Saunas and psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a condition of the skin which results in dry patches that have scales on them. If irritated, they can start bleeding and also cause inflammation. Itchiness is a major problem with psoriasis. So it’s only fitting that anything that would make contact with the skin, will irritate it. That may or may not include steam. Hence, it begs the question; can a dry sauna help psoriasis? And the answer is yes. There are two types of saunas. These are steam and infrared. We will take a look at dry sauna today.

A dry infrared sauna provides a non-invasive approach to treating itchiness, redness and inflammation. It is soothing, refreshing and relaxing. Infrared rays can help the skin shed off scales so the inner layer can breathe. This can help you evade symptoms like eczema. Steam saunas can also help some patients dealing with psoriasis, but we are discussing dry saunas right now. With that said, let’s dive into it and explore more about the benefits and potential risks of dry saunas with psoriasis.

Benefits of a dry sauna:

Dry saunas can help you with psoriasis and alleviate some of the itchiness. Itching can become a major problem, especially when you cannot etch off scales because they would start to bleed. Here are some advantages of taking a dry sauna:

Peacefulness:

It has been found out that stress can feed psoriasis to flare up more. This is bad since one of the symptoms of psoriasis is depression, which can lead to stress. A dry sauna can help you relax after a workout which is good for you as it will alleviate any built-up stress that could’ve otherwise been harmful to your skin.

Cleaning:

Saunas can open up and clear skin pores as well. This is particularly good for cleaning them. This, in turn, keeps your skin bacteria free which is great for your skin as an infection can irritate psoriasis and cause inflammation.

Potential risks of taking saunas:

Everything has its pros and cons. Nothing is perfect, and to have that expectation from anything is not very healthy. Some of the risks associated with saunas for psoriasis patients are as follows.

Dehydration:

Since a dry sauna has the word “dry” in its name, you can imagine how it relates with dehydration. Dryness of the environment can cause your skin to lose moisture and salts that are essential for your skin to hold. This can cause a number of things including unconsciousness, low blood pressure and irritated dry skin patches.

Increase in core body temperature:

Our bodies have to maintain an internal homeostasis which is crucial for the body to survive. Any change in this temperature can disrupt many of our bodily metabolisms and result in a very dangerous situation we don’t want to be in.

Conclusion:

As we have seen, dry sauna can tremendously help psoriasis, but its misuse can make the situation worse as well. It comes down the fact that too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Also, everyone has their own way of responding to an external environment. Hence, it is very important that you have a word with your dermatologist and doctor before you opt for this treatment. Saunas can be very helpful for your mental and physical wellbeing.

Reference article:

https://psoriasis.qualitycarebyleo.com/blogger-universe/guest/rishi/saunas-and-psoriasis