Sauna and your skin: acne, glow and aftercare
By the Find My Sauna team·
Updated ·
7 min read
Most people walk out of a sauna pink-cheeked and soft-skinned, and plenty of spas sell that glow as a beauty treatment. Some of it is real but short-lived. Some skin conditions cope well with heat, and others flare. This is what happens to your skin on the bench, and how to look after it afterwards.
The short answer
A sauna sends blood to your skin and makes you sweat, which gives a flushed, dewy look for a while afterwards. One small German study found that regular sauna users had better-hydrated skin with a steadier protective barrier. A sauna won't cure acne, though, and heat is a common trigger for rosacea and itchy eczema. Afterwards, rinse off sweat with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, then moisturise while your skin is still damp.
What happens to your skin in the heat
Within a few minutes of sitting down, the blood vessels in your skin widen to carry heat out of your body. That's the flush. Then you start to sweat, and the outer layer of your skin takes up some of that water, which is why it looks plumper and smoother when you come out.
Both effects fade as you cool down. It's worth knowing before you pay extra for a facial that promises to "purify" your skin with heat. Sweat comes out of sweat glands, which have their own tiny openings. It doesn't flush out the oily pores where blackheads form, and it's mostly water and salt anyway (more on that in does sweating in a sauna detox your body?).
Regular sauna and the skin barrier
The main study of sauna and healthy skin comes from Jena in Germany. In 2008, dermatologists compared 41 healthy volunteers aged 20–49: some used a sauna regularly and some didn't. The regular users had a more stable skin barrier and a better-hydrated outer layer. After two 15-minute rounds at 80 °C (176 °F), their skin also recovered faster, both in how much water it lost and in its surface acidity, and they had less oil on their foreheads.
It's a small, exploratory study, and it compared people who already used saunas with people who didn't, so other habits could play a part. But it fits an older review in the American Journal of Medicine, which concluded that sauna bathing does not dry out the skin.
Acne
There's no good evidence that a sauna clears acne. Some people find their skin looks better afterwards and some break out, and it's hard to predict which you'll be.
What dermatologists do agree on is what to do about sweat. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice for workouts is to take make-up off before you start sweating, and to shower as soon as you can afterwards, using warm rather than hot water and a gentle cleanser. The same applies to a sauna. Sitting around in sweat, or in a sweaty swimsuit, for an hour afterwards is the thing to avoid.
Rosacea
Heat is one of the best-known rosacea triggers. In a 2010 survey of 431 people with rosacea by the US National Rosacea Society, 80% said hot weather made their condition worse, 56% said indoor heat did and 54% said a hot bath had set off a flare. Saunas and steam rooms were among the other heat sources people named.
If you have rosacea, you don't necessarily have to give up the sauna, but go carefully: sit on a lower bench, keep sessions short, cool your face with cold water between rounds, and stop if you notice a flare building.
Eczema
The NHS lists heat and changes in temperature among the triggers for atopic eczema, and notes that being hot can make eczema itchier. A review in the American Journal of Medicine also found that sweating may increase itching in people with atopic eczema.
Some people with eczema still enjoy a sauna. If you try it, keep it short, rinse sweat off soon afterwards, and put your usual emollient on straight away. Skip it during a flare, and if your skin is cracked, weeping or infected.
Psoriasis and dry skin
The same review suggested a sauna may even benefit people with psoriasis, though there's little research behind that. If you have psoriasis, see how your skin responds and talk to your dermatologist if you're unsure.
For ordinary dry skin, the sauna itself is less of a problem than what comes after. The American Academy of Dermatology says hot water and long showers make dry skin worse, and recommends keeping showers to 5–10 minutes in warm water. A long, scalding shower after the sauna undoes a lot of good.
An aftercare routine
- Before: wash off make-up, sunscreen and body lotion. They sit on your skin in the heat and mark the benches. Our guide to what to wear in a sauna has more.
- Between rounds: a cool shower or dip, and a glass of water.
- After: rinse off sweat with lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
- Pat dry and moisturise straight away, while your skin is still damp. Creams and ointments do more for dry skin than thin lotions.
- Go easy on strong products such as acids or retinoids if your face is still red or stinging. Wait until it has calmed down.
If you're choosing between rooms, our guides to steam room benefits and sauna vs steam room compare the two.
Who should be careful
- People with rosacea or eczema that flares with heat.
- Anyone with broken, infected or sunburnt skin.
- Anyone with a new tattoo. See sauna after a new tattoo.
- Anyone who has just had a peel, laser treatment or other skin procedure. Ask the clinic how long to wait.
As always, check with a doctor first if you're pregnant, have a heart condition or take medicine that affects blood pressure.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Where to try a sauna and steam room
Many spas and bathhouses have both a sauna and a steam room, so you can see which your skin prefers. A few listed on Find My Sauna:
The Western Baths Club
Glasgow · Sauna and steam room
Spa Experience Old Street at Ironmonger Row Baths
London · Sauna, steam and hammam
Eden Hall Day Spa
Nottingham · Day spa
Frequently asked questions
Is a sauna good for your skin?
It gives a short-lived glow, and one small study linked regular use to a steadier skin barrier. It does not cure skin conditions, and heat can trigger rosacea and eczema.
Does a sauna help acne?
There is no good evidence that it does. Take make-up off first, and shower off sweat soon afterwards.
Does a sauna clean out your pores?
No. Sweat comes out of sweat glands, not the oily pores where blackheads form, so sweating does not clear them.
Should you moisturise after a sauna?
Yes, especially if your skin tends to be dry. Rinse off, pat dry and put on a fragrance-free moisturiser while your skin is still damp.
Is a sauna or steam room better for your skin?
Neither has strong evidence behind it. Try both and see how your skin reacts. If you have rosacea, both may be too hot.
