Steam Vs. Sauna - The Classic Debate

  When it comes to home installation having a steam room or a sauna can be seen as an extravagant luxury. Not only do you need to space for it, but then there is the initial purchasing cost and then the general upkeep. Which one is right for you? Well if money and space is no object then it really is down to personal preference. There are many similarities between a sauna and steam, both offering plenty of benefits. They both relax and loosen up your muscles and help you relax and they both also open up your pores. It is widely considered from people who use them both regularly that steaming is actually better for your complexion. The humidity and moistness of a steam room hydrates your skin instead of the dry heat of a sauna drying you out. A sauna would need a vent built into it to allow a constant airflow to keep down the humidity. A steam room on the other hand needs to be relatively air tight, but you would need some drainage as the steam will condensate on walls and tiles and make the room rather wet. This is why we feel incorporating a steam room into your shower cubicle is ideal, as you already have the drainage and a self-contained unit. Another way a steam room beats a sauna is for assistance in breathing. Dry heat from a sauna is not good for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, whereas the wet heat from a steam actually assists with the moisture loosening mucus, eases coughing and opens the airways for easier and deeper breathing. Personal preference is a real decision maker when it comes to steam or sauna, but we of course prefer steam. Some might say we're biased.......