The Steam Room at the Gym: Does it Actually Do Anything?

When we hit the gym, we're often tempted to take a detour to the sauna or steam room. The ladies in there sure look relaxed, don't they?

But who has 10 minutes to waste at the gym anymore? (that precious time could be be devoted to squats!). And does working up a sweat in a bath towel do anything for your body, mind or spirit, or even just your pores?

We asked Tom Holland, exercise physiologist and author of Beat the Gym: Personal Trainer Secrets Without the Personal Trainer Price Tag, whether we should visit the sauna or the steam room -- or skip them both altogether.

"Think of it like this: The sauna is Arizona and the steam room is Florida. A sauna is a dry heat while the steam room gives off wet, humid heat. What are they for? One definition states that they both "eliminate toxins through sweat, ease joint pain, improve circulation and strengthen the immune system," Holland says, adding that he's not totally convinced that these claims are true.

And what about those pores?

"Both steam rooms and saunas make you sweat, which can help unclog your pores and give your skin a flushed, glow-y look, thanks to the increase in blood flow that heat causes," says SELF's Assistant Beauty Editor Runa Bhattacharya. "Saunas use dry heat, which makes your pores release more sweat, while steam rooms have more moisture in the air, which can help plump up your skin. Steam rooms can also help acne-prone skin by balancing oil production," she adds.

Keep in mind that sweat released through your pores is actually water, so sitting in a sauna or steam room for too long can dehydrate your skin, Bhattacharya warns. "After a session, which shouldn't last longer than 15 minutes, drink water to rehydrate from the inside out," she suggests.

You'll also want to beware of germs ... viruses and bacteria can thrive in the porous wooden benches found in saunas and moist corners of steam rooms and can even cause respiratory viral infections.
"Be sure to sit on a towel, wear flip-flops and steer clear of coughers," Bhattacharya says.

The best reason to visit the sauna or steam room? Both are "darn relaxing," Holland says.

"Sometimes there's nothing better after a hard workout than taking a sauna or a steam. So I recommend using either of them to decompress and unwind after a workout. Consider it a reward for a job well done."