How you take care of your skin today will significantly impact how it looks 10, 20, or more years in the future. The sooner you develop healthy habits for decelerating skin aging, the more you will be able to defy the aging process with each passing decade.
There are many sauna benefits for skin and many of them will help you maintain a healthy skin glow while also slowing the onset of wrinkles. Keep reading to learn more about how to decelerate skin aging using saunas and healthy habits.
How Saunas Can Decelerate Skin Aging
Most skincare routines focus on the hands, neck, and face, but a sauna is like a whole-body skincare routine. Here’s more on how they can help.
Saunas Clean Out Your Pores
The heat from a sauna opens your skin's pores, so any rejuvenating products you use will have an opportunity to deliver their benefits deep into the skin after your sauna session.
Sweating through a steam sauna or infrared sauna flushes out the day’s collected grime to reduce the chance of an acne outbreak and enhance the skin's appearance.
Saunas Help with Exfoliation
Your pores will open in the heat of a sauna and close again in the cold, making the sauna a fantastic way to exfoliate and flush out the dead skin cells while closing up to lock in the moisture after a cool shower.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation in the body can lead to skin conditions like redness, blemishes, and swelling. Saunas can reduce inflammation and give your skin a chance to recover.
A Sauna is a Natural Moisturizer Treatment
Portable steam saunas moisturize the skin, which makes them a natural, chemical-free way to keep your skin supple. Maintaining moisture in your skin is one of the best ways to maintain a more youthful appearance. Dry skin tends to wrinkle and pucker, but moisture creates a plumping effect that keeps it looking smoother.
An Infrared Sauna Blanket Promotes Circulation
infrared saunas have grown in popularity, but you can get the same results at home using a portable sauna blanket. Studies show that infrared rays rejuvenate skin by penetrating deep into the layers to promote blood circulation and increase cellular activity.
Fresh new cells replace old dead ones, and improved circulation promotes healthy, youthful skin.
Heat From a Sauna Stimulates Collagen Production
Collagen plumps out our skin to keep it smooth and wrinkle-free. Collagen production slows as you age. The older you get, the faster it deteriorates. Using a sauna promotes increased collagen production. You may not halt the effects of time, but regular sauna use will slow it down.
A study on infrared radiation in 2006 revealed an increase in total soluble collagen after 2 hours of IR therapy. Soluble elastin levels also increased. As most skincare enthusiasts know, collagen and elastin are two of the most critical components for maintaining younger-looking skin.
How to Get the Best Skin Care from a Portable Steam Sauna
Using a sauna to reduce and slow the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is a great idea, but you should follow a few best practices to get the best results.
- Hydrate before and after using the sauna
- Shower beforehand and don't use any skincare products
- Spend at least 15 - 20 minutes in the sauna 2 to 3 times a week
- Wash your face immediately afterward and apply your best natural skincare products
You will notice a significant improvement in your skin after following this routine for 5 or 6 weeks. Washing immediately after is critical to washing away the grime flushed out of your pores.
Skincare Routine When Using an Infrared Sauna
The way Infrared radiation penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production means infrared saunas are one of the most effective measures to combat wrinkles. Here's how to get the best results out of an infrared sauna
- Hydrate well before and after use
- Shower before your sauna session
- Spend around 10 minutes in the sauna at least two times a week.
- Shower straight after
Portable infrared saunas don't get as hot as traditional saunas, but they are more efficient at heating the body without dry heat.
Skincare for Before and After a Sauna Session
Skincare routines that are free of toxins are the best kind. Even so, it pays to be careful when selecting skincare products. Natural does not always mean safe. When your goal is to slow the appearance of wrinkles, look for the following ingredients:
- Vitamin C for daytime care products
- Retinol (Vitamin A) for nighttime products
- Hyaluronic Acid for daytime and nighttime.
Always wear good quality sunscreen during the day, especially if you are exposed for hours at a time. Replenish your sunscreen every couple of hours as it loses effectiveness through sweating and towel wiping.
Begin and end your day with a gentle face wash. You can talk with a dermatologist about recommendations on what will work best for your skin type.
Using Retinol A Products
You should moderate retinol A use as too much will dry out your skin. Vitamin A stimulates collagen production and skin cell turnover for natural exfoliation. Use retinol creams immediately after washing and before any oils or serums you use at night. Always remove them with a gentle face wash in the morning because wearing a retinol product out in the sun can cause excessive burning.
Hyaluronic Acid
hyaluronic acid grabs hold of moisture molecules to keep them trapped in the lower skin layers. A hydrated face stays plump and firm and shows fewer signs of wrinkles. Use a hyaluronic acid product after applying vitamin C or retinol serums, but before sunscreen. You can use them during the day and night.
Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Many dermatologists recommend sunscreen as the number one anti-aging measure you can use to decelerate skin aging. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen will be the last step in your routine before heading outside.
If you are looking for natural ways to decelerate skin aging, a sauna, along with a regular skincare routine can help you defy the aging process. Visit our website to learn more about how you can enjoy all the sauna benefits for skin in the comfort of your home with a portable steam sauna or infrared sauna blanket.
