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Suffering from acne is an extreme problem at present for any young or adult. And if you’re already suffering from it, you know how frustrating it is to deal with those uncertain pimples and breakouts.
Also, if you’re suffering from acne or breakouts, you’ve used tons of products to get rid of it, right? And we can say those didn’t help!
What if I tell you that saunas can effectively fight acne? Well, you might wonder, how do saunas help acne?
Yes, Saunas help acne. Saunas help your body to clear the pores and impurities from inside, fight against acne and prevent future pimples and breakouts. Saunas open the skin pores and help the impurities to come out. However, overstaying in the Sauna can backfire too! And they can accelerate the breakouts. So be careful!
To treat acne and prevent future pimples, it’s necessary to know the proper use of Sauna and the procedure.
So, we’ve prepared this guide for those who’re actually eyeing to know whether saunas are helpful against acne and the proper ways to use them.
Do Saunas Help Acne?
Saunas are like an exercise for your body’s pores. Like your face or hair, your skin pores also need deep cleaning. And the best way to get it is to have a steamy bath, also known as, Sauna.
The main reason behind acne is the oil glands underneath our skin. These glands are also called sebum. When these sebums, dead cells, and other impurities like oil, dirt, and debris get clogged together, they result in swelling and inflammation. And ultimately, it turns out as acne or pimples.
To solve these issues, it’s quite common for people to use different inorganic products. But unfortunately, they backfire in most cases and worsen the situation.
However, there’s an easier and natural way to fight against acne and prevent them. And the solution is a “Steam bath or Sauna.”
As you already know, sebums are the main reason for acne or pimples. So what having a sauna or steam bath does is that they open the pores through the generation of heat.
Saunas are proven to cure pimples and acne problems. It’s even estimated that taking a regular sauna with a proper skincare routine can help to eliminate acne problems by 50% or more.
When you’re in a steam bath, the skin pores open up. This lets out the bacteria or impurities from underneath your skin due to the heat. Alongside clearing the pores, steam or Sauna also increases skin hydration and blood circulation.
And now talking about preventing acne, saunas also help heal skin from dead cells. Alongside hydrating, saunas help in the absorption of nutrients.
In short, a sauna or steam bath allows the dirt, oil, and dead cells to escape from the body by opening the pores. And it also helps to heal and hydrate the skin.
But the question is, how long should you stay in the Sauna to heal acne? Also, can the Sauna cause acne? Well, keep reading as we’ll be answering and clearing these common queries too!
Do Saunas Have Any Side Effects?
Saunas are like medical care to someone looking to get rid of acne. So like any skincare product or ingredient, inappropriate use of a steam bath or staying in a sauna for too long can also have side effects.
For your information, yes, Sauna can make acne worse. If you do it frequently, it can result in more breakouts, inflammation, and pimples.
Besides getting acne from frequent saunas or steam baths, your body can be infected by bacteria too. Here are a couple of ways how a steam room can cause acne-
1. Bacterial Overgrowth
If you get the steam bath in an unclean environment or if the water is not fresh, it can lead to bacterial infection. Besides, as a steam bath opens pores, those bacteria can go inside the skin and help in the formation of pimples and cause breakouts.
2. Overproduction of Oil
Hot water or high temperatures open the pores in steam baths or saunas. During this process, dead cells and sebums exit the body. However, this process can lead to overproduction of oil inside the skin and can cause more breakouts and acne.
While planning or having a steam bath, you should remember that their main purpose is to open the pores. So before you dive into the sauna bath, firstly, you should take a bath and clean your body properly.
Also, avoid making contact or scratching any part of your body. The ideal time for staying in a sauna is about 10-15 minutes. Also, check the sauna temperature beforehand. Although the temperature depends on tolerance, the ideal temperature range is between 65C (149F) to 104C (220F).
Proper Ways to Get Steam bath or Sauna to treat Acne
The standard practice is to take a sauna or steam bath only once or twice a week. The sauna or steam baths are perfect for those looking to get away with white or blackheads. Nevertheless, saunas prevent and fight against acne too!
As you already know, getting inappropriate or frequent saunas can make the situation worse.
To get the best result from the steam bath, it’s important to know the proper ways to get a sauna. Moreover, following the correct steps also leads to minimizing the side effects.
Here are a few must-follow steps that you should follow every time you get a steam bath or sauna-
Good Skincare Routine
Having a Good skincare routine is essential before you get a steam bath or sauna. As you’re already suffering from acne problems, it means you probably have oily skin that leads to breakouts. So, in that case, you should keep Glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide on your skincare ingredient list.
Washing Your face or Body
As common people, we’re only concerned with our faces. But do you know acne can also occur in other parts of your body alongside your face? Well, yes, you heard it right.
Acne or breakouts can occur in other parts of your body too. So before you go into the steam bath, you should take a shower and use body shower gels to clean the body properly and a facial cleanser to clean your face thoroughly.
Take 15 Minutes Steam Bath
After you’re done cleaning your body properly, it’s time to get into the steam bath. Take off your clothes and sit in the bath for about 10-15 minutes with a temperature range between 65C to 104C. The temperature tolerance capacity varies from person to person. So don’t overstretch things.
Also, don’t touch your face or body with bare hands while sitting in the steam. You can wear dry and clean clothes to remove the sweat.
Washing Your face and Body (Again)
You must wash your body and face immediately after coming out of the sauna. Use natural ingredients or natural products to clean the body and face, if you can. As the pores are already open, artificial products can worsen acne.
Use Moisturizers
Although saunas help moisturize your body and skin, you still need to use a moisturizer or serum. Also, you should not go directly into the sunlight after getting a steam bath.
So next time, before you want to get a steam bath or sauna, keep these points in mind and do accordingly to get the best results and avoid the side effects.
Is Sauna Beneficial for All People?
No, getting a sauna or a steam bath is not ideal for any type of person. Specifically, people with sensitive skin should avoid getting sauna or steam baths as this might lead to discomfort.
According to Dr. Gilbert, the amount of salt in sweat on sensitive skin is high. So when hot steam or water is added, it can be irritating.
Besides, if you already have any skin issues like eczema or psoriasis, getting a steam bath will cause irritation.
Alongside sensitive skin, people with dry skin can feel irritation and reddishness after getting a steam bath.
So for people with either dry or sensitive skin, it’s recommended to get help from a dermatologist before you want to take a steam bath.
FAQ
Do saunas give you clear skin?
Ans: Yes, Saunas can help to get clear skin. While getting a sauna or steam bath, people sweat heavily. And as saunas help to clean pores and glands, they remove the toxins and impurities from the body. As a result, you’ll get clean, smooth and acne-free skin.
Are Saunas good for your hair?
Ans: yes, saunas are helpful for your hair, and they accelerate hair growth. Saunas help in blood circulation, collagen production, and hydration. And due to high blood flow and blood circulation, the blood is transferred to all parts, including hair, and results in hair growth.
What Should You Wear in a Sauna?
Ans: The ideal clothes for steam baths or sauna are cotton clothes. Wearing a cotton cloth will help in air flow, absorb the heat waves, and allow your skin to breathe properly. Normally, it’s highly discouraged to wear tight clothes or underwear. Always wear clean, loose, and breathable clothes.
Conclusion
Cleaning your skin with cleansers and serums is not enough to clear or prevent acne. And if you have serious acne or breakouts, taking hot steam or a sauna will be the perfect solution.
Saunas are highly effective and highly suggested to eliminate acne problems and prevent future breakouts.
So do saunas help acne? Well, you already know it and learned the proper ways to get saunas or steam baths as well. Now it’s your turn to try our methods and see the result for yourself!
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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