All The Ways Sauna Can Benefit Your Skin, According To De...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: Turns out, turning up the heat and humidity can be a major plus for your complexion.

Name a relaxation practice, I’ve tried it. Yoga , meditation , journaling , box breathing…the list goest on and on. (shocking, we know)

But nothing has gotten my frenetic Type A-self to actually chill out quite as much as sauna .

The Details

I kicked off going regularly a little over a year ago and was ASAP blown away calmer it made me. And while my mind was Zen-ed out, my skin was glowing .

I’d leave sweaty, yes, but also looking refreshed and radiant. Placebo effect or legit benefit?

Why This Matters

Turns out, it may well be the latter. “Patients ask me all the time about the sauna and I tell them it’s like a power walk for your complexion—a quick way to give your skin a little boost,” says Mona Gohara , MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. The high level: Heat increases circulation, bringing more blood and oxygen to your skin, there appearance.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

Key Takeaways

• (So no, it wasn’t my imagination.
• ) Meet the the experts : Mona Gohara , MD, is a clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
• Nikki Miller is the spa director at Kohler Waters Spa in Kohler, Wisconsin.
• Lyon Porter is the co-founder of the Urban Cowboy Hotels in Upstate New York and Nashville.

The Bottom Line

The practice may be super hot right now (pun intended), with sauna chains and at-home saunas and blankets popping up left and right, but its been around for centuries. The concept originated in Finland, where it remains an integral part of the culture and a daily part of life for most.

We want to hear your thoughts on this.