These days, it feels like everyone is trying to break a sweat in the name of longevity.
But what about the sauna’s steamy counterpart, the steam room?
Do the health perks of extreme heat hold up once you add water to the mix?
The need-to-knows:
What is a steam room?
Steam rooms are nothing new: Different cultures have incorporated steam into their bathing rituals for centuries.
Roman bathhouses served as relaxing gathering places, while Turkish Hammam baths held major religious significance.
Still, some studies show that time spent in steam is not wasted.
In fact, it could help support sleep, heart health, and skin radiance.
This may translate to better sleep too.
These practices put your body under just the right amount of strain to encourage resilience.
It’s unclear if they are intense enough to lead to any meaningful changes.
In turn, stimulating blood flow often leads to a more radiant complexion.
However, steaming is not for everyonesome people just can’t tolerate the heat, even sparingly.
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Does this mean you should run to your local steam room if you’re sick?
Nobut, a personal steam session in your shower may help clear things up, at least temporarily.
Do steam rooms help you detox?
Plus, continuously running water for the sake of creating steamisn’t the most climate-friendly practice.
Anyone pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication should also consult their doctor before electing for a steam bath.
Finally, remember that warm, humid rooms are breeding grounds for bacteria.
So be conscious of germs when using public steam rooms and avoid them if you feel sick.
However, the vast majority of the research on heat therapy has been conducted in saunasnot steam rooms.
While some sauna benefits may be transferable to steam rooms, others may not.
That said, you don’t need to choose one over the other.
How often should you use a steam room?
Generally, three or four times a week is best for steam room use.
However, individual tolerance and preexisting conditions should guide the exact cadence.
How long should you stay in a steam room?
You should stay in the steam room for a maximum of 15 minutes.
If you feel lightheaded or nauseous, step out immediately.
The takeaway
Steam rooms have been around for centuries in countless different cultures.
