Saunas & Steam Rooms Are Similar — But Is One Better For Your Health?

Heat therapy is a super—well, hot—topic in the well-being space.

Heat therapy is a super—well, hot—topic in the well-being space. If you love the idea of getting a sweat on but are unsure whether to seek out a sauna or a steam room (or even what the difference is), you've come to the right place.

We talked to medical experts to find out the differences between a sauna and a steam, the unique benefits each has to offer, and when and why you should choose one over the other.

A sauna, with its dry heat at temperatures of 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, is ideal for relieving sore muscles3, increasing blood flow4, and promoting faster recovery5 after a tough workout. Saunas have long been an essential health tool in Scandinavian countries, and their benefits are starting to go global.

Meanwhile, a steam room is slightly cooler, closer to 110 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, with near 100% humidity, creating a heavy, moist feeling as soon as you walk in. Steam rooms, similar to saunas, also help with muscle soreness and recovery6.

Steam room benefits.

• Loosen phlegm and mucus
• Helps with joint pain
• Hydrates skin
• Soothes muscles

"Steam helps loosen phlegm and mucus, improving congestion and breathing," says Safdar. However, research shows that if you have a respiratory illness or infection7, steam alone will not clear it up for you.

There isn't a ton of research on the other benefits of stepping into a steam room (saunas have been much more extensively studied), but Safdar adds steam sessions have been scientifically shown to temporarily stave off muscle soreness6 and reduce joint pain and stiffness8. "The steam helps the body relax, and stiff joints get some relief," she says.

And, for those looking to top off their spa day, Safdar says, a steam room can also help temporarily hydrate the skin (though steaming too much can strip the skin of natural oils and lead to dryness).

When to use a steam room:

• After a workout: Many athletes hit the steam room after a workout to help stretch out and loosen muscles.
• Before a workout: Safdar also explains that because a steam room can help your muscles reach maximum mobility and flexibility, it can be a helpful addition to your pre-workout warm-up.
• As part of a spa: Because it can help open up the pores, sitting in a steam room can be a good way to kick off your next spa day.

Sauna benefits:

• Increases energy
• Helps with joint pain
• Reduces stroke risk
• Immune support
• Reduces dementia risk
• Promotes skin health
• Soothes muscles

The benefits of saunas are better studied, thanks to research largely out of Scandinavia. When taken regularly (about four to seven times a week), they have been associated with improved energy9, relieved pain10, reduced stroke risk11, immune support12, skin health13, and even reduced all-cause mortality risk14.

"The research on sauna use is just mind-blowing," says Whitten, who notes that if there was a drug that contained all the same benefits, everyone around the world would be raving about it. "Your doctor would look at you like you were absolutely nuts if you weren't taking this drug. That drug exists—it's just not in the form of a pharmaceutical. It's a sauna," he said on the mindbodygreen podcast.

Taking regular saunas can also support mental health and cognition. One notable study out of Finland in 201715 found that as people increased their sauna use per week from 2-3 times to 4-7 times, they decreased their dementia risk by nearly 50%.

"Now that we understand that toxins are one of the critical things that contribute to risk for cognitive decline, saunas are becoming very important [for cognitive health]," Dale Bredesen, M.D., author of The End of Alzheimer's, previously said on the mindbodygreen podcast.

"Some evidence shows that individuals who have asthma will benefit from using a sauna," Safda adds. However, there is not enough research to prove this just yet.

When to use a sauna:

• After a workout: Because of the high heat, a sauna can help with muscle recovery and relieve muscle soreness.
• As a regular health practice to support longevity: If you can stand the heat, research shows that stepping into the sauna at least four times a week can reduce your risk of cardiovascular mortality. Follow it up with another hermetic stressor—extreme cold—by taking a dip in a cold plunge tub.
• As part of a relaxation routine: The peacefulness of the warm sauna lends itself to starting your day off with meditation or winding down before bed. Try a few minutes of mindfulness in the sauna and emerge with a new mindset.

What about infrared saunas?

Infrared saunas can provide the benefits of a standard sauna, but at a much lower air temperature (typically between 120 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit). "These types of saunas use light to heat your body directly, instead of a stove or hot rocks to heat the air around you. This is good for people who don't tolerate the high heat of a regular sauna," internist Frank Contecessa, M.D., explains. Portable infrared saunas and infrared sauna blankets also make it easy to sweat it out at home. However, Whitten adds, "Most of the research on sauna use has been done in traditional saunas rather than infrared saunas," so we can't assume that all the same benefits translate to these lower-temperature environments

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