How to Use the Sauna for Perfect Skin & Hair

No, it doesn't open up your pores, heat will help dislodge impurities!

“You don’t need skincare, just go to the sauna. It opens up your pores!”

Sigh. This is what everyone loves to say about skincare, but it’s just not accurate.

Y’all - I love hitting my gym’s sauna. It feels incredible and is great for circulation.

But there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it!

After reading this guide, you will:

• Be able to properly take care of your skin and hair

• Prevent acne and dryness

• Fully understand how your skin reacts to saunas

So, let’s dive in.

1. Introduction

Saunas are amazing for circulation, muscle recovery, and holistic health.

I even love using it to allow my deep conditioner to better penetrate my hair on wash days. 

But no, saunas don’t up your pores.

That’s simply not how skin works.

You see, pores are not like muscles; they neither contract nor lengthen.

They do not open and close. Pores are openings on your skin that can appear larger sometimes due to trapped dead skin cells and oil.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “hair follicle”, right?

That’s just another word for “pore”! 

Pores are connected to sebaceous glands that produce sebum.

Sebum is the oil your body naturally produces.

While it is protective, overproduction can lead to:

• Acne

• Sebaceous filaments

• Blackheads

. . . and other unattractive skin issues.

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2. How to Optimize Your Sauna Time

Now that we’ve cleared up some misinformation - let’s talk more about saunas.

They can provide a host of health benefits to our circulatory, cardiovascular, and immune systems beyond simple recreation.

In relation to skin, the sauna is particularly beneficial due to the subsequent reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation.

At the same time, we know that heat dries out our skin, and dry skin can lead to premature wrinkles. 

So here is how we can optimize our sauna usage to fight acne and keep our skin happy, healthy, and wrinkle-free: