The use of heat to induce sweating and relaxation has long been used as far back as Roman and Turkish baths. Today, steam rooms and saunas are found in many recreational facilities and spas. Each serves as a way to relieve stress and engage in a healthy sweat. However, there are rules to follow in order to have an enjoyable and beneficial time in a steam room or sauna while respecting the safety and privacy of others.
Steam Room Usage
A steam room is a room that uses water to add humidity to the hair. The average temperature in a steam room is between 110 to 114 degrees F, according to Columbia University. A steam room is a moist heat, with humidity levels reaching 100 percent. In order to increase the amount of steam, a person may pour water over hot rocks found in the steam room.
Sauna Usage
Compared to a steam room, saunas provide dry heat. This heat typically is generated from a wooden or electric stove that heats rocks, which in turn heat the entire room. Saunas may have tiled floors or feature some type of wood, such as cedar, to trap heat in. Temperatures are hotter than in a steam room--reaching anywhere from 160 to 200 degrees F. Humidity levels also are much lower, ranging anywhere from 5 to 30 percent.
General Rules
Because both a sauna and steam room reach high levels of heat, some precautions should be taken. Those who are ill (particularly with a fever) or who have just consumed alcohol or a large meal should not use a steam room or sauna. Those who have high blood pressure or who are epileptic or diabetic should avoid steam rooms and saunas. In addition, people under under the influence of mind-altering drugs or who are pregnant should not use steam rooms or saunas. Each of these conditions can cause adverse reactions in a sauna or steam room, including loss of consciousness. Those who use a steam room or sauna following a workout should have slowed their heart rate and cooled their body temperature before entering. Also, it is a good idea to drink plenty of water before, during and after in order to replace body fluids lost through sweat.
Etiquette
In some facilities, saunas or steam rooms may be co-ed or single sex and allow nudity or require some form of covering. Be sure to inquire about these stipulations before entering. Use a towel or bathrobe to sit on to reduce risk of infection. If you would like to add water to the steam room rocks or even turn up the temperature, it is considered polite to ask permission from your fellow bathers.
Safety
Because a sauna or steam room does feature extremely high temperatures, it is important to refrain from staying in too long. Those who have never used either should stay in only 15 to 20 minutes, increasing the length of time on subsequent visits. Those who feel faint or dizzy should immediately exit. The maximum recommended amount of time to spend in a sauna or steam room is 1 hour. As an additional precaution and out of respect to fellow users, sandals or other waterproof shoes should be worn; these protect users from the spread of fungal infections that tend to propagate in saunas or steam rooms.
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