Saunas for Psoriasis? Here’s the Surprising Truth

If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering from psoriasis, you know just how frustrating those dry, itchy patches of inflamed skin can be.

And when over-the-counter (OTC) creams fail to provide relief, you may be tempted to try some unconventional psoriasis remedies floating around on the internet…

Like using saunas. But do these sweaty sessions actually help calm psoriasis flare-ups? Or are you just baking yourself into further skin troubles? Let’s take a closer look at the science.

Like indoor tanning beds, saunas deliver concentrated doses of heat that can temporarily tamp down your immune system and associated inflammation.

This includes inflammation causing those painful psoriatic plaques. The high temperatures make your blood vessels dilate and pulse faster to drive blood—along with anti-inflammatory cells—towards the skin’s surface to aid healing.

Over time, frequent sauna use may also help remove toxins through sweating. Some functional medicine practitioners believe reducing toxin buildup can help minimize psoriasis flare triggers.

So in theory, sitting in the sauna a few times a week seems like smart, natural medicine!

But experts urge caution with this approach for a few key reasons:

Dehydration risk: Sweating excessively drains fluid and electrolytes from your body. But when you have psoriasis, maintaining good hydration is vital to keep skin moisturized and flexible rather than dry and cracked.

Potential burns: The extreme heat coupled with sensitive psoriatic skin can set the stage for burns, especially on commonly affected areas like elbows, knees, and the scalp.

Lack of lasting results: While a temporary relief from itching may feel nice in the moment, science shows sauna benefits don’t lead to extended psoriasis remission once you leave the heat. The root immune system dysfunction remains untouched.

Too much, too fast: Some research indicates that overusing saunas may stimulate skin cell turnover beyond normal rates. For those with already rapid cell replication causing the psoriatic plaques, further acceleration can worsen symptoms.

Now, occasional sauna sessions likely pose little risk for most with mild to moderate psoriasis. But it’s wise to hydrate properly before and after, limit time inside to 10-15 minutes per session, and carefully monitor skin for adverse reactions. And those with widespread severe psoriasis may want to avoid saunas altogether.

As always, discussing pros, cons and safety precautions for unconventional therapies with your dermatologist is key. If you don’t experience noticeable improvements from sauna sessions or want more consistent relief, explore proven psoriasis treatments like topical creams and natural sunlight exposure.

To real psoriasis relief,

Rachel Mace
Editor, e-Alert with contributions from the research team

P.S. Click here to learn about three meds that could TRIGGER psoriasis!

Sources:

https://www.health.com/do-tanning-beds-help-psoriasis-8546960