If you have been diligently caring for your body and mind with regular sauna use and decide to move forward with a cosmetic dermatological treatment you may be curious if you can continue your sauna program. Some skin treatments that are more invasive may require a break from the high heat of a sauna, but may simultaneously benefit from the color light spectrum.
Your skin and anything you do to it, put on it, or alter it in any way is intricately married to your sauna use. While so much happens in response to sauna heat below the surface, it is impossible to avoid impacting nearly every surface of your skin as well as the layers of the epidermis and dermis during a sauna session. So, if you are going to receive a skin treatment as a sauna user, it is best to know as much as possible about how to care for your largest organ after any skin related procedure.
The answer to the question: ‘Can I use my sauna after a skin treatment?’, is nuanced and depends upon several factors, namely the exact type of dermatological treatment you have recently received as well as the type of sauna that you will be using.
Naturally, you should consult with your dermatologists about the dos and don’ts after specific procedures. From the standpoint of the avid sauna user, chances are you will want to find ways to safely sauna as soon after your treatment as possible.
This article will explore four popular cosmetic dermatological treatments. These include pharmaceutical grade retinoic acid, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing treatments. This article will aim to address the sauna related needs of each treatment type, but should not be a substitute for the advice from your medical practitioner.
How To Plan For Your Skin Treatment or Procedure
If you know that your scheduled appointment for a treatment is coming up it is strongly recommended to become hypervigilant about your hydration so that you have plenty of reserves as you prepare for a metamorphosis of the skin. Your skin can tell the story of how hydrated your whole body is, as well as how well nourished you are. Before any pharmaceutical grade treatment or derma-cosmetic procedure, you need to ensure that your body has been well prepared with plenty of electrolyte rich fluids and natural nutrient rich foods.
You can continue your sauna program as normal, but should stop all sauna use at least 24 hours before beginning the treatment or receiving the dermatological procedure. Your skin should be unaffected by high heat going into your treatment, and your body should be well nourished as well as hydrated.
Depending on your treatment you may receive additional advice from your medical practitioner and this recommendation should be followed.
Pharmaceutical Grade Retinoid Treatment and Optimal Sauna Protocol
The first 2-6 weeks of using a pharmaceutical grade retinoid treatment can cause your skin to become very sensitive to sunlight, salt water (if you are used to the ocean), heat in general. This will usually leave its new user peeling dead skin cells at a rapid rate.
Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A and are considered the most effective and safest way to treat early wrinkles and fine lines. According to the National Library of Medicine’s peer reviewed journal entitled: ‘Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments’ the others write the following about retinoid use:
“Vitamin A is the first vitamin approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an anti-wrinkle agent that changes appearance of the skin surface and has anti-aging effects.” (1)
The same article goes on to write about how retinoids and therapeutic agents here.
“Retinoids regulate the cell apoptosis, differentiation and proliferation. Anti-wrinkle properties of retinoids promote keratinocytes proliferation, strengthen the protective function of the epidermis, restrain transepidermal water loss, protect collagen against degradation and inhibit metalloproteinases activity.” (1)
While it is true that prescribed retinoids can do wonders for the skin in the long term, it is also true that those first 2- 6 weeks of use will leave your skin peeling excessively and be very sensitive.
Upon beginning your treatment it is best to follow your doctor’s recommendation which will likely include only using your retinoic acid every other day and only at night. In addition, you will likely be advised to use your retinoids only at night time. During the time of adjustment it is best to avoid direct sun exposure and heat. Saunas will absolutely aggravate your skin during the first 2 weeks, while many find that saunas actually help to alleviate the dry, flaky skin later on in their retinoid use.
Avoid sauna use altogether for the first two weeks of your retinoid treatment, and then slowly begin to reincorporate sauna use. Keep the sauna temperature low until you finish the first 4-6 weeks of your retinoid treatment.
If you have an infrared sauna with color light therapy or red light therapy (this wavelength should not be experienced as warm), then sitting under the color and red lights will help to heal the skin. The sauna heaters should not be turned on if you choose to use the color light spectrum medicinally in the initial weeks of your retinoid treatment.
Once you have completed the initial six weeks of retinoid treatment and you are no longer peeling excessively, you may return to your normal sauna protocol. If you are unsure of returning to your sauna program at this stage please consult your dermatologist.
Can You Use a Sauna After a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are a fairly popular form of cosmetic treatment to attain a higher grade of skin appearance on the face. Leading up to your scheduled appointment you may continue to sauna, but you should stop using your sauna 24-48 hours prior to your chemical peel. The chemical peel will have a more drastic effect on the skin compared to the slower acting retinoid treatment.
You should not sauna for 7 days after you receive a chemical peel, and you should avoid using any retinoid creams for 7 days after your peel.
Dr. Annie CHiu, MD of the Derm Institute advises the following after a chemical peel.
“AVOID swimming, sauna, or whirlpool use for at least 7 days after the peel.” (2)
Both red light and color light therapy can be wonderful tools to use directly after your peel to enhance healing. Your dermatologist may offer this service in their clinic. If you have a sauna at home and can turn on the color lights without heat, this will help to heal your face after a chemical peel.
After avoiding sun exposure, saunas, and high heat for 7 days after your chemical peel you can return to your sauna protocol.
Laser Skin Resurfacing and Post Procedure Sauna Protocol
Laser skin resurfacing is a popular treatment to help alleviate the appearance of scars, wrinkles, and surface level pigmentation. There are several different types of laser skin resurfacing: CO2 laser resurfacing, Fractional laser resurfacing, Erbium laser resurfacing. (3)
All three different types of laser skin resurfacing do require local anesthesia and your dermatologist will provide specific instructions on how to prepare for your treatment. Depending on the type of laser resurfacing that you choose, down time from your sauna can be anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks. Given that laser resurfacing is a much more invasive procedure compared to chemical peels and retinoid creams, it is best to check in with your medical provider about when to resume your sauna program after the laser treatment.
At the very minimum expect to be out of the sauna game for at least 3 weeks after your laser resurfacing. Once you are cleared to sauna again by your dermatologist you may find that the heat will help to heal any remaining redness, or spots. Certainly exposure to chromotherapy and red light therapy will absolutely help in the healing process once the scabbing has subsided.
Prepare to Take a Break From Your Sauna After Dermatological Treatments, and Turn To Color Light To Enhance Healing
Most cosmo-dermatological treatments will put you out of the sauna game for at least 7 days and sometimes up to 6 weeks. The treatments discussed in this article (retinoids, chemical peels, laser resurfacing) are all well researched and FDA approved, and may be excellent options to help enhance your youthful appearance without using fillers or other invasive surgeries.
If you decide to move forward with the discussed skin rejuvenation treatments be prepared to take a break from your sauna as well as other heated areas (hot yoga, hot tubs, sun exposure), but you may find that using a color light therapy panel to be very helpful in your healing journey.
Many aestheticians and dermatologists will have color light and red light therapy in their clinic to use directly after your treatment. If you have either of these devices at home then by all means use your color lights in lieu of your sauna time.
Always follow the prescribed behaviors and suggestions of your dermatologist. Remember, a little bit of patience is better than going back to your sauna program too soon and potentially damaging your skin.
Enjoy your new found glow and fill your sauna time with other healthy activities such as a cold plunge coupled with color light exposure.
Sources Cited:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6791161/
- https://www.thederminstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Pre-and-Post-Chemical-Peel-Instructions.pdfhttps://www.thederminstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Pre-and-Post-Chemical-Peel-Instructions.pdf
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11015-laser-skin-resurfacing
