Steam showers offer a number of proven benefits and can relax both the body and mind. But before we dive into the benefits, let’s first define what a steam shower is and how it’s different from other heat therapy sources, like saunas.
First, a steam shower is a simple device that you can add to a standard shower to generate steam. Whenever you fancy a steam shower, simply activate the steam generator – it boils the water and releases vapor into your shower.
Second, the most basic difference between steam showers and saunas is that a steam shower uses water to generate wet heat, whereas a sauna produces dry heat. The primary benefits of a steam shower comes from the moist heat (aka moist heat therapy also hydrotherapy).
Here are the five most promising health benefits a steam shower provides.
A 20-minute steam shower or moist heat therapy can improve your skin’s clarity and tone. Steam enhances your perspiration, acting as a cleansing action for your skin. It also helps to shed the buildup of dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells on your skin’s top layer, decreasing the appearance of blemishes and blackheads.
Plus, using a steam shower softens your skin and hair, making it easier to shave without razor burns.
A study has shown moist heat therapy can improve blood circulation, especially in the extremities. The way it works with a steam shower is that the moist heat helps to widen blood vessels. This increases your blood flow, improves your overall circulation, and provides more oxygen to your cells while keeping your arteries healthy.
Better circulation can help lower blood pressure while helping individuals maintain optimum cardiac health.
If you regularly suffer from sinus congestions, you are already aware that steam is a soothing remedy to open your sinuses.
The steam shower warms your mucous membrane and creates an environment to encourage deep breathing. Imagine immersing in this healing steam daily with a steam shower unit of your own, and experiencing the relief it brings to your respiratory system.
Besides soothing your sinuses, it also helps improve the quality of your breathing as it delivers an additional amount of oxygen into your lungs and eventually in your bloodstream.
Moist heat therapy is a perfect pre- or post-workout treatment for better overall mobility and flexibility and less soreness.
For pre-workout or before any physical activity, using a steam shower can help to loosen your stiff joints. It can be an essential part of your warm-up routine to help reach maximum mobility.
As for post-workout, it is clinically proven that moist heat therapy penetrates your deep tissues more rapidly than dry heat, making it an extremely effective remedy to soothe muscle soreness and recovery. Professional athletes love to pop into a steam shower after an intense workout or a big game.
Even if you are not a pro athlete, you can benefit from steam showers. The moist heat increases levels of oxygen and nutrients flowing to your tissues and muscles. This provides relief from chronic aches and pains and can increase the flexibility of your tissues and muscles. To avoid muscle fatigue and soreness from long-term injuries, consider installing a steam shower in your home.
Using a steam shower can be a wonderful stress reliever.
First, as mentioned above, the moist heat helps to lower blood pressure.
Second, it works directly to decrease the production of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is a hormone directly related to the level of stress you feel. Decreasing cortisol helps to provide relief against stress, so you feel more relaxed.For those who suffer from chronic stress, a long steam shower can be your answer to truly “letting go.”
Third, if you have trouble sleeping, a steam shower can help. The warm, moist heat of the steam shower will soothe bodily aches and pains, promote relaxation, and soothe your mind resulting in better sleep.
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Apart from the benefits mentioned above, a steam shower offers the additional benefit of convenience.
You can get a ready-to-install unit for almost any shower or bathtub. We have steam shower units that are designed to be quickly installed with your current bathtub or shower, so installation doesn’t require any remodeling. See how easy it is and get your own by clicking here and start enjoying all the benefits of the steam shower and moist heat therapy.
If you have any questions about steam showers or how they can work with your shower, please reach out to us or use the chat option on this page.
