Shower Before or After Infrared Sauna? (How Long? When? Cold Showers?)

People take showers at different times of the day. The timing is typically dictated by culture and activities. While most of us take a shower in the morning before heading to work, in Japanese society people take a shower after returning from work at night. Physical activities like running, exercising, and using the sauna also dictate when showering timings.

You should take a shower both before and after using an infrared sauna session. Taking a shower before the session help encourage perspiration and taking a shower after the sauna session help removes body odor, sweat, debris, oil, and toxins on the surface of the skin. However, if you can’t take a shower twice then take it after the infrared session.

In the rest of the article, we have dived into the benefits of taking a shower before or after the infrared sauna. We have also discussed whether you should take cold showers, how long should you take spend taking a shower, and what is the ideal time for using the infrared sauna.

Table of Contents

Reasons You Should Shower Before Going to Infrared Sauna

Showering before infrared sauna sessions is entirely optional. However, there are some instances when you may want to shower ahead of time. Consider how dirty you are before going into the sauna and how many people will share it with you at some point.

It’s Sanitary

Most public saunas have a policy that guests must be clean prior to using their infrared sauna. Clearly, this is for sanitation and hygienic purposes because different people have varying levels of oil, sweat, wax, and other body chemistry. These can actually interact negatively with your own biochemistry.

But if this is a private sauna and you’re the only one who uses it, then you can opt to take a shower if you so wish. However, if there are many household members that use the infrared sauna, then you’ll want to shower ahead of time and request others do as well.

Good for Acne-Prone Skin

When you take a warm shower prior to getting into the sauna, you open up your pores. This will allow for a pre-purging of dirt, debris, and other things that attach over the course of time. This means it’s excellent for those who experience pimples, blemishes, and blackheads all over the body.

girl taking shower
Woman taking shower before infrared sauna session (Image source)

Reasons You Should Shower After Going to Infrared Sauna

Hands down, of all the times to shower in conjunction with an infrared sauna, afterward is essential. This is because of the sweat, debris, oil, and toxins that surface on the skin during the course of your session. It calms the body and clears grime out of the pores.

Plus, showering after a sauna will keep your pores open a little longer, which helps absorb skincare products. Things like ampoules, serums, toners, and moisturizers will benefit your skin much better. Also, this kind of regimen will work toward anti-aging efforts on the face and body.

Another good reason to shower after going into an infrared sauna is for those experiencing damage or injury. Some research indicates that the light provided by the infrared sauna followed by a shower reduces pain, sharpens the mind, and speeds up the healing process.

How Long to Shower After Infrared Sauna?

You should always wait about five to 15 minutes after using an infrared sauna before taking a shower. This will help cool down the skin and reduce inflamed blood vessels. Oxygen is an important factor here, so the length of time to wait will depend on how long you’re in the sauna and how overheated you feel.

For instance, if you were in there for about 15 minutes and you have a nice glowing glisten, then you should only have to wait about five minutes before getting into the shower. But, if you were in there for 30 minutes and your skin is lobster red, wait until your skin completely cools prior to showering. Getting n the shower too soon may make you feel ill.

In the event you have a heart condition, always wait until you no longer feel any heat sensation emanating from your body. This is because severe temperature shifts could instigate or compound such delicate health issues.

Should You Cold Shower After the Infrared Sauna?

tub full of water on the mountains
Taking a cold shower following the infrared sauna is good for health (Image source)

You should definitely take a cold shower after an infrared sauna and make it a standard practice. Always do this prior to taking a hot shower. This will close the pores, and reduce inflammation while rinsing surface sweat and toxins.

The shock to your system from hot to cold boosts adrenaline and endorphins. This improves blood circulation, skin tone, and overall complexion. Many dermatologists and doctors recommend this. Some even suggest taking a polar bear plunge in an ice-cold bath. It improves such things as:

  • Lung Health: There’s actually a study showing how taking a cool shower after using an infrared sauna can improve lung health and pulmonary afflictions such as COPD and asthma. It improves breathing due to the anti-inflammatory action of the cold.
  • Mood: Another study suggests that the sharp contrast between heat and cold can improve your psyche, including depression.
  • Cardiovascular System: A cold shower following an infrared sauna session can improve blood circulation and help reduce the chances of blood clots.
  • Weight Loss: Because being in a sauna releases heat within the body, it can help with weight loss efforts by giving a boot to caloric burn. It also limits the storage capacity of fat.

Is an Infrared Sauna Better in the Morning or Night?

There are benefits to using a sauna either in the morning or at night. Morning is ideal because of the boost to adrenaline, endorphins, and detoxification. This means you can start the day relaxed and wakeful while also feeling refreshed and alert.

Yet, the relaxation and low heat emissions are best for nighttime. This is because it’s good for assisting with and promoting restful sleep by encouraging melatonin production. However, use an infrared sauna an hour or two before bed. You want to ensure your body cools and calms. Otherwise, you may increase menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and general discomfort while sleeping.

Conclusion

Using a shower before or after an infrared sauna session is an excellent idea. However, afterward seems to be the better one to choose. This is because of how sitting in a sauna purges everything from deep within the pores while also regulating blood circulation. Plus, it can help with brain function and insomnia.

What’s more, taking a shower afterward keeps the pores open. This helps to prepare skin for treatments like toners and moisturizers, which reduces blemishes and clogged pores. It’s also good for fighting the signs of aging on the body and face. Certainly, your skin will glow with joy over it.

(Featured image by KBoyd from Pixabay)

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