Can a Steam Room Burn Your Skin? (With Practical Skincare Advice)

You might be worried about burning your skin in a steam room. Especially if you get sunburns easily, this might be a top concern. But is this actually a possibility?

The steam in a steam room can’t burn your skin. However, you may be burned if you come into contact with any metal that has been heated to the temperature of the steam, usually 120°F. This may include the steam pipe and any metal you may have brought into the room. This is why you should leave your phone and jewelry outside.

Read on to learn all about steam rooms and skin health!

Can you get burnt in a steam room?

You might be worried about getting burnt in a steam room. Let’s separate fact from fiction!

You can’t get burnt from the hot air in a steam room. However, you can get burnt in a steam room by touching the steam pump. You can also get burnt in a steam room if you wear metal jewelry.

You can get burnt if you touch the steam pump in a steam room. Most steam rooms keep them behind a barrier to avoid this from happening.

Another way you can get burnt in a steam room is if you wear metal jewelry. The jewelry might get hot enough to burn your skin.

One downside of steam rooms is that they can harbor bacteria. You can also get dehydrated fairly quickly.

How hot do steam rooms get?

Steam rooms don’t get as hot as traditional dry saunas.

Steam rooms reach 120°F. A generator pumps hot steam into the room. The humidity in a steam room is 100%.

Steam rooms generally reach a maximum temperature of 120°F.

Steam rooms work by a generator pumping steam into the enclosed room. The humidity level is 100%.

Is the steam room good for your skin?

Why do people use facial steamers?

The steam room is good for your skin. Steam increases circulation to your skin. This makes your skin glow.

Steam increases circulation to your skin, which makes it look plumper and younger

Many people use at-home facial steamers, but a steam room is a great way for your entire body to reap the benefits of using steam for skin care.

Tips for taking care of your skin in a steam room

How can you take care of your skin in a steam room?

To take care of your skin in a steam room:

  • Moisturize
  • Choose soap wisely
  • Shave afterward
  • Eat antioxidants
  • Exfoliate

Let’s talk about each one in a little more depth!

Moisturize

You always hear about moisturizing when talking about skincare.

Moisturizing is a great way to take care of your skin. It helps your skin stay hydrated and repair itself. Steam rooms naturally moisturize your skin.

Moisturizers help repair the skin barrier and maintain the integrity of the skin. They help improve skin hydration and increase water content. They also protect against friction. 

If that wasn’t all enough, moisturizers smooth the surface of your skin by filling spaces between skin flakes and restoring your skin’s ability to absorb, retain, and redistribute vital water.

Steam rooms are a great way to naturally moisturize your skin, but a little help from a product won’t hurt! You probably don’t need to moisturize on the days that you use the steam room.

Choose soap wisely

There are so many soaps to choose from. How do you know which one is best?

Choose a gentle facial cleanser that doesn’t contain alcohol. Different cleansers are for different types of skin. It’s a good idea to wash your face after using the steam room because of how much you sweat in the steam room.

Use a gentle cleanser that doesn’t have alcohol in it since alcohol is drying.

Be sure to choose something that’s designed for faces. Start out with something mild and go from there.

Avoid foaming cleansers.

Think about whether you have dry or oily skin. Some products are designed specifically for certain skin types.

It’s recommended to wash your face after sweating, so using the right soap after a steam room session is vital.

Shave afterward

What are the perks of shaving after using the steam room?

The perfect time to shave is after using a steam room. Steam lifts up your hair cuticles and helps debris leave your skin cells. 

Shaving after using the steam room is a great idea. Steam softens up your hair by lifting hair cuticles. It also helps debris escape your skin cells. 

Steam helps skin products penetrate your skin more deeply as well. This means good news for your shaving cream!

Lastly, shaving after the sauna is the perfect way to finish up your self-care and pamper yourself a little more before calling it a night.

Eat antioxidants

How do antioxidants relate to skin health?

Antioxidants fight skin damage caused by free radicals. Eating fruit after using the steam room will help you rehydrate while consuming antioxidants at the same time.

Antioxidants fight free radical skin damage and can help your skin stay healthy.

Most research on the subject focuses on isolated nutrients rather than whole foods. More studies need to be conducted on the effects of how a diet rich in antioxidants can help your skin.

A good snack of fruit after a steam room will help you rehydrate and give you some wonderful antioxidants!

Exfoliate

What is exfoliation exactly?

Exfoliating helps get rid of dead skin cells. Too many dead skin cells make it hard for your skin to stay hydrated. It’s best to exfoliate once or twice a week.

Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells. A buildup of dead skin cells can make it difficult for water to hydrate your skin.

It’s recommended that you exfoliate once or twice a week. 

Be gentle while exfoliating to avoid causing microtears. Exfoliators work best on damp skin.

Exfoliating post-steam room is a great idea because your skin will already be hydrated and ready to go!