What Is The Difference between a Sauna and a Steam Room?
It may sound surprising, but still, many people use the terms sauna and steam room for the same thing. They believe they are different names for the same relaxing experience. The truth is, they are not.
Both sauna and steam room cause sweating, detoxification, and relaxation. However, their environments and functionality are entirely different. They even offer various benefits that many people may not even notice. Understanding the differences isn’t just for learning. It can help you choose the right method for your wellness goals.
In this article, we will outline the differences between a sauna and a steam room, enabling you to choose the right one for your specific objective.
What Is A Sauna?
It is a small room with a heated environment to help people relax and sweat. Dry heat inside a sauna room typically comes from a wood stove or an electric heating unit. Modern sauna centers use infrared panels to generate dry heat. The use of saunas for hygiene and health purposes has a rich history that spans many generations.
A sauna room maintains low humidity, which leads to more sweating. On the other hand, its temperature is higher than a steam room, which can improve blood circulation and help detoxification.
What Is A Steam Room?
In a steam room, humidity and heat are produced by a steam-generating machine. Similar to a sauna, people use them to relax and open their pores. They are popular among fitness enthusiasts because of their usefulness after workouts or during wellness routines. The moist heat in a steam room improves blood circulation and loosens stiff joints.
Their temperature is lower than a sauna, but has higher humidity. Such an environment can make it harder to breathe. Using a steam room may provide relief for sinus blockages and other breathing issues.
A Comparison between Sauna and Steam Room
Both of them offer relaxing heat therapy. However, they differ in temperature, humidity, and health benefits. That’s why people must choose them based on their personal goals and preferences. We have made a table to compare both so you can understand their differences at a glance:
How Do They Impact The Skin?
Saunas and steam rooms are good for skin health. However, they affect our skin in different ways due to their diverse environments.
Using a sauna encourages detoxification through sweat and may leave your skin looking radiant. It extends the skin’s pores and ejects impurities to support overall skin clarity. Dry heat in the sauna promotes increased body warmth and improved blood circulation.
In contrast, a steam room intensely hydrates the skin to make it feel soft and refreshed. It loosens dirt and oil from the pores to wash the skin. They are particularly advantageous for individuals with oily or acne-prone skin.
If we summarize, saunas are excellent for detoxifying, while steam rooms provide hydration and deeper cleansing.
Health Benefits of Sauna and Steam Room
Let’s compare their health benefits. Each provides unique health benefits and affects your body differently. Check the discussion below:
⇨ Detoxification: Both of them eliminate toxins through sweating and can equally help detox your body. Their high temperature causes sweating that flushes out impurities such as heavy metals, chemicals, and waste. As a result, you will feel more refreshed and revitalized.
⇨ Respiratory support: Comparatively, steam rooms provide better respiratory benefits. Its moist air relieves congestion and extends airways, which is beneficial for people with asthma, colds, and seasonal allergies. Saunas can also support respiratory health, but may be less efficacious for nasal or sinus relief.
⇨ Muscle relaxation: If you are an active person and want deep muscle relaxation, saunas are an ideal option. They can be highly beneficial after intense workouts. On the other hand, steam rooms are good for reducing stiffness and soreness, especially for people with arthritis or joint pain.
⇨ Mental wellness: Both are also good for your mental wellness. The heat from the sauna and the steam room can calm our nervous system and relax the body. They reduce mental fatigue and can even improve sleep quality.
Who Should Choose Which?
Finally, it is time to decide which is ideal for whom! The choice mostly depends on whether a sauna or a steam room works for you. However, below is a quick overview:
Sauna generates dry heat. So, if your target is muscle relaxation, cardiovascular health improvement, and detoxification, you should choose a sauna. Instead of regular ones, an infrared sauna can be more beneficial.
If you have dry skin, steam rooms are a more practical choice. The warm steam is highly beneficial to hydrate your skin and deeply cleanse it. It can also ease breathing, congestion, allergies, or asthma if taken properly.
Conclusion
Both sauna and steam room provide unique benefits. However, sauna, particularly infrared, provides a more versatile and comfortable experience. It generates dry heat that’s easier to tolerate for longer sessions without excessive humidity and sweating. If you continue, it can improve your cardiovascular endurance and detoxify your body for overall wellness.
We recommend discussing a sauna instructor and following their guidance for the maximum result. Do you want to try and enjoy the benefits of a modern sauna? Join our infrared sauna fitness studio in Franklin, TN.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes a sauna from a steam room?
The type of heat is the major difference. The heat in saunas is dry, but steam rooms generate warm, moist air.
Can you use both a sauna and a steam room?
There is nothing wrong with trying both. But taking them on different days is a good idea. Also, listen to your body to avoid overheating.
Which is better after a workout?
Post-workout sauna sessions help enhance circulation, support muscle healing, and lessen muscle pain.
Which is better for detoxification?
Infrared saunas are better for detox as they heat the body more deeply and promote more intense sweating.
