 |
Saunas & Your skinOne of the things that saunas are known for is their skin care benefits. People who take saunas regularly most likely realize that nothing is better for your skin than a good sweat bath. Shortly after my very first 15 minute sauna session, the unmistakable fresh-and-tingly feeling that I had was a true sign that I did something good for my skin. To understand how a sauna benefits your skin, it helps to have an idea what happens to your body during a sauna… It Sure Is Hot In Here! Your body maintains a certain temperature referred to as its basal body temperature, which is normally 98.6 F. From the moment you step inside a sauna, your body’s built-in cooling system starts to kick into overdrive in an attempt to maintain its normal temperature. Increases in both blood circulation and sweat production are just two of the many reactions that occur. At first, your body is able to fight off the extreme heat by increasing circulation and sweating, but... When your body can no longer dissipate the heat, your body temperature starts to rise. Then, blood is forcefully shunted toward the surface of your skin. Sweating gets heavier and heavier. Now, this is where the skin care benefits kick in… Lets Rinse Out Those Pores A shower rinses dirt off your body’s surface, but the heavy sweating in a sauna rinses out your pores. This removes dead skin and impurities and leaves your skin feeling clean and smooth. Simply taking a shower or bath and using skin care creams will never compare. Increased Blood Circulation The increase in blood circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to your skin surface. This is great for maintaining healthy great looking skin. In his book on sauna therapy, Dr. Lawrence Wilson says that saunas help open pores and eliminate skin infections and toxins lodged in the skin. Another benefit for your skin is collagen reproduction enhancement. Collagen is partly responsible for your skin's strength and elasticity. In summary… You can see how taking saunas regularly will most likely improve your skin complexion and the way it feels. Heavy sweating combined with a dramatic increase in blood circulation is ultimately why saunas are beneficial for your skin.
|
