores in your entire body. This is one of the reasons why people who suffer not just from facial acne, but body acne, spend time in the steam rooms. When you subject your body to the effects of steam, your pores open up, releasing some of that clogged bacteria and other toxins that are known to cause pimples. The steam also forces your body to sweat, which is another great way to rid your body of toxins. In addition, the elements of your sweat – most notably the sodium – work to wash away the dead skin cells, leaving your entire body feeling topically rejuvenated. However, once you get out of the steam room, there are some steps you need to take to make sure that the bacteria and other toxins don’t just sit on your body and linger. If they do, then you’re simply reversing any of the cleansing that you did while you were in the steam room. It is recommended that right after exiting the sauna, you take a quick warm shower with a gentle cleanser, simply to make sure that you are washing all the dirt and gunk that your body tried to flush itself of.
Steam Rooms are Not For Everyone
You should be advised that there is no evidence of backing from the major dermatological groups or organizations, such as the American Academy of Dermatology, of steam rooms and saunas as a viable cure for your acne. Does it help people? Yes. Does it open their pores and rid them of toxins? Absolutely. But this is a practice that should be combined with a healthy, daily skin regiment, such as using a mild cleanser and moisturizer to eliminate dirt, oils, and bacteria from your face. On the bright side, steam rooms and saunas are known to help with muscle tension and stress levels, so if you’re looking for a calming activity to soothe your aches and potentially clear up your skin, step right into the steam!
