Steam Room vs. Sauna- What’s the Difference?
There’s nothing like some down time in the sauna or steam room for all of us devoted sauna and steam fans. It’s especially nice and an extra treat after a rigorous workout or training session.
The most obvious difference between a steam and sauna room is one is dry and the other is wet. Steam rooms emit moist heat and saunas provide dry heat. However, steam rooms and saunas share many therapeutic benefits: they both reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, promote sweating, and cleanse the skin by opening up the pores. Steam rooms are often more comfortable for people with allergies or congestion in their chest or sinuses. Saunas tend to be the better choice for people with conditions that can be aggravated by humidity, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Determining which one is best for you, will rely primarily on your preference. Additionally, you can talk with your health care provider to make sure that using a sauna or steam room is safe for you based on your health status. In the meanwhile, check out our detailed comparison chart below.
Sauna- Dry Heat
– Usually made of wood.
– Promotes relaxation and general well-being.
-Dry heat enhances oxygen and nutrient supply to muscles and deep tissue, relieving tired, achy muscles.
– Promotes sweating.
-Improves cardiovascular health.
– Sweating opens pores and can temporarily cleanse the outer skin.
-Produces immune enhancing effects.
-Glowing healthy skin because blood flow to the skin increases during a sauna session.
-People who don’t like moist heat often prefer dry heat sessions in a sauna.
-Regulates and stimulates the flow of blood, and makes the metabolism work more efficiently and faster.
-Quicker clearance of lactic acid from post workout muscle soreness.
-Research has shown that increasing body temperature prior to the onset of sleep helps promote quality sleep.
Possible Disadvantages
-Prolonged sessions in a sauna increase the risks of dehydration.
-Elevating the body’s temperature may increase the risk of birth defects in pregnant women.
– High temperatures can have an affect on blood pressure for some users, increasing blood pressure in some and decreasing it in others. Limiting extended time in sauna can be an effective preventative measure.
Steam- Hydrating Heat
-Usually made of glass and tile.
– Soothes sinus and chest congestion.
– Relief of dry throat and nasal passages.
– Provides relief from stiff joints.
-Sweating opens pores and can temporarily cleanse the outer skin.
-Hydrating for skin.
-Regulates and stimulates the flow of blood, and makes the metabolism work more efficiently and faster.
-People who cannot endure dry heat often prefer steam rooms.
-Research has shown that increasing body temperature prior to the onset of sleep helps promote quality sleep.
Possible Disadvantages:
– Steam baths that use tap water may be contaminated, and those particles will be absorbed by the skin (such as chlorine, or other chemicals which are harmful to the body).
– The humidity that the steam room produces is an easy breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, if it is not cleaned on a regular basis.
– Improper installation of a steam room can or may cause headaches.
Please tell us which one you prefer, sauna or steam?
