When working on your beach body, you probably want to use the sauna and also tan. Should you sauna before or after tanning?
If planning to visit both, enjoy a sauna session before stepping into the tanning booth. Blood flow and moist skin are crucial for the perfect tan. By using the sauna first, you are prepping your skin and body for tanning. Using the sauna after tanning may cause dry skin, and may actually be counterproductive to achieving your ideal golden glow.
Read on to find out if it is better to use the sauna before or after tanning, how these activities affect your skin, what the best practice is for your after tanning and after sauna routine, and whether you can use the sauna after a spray tan.
Is it better to use the sauna before or after tanning?
Saunas promote blood flow and hydrated skin, two things that are perfect for a great tan.
When considering whether to use the sauna before or after tanning, it is important to look at how each affects your skin. Tanning can cause damage to your skin while saunas promote numerous health benefits, including healthier and tighter skin.
For most, it is better to use the sauna before tanning. By moistening your skin and increasing blood flow to the skin, the sauna prepares your skin for tanning. Moist skin is beneficial when tanning because it can prevent the tan from fading and can help you tan faster. By using the sauna after, you can dry out your skin.
Another factor to consider is your health issues. Due to the extreme heat in traditional saunas, those who have cardiovascular issues are discouraged from using them. The heat increases their heart rate, which can be detrimental to someone with cardiovascular issues. Always consult your medical professional before using a sauna or tanning.
Continue reading to learn more about the effect tanning has on your skin.
What does tanning do to your skin?
Tanning is a go-to practice for many.
When tanning, the UV rays increase the production of melanin. This is done to protect your skin from further damage. Melanin is a pigment that colors your hair, eyes, and skin.
In the short term, the increase in melanin causes your skin to darken. In the long term, it can cause irreversible damage and cause issues such as skin cancer.
Continue reading to learn more about the effect using the sauna has on your skin.
What does the sauna do to your skin?
Saunas are great for many reasons, but what does it do to your skin?
Using the sauna is beneficial to the health of your skin. Since saunas promote blood flow to the skin before you start sweating, it makes your skin healthier and tighter. This is great for both medical and aesthetic reasons.
The type of sauna a person uses depends more on their individual state of health as all provide a positive impact on their skin.
Read on to find out how traditional saunas, infrared saunas, and steam rooms affect your skin.
Traditional sauna
A traditional sauna maintains temperatures between 180 and 195°F with low humidity.
Traditional saunas improve your health, including healthier skin. The skin becomes more robust and can often be described as glowing after use. The heat promotes circulation and blood flow to your skin before you begin sweating.
Those with recent cardiovascular health issues should stay away from traditional saunas as the heat can exasperate the issues.
Infrared sauna
Infrared saunas maintain temperatures between 120 and 140°F. The warmth from an infrared sauna penetrates deeper than simple warm air does.
Infrared saunas provide the same benefits for the skin as traditional saunas do.
However, since they are at a lower temperature, they are more accessible to those whose health prevents them from using a traditional sauna.
Steam room
Steam rooms maintain temperatures between 100 and 120°F with nearly 100% humidity.
Generally, steam rooms have the same skin benefits that saunas do. The main difference is that those with cardiovascular issues should not use steam rooms as they increase their heart rate. However, they are great for people with allergies or respiratory issues.
Read on to determine if you should use the sauna and tan on different days.
Should you use the sauna and tan on different days?
Sauna and tanning can be done on the same day.
If using a steam room or a traditional sauna, feel free to do it on the same day. In fact, it is recommended to use a sauna before tanning to prepare your body and skin. By increasing moisture to your skin, the tan you receive may be longer-lasting and darker.
Read on to find out the best practices for after tanning.
What is the best thing to do after tanning?
Taking care of your skin after tanning is an important part of the process.
To keep your skin healthy after tanning:
- Stay hydrated
- Moisturize
- Exfoliate
- Apply tanning specific skincare products
Read on to find out the best practices after using the sauna.
What is the best thing to do after the sauna?
It is important to take care of your body after using the sauna.
To keep your skin healthy after using the sauna:
- Take a cold shower
- Spend a few minutes in an icy body of water
- Hydrate
- Avoid strenuous activity
Continue reading to determine if you can use the sauna after a spray tan.
Can you use the sauna after a spray tan?
Receiving a spray tan is almost as popular as tanning, but how does it impact the rest of your routine?
Using the sauna directly after receiving a spray tan is discouraged. This is because the amount of moisture your skin will create in the sauna could cause the spray to lighten. In the sauna, your pores will open up more, also causing the spray tan to potentially lighten.
It is best to not combine the two activities.