Saunas and steam rooms have been used around the world since before the dawn of recorded history. According to author Mikkel Aaland, ancient Scandinavian and Slavic people had an affinity for both saunas and baths, and native American peoples from the Eskimo to the Maya used sweat lodges regularly. These practices all rely on hyperthermia: heating the body for health effects. However, there are several differences between a sauna and a sweat room.
Humidity
The most obvious difference is that a sauna uses dry heat, while a steam room is very humid. "Go Ask Alice," a health advice service from Columbia University, claims that neither is necessarily better than the other. According to "Alice," the humidity in a sauna ranges from 5 to 30 percent: This variation comes from water being poured over hot rocks, a standard sauna feature. Steam rooms generally have a humidity of 100 percent.
Temperature
Saunas are usually quite a bit hotter than steam rooms. "Alice" writes that the temperature in a sauna can range from 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Steam rooms are generally 110 to 114 degrees Fahrenheit. There's a good reason for this difference: If the steam were any hotter, it could scald your skin. Steam baths often feel hotter than they are, because sweat doesn't evaporate from your skin and your body is less able to cool itself.
Construction
Saunas are usually composed of a wood-paneled room with a wood or electric stove. The stove heats rocks, which radiate heat throughout the room. Water is usually available to be poured over the rocks; this raises the temperature and humidity temporarily. Steam rooms, on the other hand, are usually airtight and paneled with ceramic tile to contain the moisture. Heated, water-filled air is pumped into the room. Steam rooms usually have slanted ceilings, to prevent condensation from dripping onto the inhabitants.
Physical Effects
Saunas and steam rooms alike force your body temperature to rise. This is called "hyperthermia." Bodybuilding.com claims that this makes your body inhospitable to invading organisms, helping your immune system to kill them. The site quotes two doctors who state that hyperthermia helps in "remov[ing] fat stored toxins from the body" and breaking down calcium deposits and scar tissue from the blood vessels. However, these claims are disputed by "Alice," who writes that sweating in saunas does not remove toxins. "Alice" states that the main benefit of saunas and steam baths alike is to facilitate sweating, which opens the pores, cleanses the outer skin, lowers your blood pressure and removes salts from the system.
Health Advisories
Dehydration is a serious risk of hyperthermia, but according to "Alice," the risk is higher in a sauna. For your first sauna or steam room experience, limit your exposure time to 5 to 10 minutes. Hyperthermia is dangerous to people who are pregnant, have heart disease, are taking antibiotics or have high or low blood pressure. Avoid using alcohol when raising your body temperature. Steam rooms carry a risk of infection: They are perfect breeding grounds for microbes. Always wear a towel and shower shoes to protect your health.
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