Are Saunas Good For Your Skin?
Key Takeaways:
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Saunas improve overall skin health.
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Saunas increase collagen production in the skin.
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Nothing beats a healthy lifestyle for optimal skin health.
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Be sure to clean off after a sauna session.
Saunas, especially infrared saunas, offer tons of health benefits from their ability to raise core temperature. With increased circulation, saunas are able to drive more nutrients into vital organs in our body. This includes the largest organ in the body, the skin.
A sauna session has been found to increase collagen and elastin production. This helps fix dry skin, improve skin texture, smoother skin and makes for overall healthier skin.
Infrared sauna use has even shown to increase cellular turnover and the delivery of oxygen to damaged cells, decreasing the amount of dead skin cells and increasing healthy skin cells.
Is Sweating Good for Skin?
Sauna sessions are known for the large amount of sweat output. This process is due to increased core temperature, which signals for the body to cool itself down by sweating profusely.
Sweating releases toxins from the body in small amounts, but also helps moisturize the skin naturally. This is one reason why regular exercise size and sweat production have been shown to have anti-aging benefits.
The sweat runoff on your body may also help remove harmful bacteria on the skin's surface which is important to stay away from the skin's pores in order to prevent breakouts.
Should You Shower After Sauna?
Shower quickly after a sauna to eliminate acne flair ups
In a private sauna, showering before sauna is unnecessary
Pores are open after sauna, meaning they can be vulnerable to bacteria
Now that we know sweating makes for healthier skin, with the amount of sweat buildup from a sauna, you need to make sure you're cleaning up to have fewer clogged pores.
As blood flow is increased throughout the body and sweat flushes pores of the skin are wide open. There may be many dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, you should wash the sweat off as soon as possible to avoid clogged pores.
A warm shower or even a cold shower does the job of making sure pores are not blocked after a sauna session.
A cold plunge after a sauna can also lend itself to healthier skin. Cold plunges increase skin collagen and promote blood flow once you exit from the dramatic constriction of blood vessels while in the plunge.
Does Increased Circulation Improve Skin?
Increase circulation drives nutrients to all parts of the body
Blood flow to the body's largest organ is extremely important
Increased circulation from an infrared or traditional sauna increases blood flow throughout the entire body's vital organs, especially the skin. This helps rejuvenate skin health by driving more nutrients all around.
These nutrients help increase collagen production, which can help even improve the visibility of scars and skin wounds. This should answer the question, 'is a sauna good for skin?'.
Natural Ways to Improve Skin Health
Reduce sugars
Reduce processed foods
Keep as many whole foods as possible
Get quality sleep
Keep skin clean
Reduce stress
Avoid harsh sun exposure
Check your food allergies
Drink plenty of water
There are several natural ways to improve skin health, many of which revolve around healthy lifestyle habits. For many people, some food groups may cause skin issues more than others, such as dairy or even gluten. It is important to pay attention to your food intolerances, as they certainly play a role in the health of your skin.
Quality sleep is hugely important in an overall healthy lifestyle, but also in terms of skin health. That healthy skin glow starts with a good nights sleep. Lack of sleep contributes to increased stress which can decrease collagen and elastin production as well as cause wrinkles.
Overall there isn't many ways around beating a healthy lifestyle for skin health. Improving diet, exercise and sleep routine will give the skin a perfect atmosphere for health.
Healthier complexion truly isn't too far away when implementing a healthy daily routine, combining this with a perfect sauna routine will allow you to feel your best.