Saunas. Feels. So. Good.
There is nothing like sweating out the toxins—even though all you do is sit in there—which is about as exciting as watching paint dry.
But, besides just making you feel good, saunas can also help with some of your skin concerns.
So, without straddling the fence, let’s answer the question you’ve come here for.
Can Saunas help with acne?
Having acne-prone skin just seems unfair.
You see people eating unhealthy and putting on all kinds of wrong skincare products—only to find out you get acne when you do the same.
Thus, taking up any new therapy or skincare ingredient just appears like a red flag—until you get enough proof that it won’t exacerbate your acne.
So, is sauna a green or red flag?
Fortunately, it’s far from being a red flag.
Saunas can help with acne by clearing out your pores—but it does not directly heal or prevent acne.
The heat from saunas opens pores and promotes sweating, effectively cleansing the skin and removing impurities. This process can help prevent breakouts and reduce the severity of existing acne.
Moreover, according to a study, regular sauna sessions promote a stable epidermal barrier function, increased hydration level in the stratum corneum, and improved recovery of both water loss and skin pH levels.
However, there are not many studies on how effective saunas are for reducing acne.
How does sauna help with acne—what the study says
During a sauna session, you sweat a lot, which can benefit your skin by:
- Clearing out dirt and trapped oil
- Balancing your skin's pH level
Here's the thing: Sebum, oil that keeps our skin healthy and prevents it from drying out, can also cause acne.
Excess sebum can clog pores, leading to more breakouts. Acne develops when excess oil and dead skin cells block hair follicles. Saunas can help your skin clear out dead skin cells and trapped oil from your pores.
The skin’s pH level also plays a significant role in acne. A study found that individuals with acne had a pH level of 5.8, while those with healthy skin had a pH level of 5.0.
Saunas can help reduce inflammation in the body, often linked to an acidic pH level.
The heat from a sauna increases blood flow and oxygenation, helping remove acidic waste products and improving overall circulation.
Precautions to take before and after sauna
- During a sauna session, your body dehydrates rapidly, so it's crucial to drink plenty of water before and after your session.
- Sweating releases a lot of salt, which, when combined with sebum and bacteria, can cause breakouts. Be sure to wash off the salt immediately after your sauna session.
- People with rosacea, atopic dermatitis, or heart conditions should avoid using saunas.
