Since the dawn of human history, humans have used saunas and steam rooms for their health benefits. Author Mikkel Aaland writes that saunas and baths were used in ancient Scandinavia and in Slavic culture. Native American peoples from Alaska to Central America visited sweat lodges for various cultural rituals. Heated rooms use hyperthermia, the practice of raising body heat. Some modern health enthusiasts claim that there are health benefits associated with hyperthermia, but that claim has been questioned.
Humidity
The basic difference between a steam sauna and a dry sauna is the presence of water vapor, or steam. "Go Ask Alice," a health advice service provided by Columbia University, states that the humidity in a dry sauna is usually between 5 and 30 percent. Most dry saunas contain heated rocks; visitors pour water on the rocks to raise the humidity. In a steam sauna, humidity is close to 100 percent. According to "Alice," neither is necessarily better than the other.
Temperature
Steam saunas are limited in how hot they can be. Their temperature usually ranges from 110 to 114 degrees Fahrenheit: any hotter, and the steam could scald visitors' skin. Dry saunas are usually much hotter. The dry heat can range from 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Nonetheless, dry saunas and steam saunas may feel similar in temperature: in a dry heat, your body sweats to release the excess warmth, but in a steam room, this is not possible and your body is less able to cool itself.
Design
Dry saunas are usually built with wood-paneled walls. They generally contain a wood or electric stove, which heats rocks to radiate heat throughout the sauna. Visitors control the humidity and temperature by pouring water over the rocks to raise the heat and humidity temporarily. Steam rooms are usually airtight. Heated, damp air is pumped into the room. Steam rooms are usually paneled in ceramic tile, with slanted ceilings and floor drains to prevent excess moisture dripping from the ceiling and pooling on the floor.
Effects on the Body
Wet and dry saunas both cause your core temperature to rise, a condition called "hyperthermia." Bodybuilding.com promotes hyperthermia as a health treatment, saying that it makes your body inhospitable to invading organisms and helps your immune system to fight illness. In addition, Bodybuilding.com claims that hyperthermia removes fat-stored toxins from the body, breaks down calcium deposits and removes scar tissue inside blood vessels. However, "Alice" disputes these claims, saying that sweating in saunas doesn't remove toxins. Instead, "Alice" says, the main benefit of saunas is to open your pores, cleanse the skin, lower your blood pressure and remove salts from your body.
Warning
Hyperthermia can be dangerous, causing dehydration. "Alice" states that this risk is higher in a dry sauna than a steam room. Hyperthermia is especially dangerous to people who are pregnant, have high or low blood pressure, suffer from heart disease or are taking antibiotics. If you've never used a sauna or steam room before, limit your first session to 5 to 10 minutes. In a steam room, always wear a towel and shower shoes to prevent yourself from microbial infections.
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