Saunas and steam rooms are often mentioned in the same context, suggesting that they are similar. This is a common, but inaccurate, misconception that will be fixed here.
Both saunas and steam baths have many health benefits and these benefits are generally obtained by increasing the temperature of the human body to stimulate the opening of the pores and the sweating process. Most medical workers and fitness trainers agree that there may be a health benefit from subjecting the human body to this type of environment for short periods of time.
Potential benefits of this “artificially induced” increase in body temperature include, an increase in blood circulation, detoxification of the skin and body, relief of muscle tension, cleansing of the skin and a general state of body relaxation.
The differences
The main difference between a sauna and a steam room is the way the body’s temperature rises.
IN sauna It generates low humidity dry heat that sees temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius. These temperatures sound incredibly high, but with almost no moisture in the air they are tolerable and cause the body to sweat profusely. This sweating process is aided by the lack of humidity which allows the air in the sauna to absorb the moisture (ie sweat) released.
IN steam room it works in a completely different way and uses much lower temperatures combined with very high humidity to make the body feel hot and sweaty. Steam rooms generally operate at about 40 degrees Celsius, but the high humidity (which makes it difficult for the body to sweat) makes them feel much hotter.
Put simply, a sauna uses very hot dry air, while a steam room uses a combination of heat and humidity to create a very humid environment.
Other big differences between the two systems relate to the ways a sauna and steam room are set up and used.
A sauna sees its users sitting on wooden benches and typically taking repeated sauna sessions separated by short “refresh” periods of time. Saunas can accommodate multiple people depending on their size and layout. Sauna walls are usually clad with seasoned wood, and a “stove-style” heater provides the power source. “Dry” heat is generated from “hot” rocks placed on top of the stove.
On the contrary, steam showers are usually for single use and for an individual bather. The cubicle is sealed to retain air and moisture, and the shower will be tiled or made of an encapsulated plastic material. A steam generator is used to create the wet, humid atmosphere, although “real steam” (which would be 100 degrees Celsius) is never used.
Which is the best?
There is no definitive answer as to whether a steam room or sauna is superior. Both achieve a similar feeling, but in very different ways.
Saunas certainly encourage a higher level of sweating, which results in more weight loss (and the need to drink fluids). Additionally, several sauna sessions can be taken one after the other to intensify the “warm up” and “cool down” experience.
On the downside, a home sauna can be an expensive, “space-hungry” luxury, while a steam room can be part of a modern multi-purpose shower enclosure.