really no research on the subject, but was curious what the knowledgable posters here think about sauna and skin health...
PROS:
the intense sweating would seemingly rid the skin (and the rest of the body) of toxins.
i read somewhere about potential stimulation of collagen synthesis in very hot temperatures.
anecdotally, my skin feels smoother after i sit in the sauna.
CONS:
perhaps the heat may be too high, and do some kind of damage?
though i don't think this would be a huge deal, i imagine the facial muscles would tense under the duress of such heat.
i tend to do the eastern european "hot/cold" routine of 15 minutes in the sauna, 5 minutes cold shower, and repeat. while it is pretty intense and not for everyone, this feels nearly orgasmic afterwards! other than swings in blood pressure, i wonder if this type of regimen would have any different effects on skin health as well?
Edited by frederickson, 09 July 2008 - 05:49 AM.