If you’re a beginner, you may wonder what can go wrong when using a sauna, or what precautions to take. This article will cover seven sauna safety tips to follow before entering a wood-heated sauna.

First, What is a Wood-Heated Sauna?

Wood-heated saunas use wood fire to generate heat, a leading characteristic of an authentic sauna. Wood-fire stoves heat the sauna stones, onto which water is then poured to generate steam.Outdoor traditional saunas that use wood-burning stoves such as the Harvia and HUUM stoves are a fan favorite with amazing health benefits such as detoxification, relaxation, stress reduction, muscle recovery, and better sleep. 

Sauna Safety Tip #1: Avoid Drinking Alcohol before a Sauna Session

Drinking alcohol while sauna bathing can affect your body’s ability to maintain normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is already low in a sauna and can even go lower under the influence of alcohol. It can also have a detrimental effect on the way your blood flows and heartbeats. Most sauna accidents, fainting, or injury usually result from alcohol ingestion. Below are other risks related to alcohol ingestion before or during a sauna session:

• You might burn yourself as a result of the wrong equipment operation

• Head contusions or heatstroke are possible in case you pass out

• Dehydration: when you fall asleep in a sauna, it can even lead to sudden death

• Falls, sprains, and slips are more likely to occur

  
  

Contrary to what most people believe, saunas are not a hangover cure. In this state, dehydration is more likely to happen, and you’ll feel worse as your symptoms are aggravated.

Sauna Safety Tip #2: Check Your Clothing

There are several clothing items you shouldn’t have while relaxing in your sauna. An individual is normally naked when sauna bathing, and there’s no need to carry around cell phones, jewelry, or iPods. Besides, metal objects heat up fast in saunas and can burn your skin. Therefore, for your safety, remove all gadgets and jewelry, like bracelets, rings, and earrings, before stepping into a sauna. Other clothing items to stay away from include:

Workout Attire: Avoid wearing any PVC-made clothing when sauna bathing. These clothes tend to melt when exposed to high sauna temperatures.

Dirty Clothing: The high sauna heat can cause invisible debris and dust in dirty clothes to loosen up. These particles can be inhaled and also expose your skin to acne breakouts.

What should you wear instead? It’s advisable to step in a sauna barefoot to prevent dirt accumulation. Use a towel for a wardrobe, and cotton shorts, a T-shirt, or a bathing suit are also suitable. Keep a towel on the benches to prevent sweat from staining the surface and for hygienic purposes. 

Sauna Safety Tip #3: Rehydrate

Rehydrating is one of the most important sauna safety tips. Therefore, when planning your sauna session, ensure your body has enough water to bear the sweating. When sauna bathing, your body tends to lose a lot of nutrients and can lose up to 2% of your fluids. Follow these steps to prevent the dangers of fatigue and dehydration when sauna bathing:

• Drink 16 to 20 ounces of water before your session, and bring a water bottle with you

• Avoid sugary drinks such as coffee beverages, carbonated sodas, and sweet juices

• Drink coconut water or sports drinks, which prepare your body for a sauna session. These drinks are full of electrolytes which replace what your body loses

  
  

Sauna Safety Tip #4: Avoid Overly Rich Foods

Ideally, you should take a good sauna steam and then catch some grub. Like sipping alcoholic drinks, high-calorie foods can lower your blood pressure. Avoid eating fish and meat if you’re planning to visit a sauna. These rich-protein foods can strain your kidneys and instead load your body with carbs. 

During the high-temperature sauna session, the body works hard to remove toxins and other impurities through detoxification. So, when you enter a sauna with a full stomach, the food will stay sitting, intoxicating your body. The digestive system is inactive during the session, leading to risks such as nausea, headache, and food poisoning. 

Sauna Safety Tip #5: Avoid Soap

Sauna sessions have numerous skin benefits. However, you’ll dry out your skin when you use soap showering before or during the session. Sauna experts advise bathing with soap a day before and rinsing off with herbal water before or during your sweet escape. It’s also important to exfoliate the skin.

Here are some herbal rinse ideas to get you started. Click here for the complete sauna herbal rinse recipes!

• Lavender and Mint Water

• Rosemary and Lemon Water

• Chamomile and Calendula Water

• Cucumber and Mint Water

• Eucalyptus and Lemon Verbena Water

Just as you wouldn’t get into a hot tub or pool with dirty feet, clean your feet before a sauna session. Keep a tap or a bucket of water at the entrance or cleaning wipes to reduce the dirt amount tracking into the sauna. Although you can always vacuum or sweep your sauna floor, washing your feet first is a good precaution. 

Sauna Safety Tip #6: Don’t Set the Temperature Too Hot

You should set the temperature of your sauna before getting in. This process is known as curing, and you should let the heat buildup for around 45 minutes to one hour for a traditional wood heated sauna. 

However, it’s not advisable to withstand high sauna temperatures for extended periods. When your body becomes too hot, you tend to sweat more than you should. Too much sweating can lead to dehydration, and too much heat can damage your body. 

Therefore, if you feel dizzy or uncomfortable, leave the sauna immediately. Start with a setting of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to experience more heat in the sauna, pour more water into the sauna stones for more humidity. Avoid increasing the temperature for the best results. 

Sauna Safety Tip #7: Avoid Using Cosmetics or Perfume before a Sauna Session