Q&A for How to Use a Sauna Safely

Saunas can be good for your skin, but it depends on how you use them and also your skin type. Heat from the sauna causes you to sweat, which helps open up your pores and flush out dirt, oil, and toxins. It also improves your blood circulation, which can give you a temporary glow and help your skin look more radiant. That said, if you have sensitive or dry skin, you want to be more careful because the heat can strip away moisture, which could irritate your skin if you overdo it. If you have sensitive skin, limit your time in the sauna for about 10–15 minutes and moisturize immediately afterwards with hyaluronic acid.

I'm from Finland and I can tell you there isn't really any recommendation of age for children. I wouldn't bring a baby to sauna, but after the age of 3, it should be fine. Just make sure your child gets out if he or she is feeling poorly, and that he or she stays away from the coal (if that is the type of sauna to which you are going).

That isn't an easy question to answer. Each and every person handles temperatures differently. The best advice is to not push your body any more than it can handle. The general legal maximum in the US (and Imost parts of europe) is 90ºC. Experiment with your sauna's temperature, starting from a lower temperature and increasing it depending on how you handle the temperature. Just remember not to push it or stay in for too long, or you'll just end up doing yourself more harm than good in both the short and long term!

There should also be a ladle near it, which is used to throw some löyly. Löyly means throwing water on the stones on the stove, generating steam that spreads the heat around the sauna. The steam also makes the hot air easier to breath, so it is advisable to throw even a little bit of löyly even though it makes the sauna feel a bit warmer every time. If you are in a true Finnish sauna, the water can also be used to wet the vihta (also known as a birch whisk) to make it softer.

Generally, it's not recommended. However, there are some special face masks available on the market with special materials designed for sauna use. A main problem could be that the face mask will cause a restriction to your breathing, as well as the material of your mask may not necessarily handle higher temperatures well. It wouldn't be fun to cook something onto your skin! Another issue is respecting other people's hygiene -- having goop drip off your face into the sauna isn't very considerate.

It depends on the sauna. You have to at least wear a towel in some public saunas, but in private saunas, you may not need to wear anything at all.

If there is water in a sauna, it means that it is an open coal wet sauna, and pouring water onto the coals will create more steam, thus heating the sauna up. Just bear in mind your body's condition and the other sauna users before you choose to add any extra water!

After, as it will help your muscles recover and help your body to sweat out all the toxins built up from the workout. Be sure to rest for at least 10 minutes before starting your workout, however.

Generally, most people would recommend wearing proper flip-flops or sandals in a sauna for both stability and hygiene's sake. Some people choose not to simply out of comfort, but you shouldn't come across any issues if you choose to wear your sandals in the sauna.

It will be safe as long as you are comfortable with the heat inside the sauna. If not, look for someone who can help you change the temperature.

It would be advisable not to, as the metal parts will heat up quickly, causing discomfort, and the glasses themselves will fog up from the steam.

Avoid intense workouts, instead do some stretching or light yoga.

It isn't dangerous right away, but when your face turns red you should get out of the sauna so you don't get any burns to your face.

It depends on the sauna. Typically, you will at least have to have a towel around your waist.

It's not advisable, as there can be potentially harmful side effects from this.

Doing this would put others at risk to catch this infection. You should not do that. This is something you would do if you have your own personal sauna.

Yes, but check your energy bill. An electric sauna heater takes about 6 to 9 kilowatts. Keeping it hot may take a lot of energy.

The recommendation at our facility is to shorten your sauna sessions to 10 to 15 minutes, take a break and cool down, and then return for the remaining amount of daily use time. The daily use time in our sauna is 30 minutes a day.

Yes, it is, but I would recommend keeping the temperature of the sauna below 150 degrees F (70 degrees C). Don't stay inside the sauna for longer than 30 minutes!

Yes, you can. There are also specific sauna honeys that you can buy.

We have a special gland called the sebaceous gland on our scalp, which releases compounds that help condition and moisturize our hair. Spending some time in the sauna activates this gland, which will then release these useful compounds, thereby helping to make hair look great. There’s no need to spend a fortune on risky hair care products.

It depends on your health. As long as your doctor says it's okay, you could use a sauna every day if you wanted to. (I would recommend doing it one to three times a week though.)

Double or triple glass for a door is possible, but only the door. Anything else will cause your Sauna to lose too much heat. It will also use more energy and may not even reach the desired temperature.

Eating in a sauna is not a common habit, so it is not allowed in public saunas and possibly prohibited in rented ones as well, for hygienic reasons. However, if you are in your own sauna and everyone present is okay with it, then go ahead. Keep in mind that the sense of smell is sharpened in the moist air of a sauna, so spicy foods could bother people. Take care to drink enough while eating in the hot environment.

If it's inside your body, there is no harm in it. Your insides will stay completely normal during the sauna, the heat is only on the outside. If you have a piercing of some sort or other metallic thing on your skin that you can't remove, then you will need some cold water etc. to cool it down in case it starts getting too hot.