The benefits of a sauna have been known for thousands of years. From the ancient Romans to the early civilisations of South America, people have used saunas for both relaxation and therapeutic reasons.
Although our skin, along with the kidneys, liver and intestinal tract together perform the natural elimination of toxins there is probably nothing better we can do to help the process than taking a sauna. Toxins in the body build up as a result of both normal body metabolism and through various pollutants entering the body by way of the lungs, the digestive system or the skin.
Our skin, the largest organ of the body, contains both sweat and oil glands that help eliminate toxins. However, lack of exercise, the wearing of clothes, use of body care products etc all mean the skin is not fully able to do the job it was meant to do! In addition, over stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and negative emotions reduce the skins function by decreasing blood circulation.
Medical studies have confirmed that many toxins can be eliminated through the skin but modern living does not help the process. The pollutants, dust and grime clog our pores preventing the elimination of waste. By dramatically increasing the rate at which we sweat, a sauna can help flush away toxic build up, massively reduce the load on our other cleansing organs and at the same time bring many health benefits. Not least, fantastic looking skin!
During a sauna the sweat is able to remove both water soluble toxins (including some toxic heavy metals) and with extended use (ensure safety guidelines are followed), oil based toxins like those found in pesticides, skin care products and solvents. As the body is heated blood is moved towards the skin in order to dissipate heat. This promotes great circulation which is great for the skin and will help the joints and muscles to relax. In fact, raising body temperature will assist the body in its fight against bacteria and viruses and may even help to kill other types of abnormal cell associated with cancer etc.
Helping to prevent disease by eliminating the build up of toxins is just one of many sauna benefits. Swiss doctors have used sauna therapy to effectively treat high blood pressure. It can take as few as 15 sauna sessions to bring blood pressure back to normal! Also, saunas can increase the metabolic rate which over the long term will help with weight loss.
The real good news from the perspective of this blog is that saunas are fantastic for the skin! The body care lotions and creams we use to cover up blemishes, skin problems and signs of aging often compound the problem that we had in the first place. These body care products contain chemicals that only further clog up the pores and promote spots etc. The combined effect of high temperature and steam of a wet sauna will open up the skin’s pores and release trapped oils and dirt. Blood circulation increases and tense facial muscles, often the cause of wrinkles and lines, will relax. Because the sauna is great for relaxation the effects of stress on the skin are reduced.
An often overlooked aspect of the sauna and high on the list of good skin tips is the potential for great skin efoliation. One of the benefits of a good sauna is that skin exfoliation is made easier. Using a loofah, exfoliating gloves or a skin brush will not only remove dead skin but encourage better lymphatic circulation and speed up the removal of toxins. The overall effect of smooth glowing soft skin and a clear complexion will match any skin exfoliator on the market.
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