Should You Shower After Infrared Sauna?

Should you not or should you shower after infrared sauna use? If you’re wondering whether or not it’s best to take a shower after your infrared sauna session, here are a few considerations to get the ideas flowing. But the short answer is: yes I believe it’s best to shower after your infrared sauna session. Please read on to find out why. I’ll explain below and along the way I will give a few other tips as well so you can get the best results from your infrared sauna session.

One of the first reasons why it’s a good idea to take a shower after your infrared sauna session is because during your session, you sweat out toxins. The general idea of (infrared) sauna sessions is that your body can cleanse itself and you will experience a cleansing of your skin because the excessive sweating will allow your body to clean pores and get rid of undesirable substances.

Basically when using your infrared sauna, you can set the heat to a level that feels comfortable and relaxing to you. Most infrared saunas allow for a heat setting to anywhere in between 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) and 170 degrees Fahrenheit (77 Celsius). In comparison with traditional hot air saunas, that may not sound like a lot, but thanks to the infrared energy and the different way this affects your body, you will still sweat. A lot! (If you’re not familiar with the way infrared saunas work to make you sweat, please feel free to read my article on the differences between traditional sauna and infrared sauna).

The fact that you sweat so much during your infrared sauna session allows your body to cleanse and remove all kinds of dirt from clogged pores and you will experience a thorough, cleansing session.

Should You Shower After Infrared Sauna?

Should you shower after infrared sauna? That's a question that pops up regularly among infrared sauna users. While sweating, your body will try to get rid of unwanted substances via transpiration. That’s why it’s best to always sit on a towel during your infrared sauna session, so that the toxins and other unwanted material that your body is trying to get rid of, don’t end up on your infrared sauna bench or seat.

Of course, once you get out of your infrared sauna, your body will try and continue the process of cooling down. Any sweat (still containing potentially unwanted substances like for instance deodorant particles, other cosmetics or indeed toxins that got released from inside your skin) that resides on your body will dry up during this process and if you do not take a shower, it will remain on your skin, which is not what you want.

So why not help your body during the cool-down phase after your infrared sauna session and hop in a lukewarm shower to rinse everything off. So, should you shower after infrared sauna? I vote yes, but ...

Personally I have noticed that my body remains in a state of trying to cool down for a while, even after I have left my infrared sauna. I continue to sweat for 10 – 15 minutes after I have ended my infrared sauna session. This has the effect that, when I jump in the shower right after my infrared sauna session and then wipe my skin dry with a towel, I’m soaking wet again a few moments later as the transpiration goes on.

That’s why it’s probably a good idea to wait a couple of minutes and perhaps enjoy another drink or 2 before you hit the shower so your body can find the time to adapt. Speaking about drinks, I would recommend to drink at least two or three glasses of water prior to entering your infrared sauna. And again two or three glasses of water when you get out of the sauna.

In conclusion: should you shower after infrared sauna sessions? I think yes and I’ve tried to explained why in this article. Do you have any special tips or advice about using the infrared sauna? Feel free to use the comments section below to share how often, at what temperature and how long you use your infrared sauna. Or any other tip you care to share would also be welcomed. Much appreciated, thank you :)