The sauna is a historical tradition that has been used worldwide for relaxing, recharging, and even gathering with people. Two primary types of saunas dominate the landscape: dry saunas and steam saunas. Although both generate the same effects for relaxation and detoxification, their mechanisms and experiences differ to such a degree. This article aims to clarify the intricacies of a dry sauna and a wet sauna so that you will be well-informed and able to make the right choice for you.

Dry Saunas

A genre known as dry saunas can also be mentioned, and this relates to their position as dry heat. Generally, dry saunas employ either an electric heater or a wood stove to produce radiant heat. Within the range of 70°C-100°C (158°F-212°F), the heat inside a dry sauna can reach very high, thus being very dry and hot.

Key Features of Dry Saunas Include:

• Dry Heat: The dry sauna uses the heating process, which releases heat trapped in the walls. It consequently results in low humidity inside the sauna room.
• Wood or Electric Heaters: The traditional dry sauna types typically have either the stove powered by wood or the electric heater installed.
• High Temperatures: As a rule of thumb, most dry saunas heat up higher than wet ones, which allows individuals to sweat more.
• Shorter Sessions: Owing to the fact that it is hard to withstand the intensive heat for a longer time, sessions in the dry sessions are not too long and don’t last over 10-20 minutes.

Benefits of Dry Saunas Include:

• Detoxification: It feels great to break out in a sweat while being in a steamy sauna. Saunas can help aid your body in detoxification as part of the process of excessive sweating.
• Relaxation: The damp or dry heat of saunas energizes the muscles, releases the strain and increases the overall feeling of happiness.
• Improved Circulation: With the heat in dry saunas, blood vessels can become dilated, thus improving the circulation of the blood vessels, and this results in better heart health.

Wet Saunas

Similar to dry saunas, wet saunas, also known as steam saunas or steam baths, maintain a humid environment within the sauna room. Not unlike dry saunas, moist ones do not heat the air itself. Rather, they produce steam by throwing water over heated stones or passing it through special steam makers. The heat inside a wet sauna, which is nearly 40°C to 60°C (104°F to 140°F) and up to 100% humidity sometimes, mimics the feeling of being in a hot shower.

Key Features of Wet Saunas Include:

• Moist Heat: Steam in wet saunas, involving water evaporation, transforms the sauna into a room with a very moist temperature atmosphere.
• Steam Generators: Wet saunas have steam generator technology in their components that provide steam to lift the humidity.
• Lower Temperatures: Wet saunas are similar to dry ones because both have lower temperature ranges but high moisture levels.
• Longer Sessions: Because the temperatures and humidity solely depend on the sessions in wet saunas, the sessions can be longer to about 20-30 minutes per session.

Benefits of Wet Saunas Include:

• Respiratory Benefits: Wet saunas shallow enough to promote moist heat can help relieve respiratory conditions like congestion, sinusitis, and more.
• Skin Hydration: In steam saunas, the high humidity can cause the skin to become moist, which will then make it soft and lustrous.
• Relaxation: As it combines the heat and the humidity present in those wet saunas, it creates a relaxing effect similar to what dry saunas do.

Summary

Compared to dry saunas, wet saunas offer a humid environment typically suitable for those who can tolerate heat exposure. While dry saunas are known for inducing significant sweating and helping to prevent symptoms of dry skin through their arid heat, wet saunas create a moist climate. This can be more comfortable for some users and especially advantageous for those with respiratory conditions. Ultimately, whether to choose a dry or steam sauna depends on personal preferences and specific health goals.

Published by: Nelly Chavez