Key Takeaways:
- Steam showers and saunas offer many benefits for physical and mental health, including stress relief, relaxation, detoxification, improved circulation, and more.
- Steam shower rooms are often significantly smaller than sauna rooms due to the need for tight insulation.
- While a traditional sauna requires an outside heat source, such as a wood fire or electric heater, steam showers use an internal generator that produces hot steam rapidly or with programmable settings.
- Although there may be some crossover in terms of therapeutic benefits between the two experiences—such as enhanced breathing function—the differences mostly lie in their individual effects on moods and skin health.
Steam showers, and saunas, seem like they must be practically the same, right? Well, the truth is that they are actually quite different, and while both offer excellent benefits to your physical and mental health, you might want to make sure you're getting the one that works best for you.
A sauna traditionally uses dry heat, creating a soothing atmosphere you can relax in. On the other hand, a steam shower delivers moist heat for the same calming effect. Despite the different types of heat being used, they share many of the same applications.
In this guide, we take you through the difference between a steam shower and a sauna, we look at the potential health benefits, and we also make comparisons between steam showers and steam rooms. Everything you need to know is right here.
What's the Difference Between a Steam Shower and a Sauna?
When it comes to relaxing and unwinding, steam showers and saunas are BOTH excellent choices. But what's the DIFFERENCE between them?
- Heat Type: A steam shower uses moist heat, while a sauna traditionally uses dry heat.
- Atmosphere: A sauna can create an atmosphere of relaxation, whereas a steam shower is more invigorating and stimulating.
- Temperature Range: The temperature range in a steam shower is typically lower than that found in a traditional sauna.
- Size: Steam showers are often much smaller than saunas due to the need for tight insulation, which is why they can be compared to steam baths.
- Heat Source: While a traditional sauna requires an outside heat source—such as a wood fire or electric heater—steam showers usually use an internal generator that produces hot steam rapidly or with programmable settings.
- Humidity Level: Steam showers generally have higher humidity levels than those found in a sauna, as the air contains vaporized water molecules from the steam generator.
- Benefits for Health & Wellbeing: Both saunas and steam showers provide benefits for physical and mental health, but due to the different temperatures and levels of humidity, they are each suited to certain applications better than others [1].
Steam Shower vs Regular Shower
The most NOTABLE difference between a steam shower and a regular shower is the temperature and humidity level. A regular shower typically has cold to warm TEMPERATURES with low humidity levels.
Pro Tip: A steam shower is a lot like a steam bath from the comfort of your home, and the wet heat can help reduce high blood pressure and make you feel more relaxed.
On the other hand, a steam shower is designed to PROVIDE a much higher level of humidity than that of a regular shower. This MOIST heat environment allows for deeper relaxation and can stimulate the body's NATURAL healing processes.
Furthermore, steam showers are designed to MAINTAIN a higher temperature for longer periods of time than a REGULAR shower, which can help relax muscles and reduce stress.
Steam Shower vs Steam Room
The main difference between a steam shower and a steam room is the amount of SPACE available in each environment. A steam shower is TYPICALLY an enclosed unit with enough room for one or two people, while a steam room is much larger and can accommodate MORE people at once.
Another key DISTINCTION between these two environments is the temperature range. Steam rooms typically have very high temperatures, while steam showers are REGULATED to maintain LOWER temperatures.
Finally, steam showers offer the CONVENIENCE of adjusting the humidity level and temperature settings depending on individual needs, giving you CONTROL over the steam heat.
Steam Shower vs Infrared Sauna
Infrared saunas and steam showers are both BENEFICIAL for health and well-being, but they each offer DIFFERENT advantages.
- Heat Type: An infrared sauna uses far infrared light to generate heat, while a steam shower produces moist heat from a generator.
- Atmosphere: Infrared saunas tend to be more energizing, whereas steam showers are more calming and relaxing.
- Temperature Range: Infrared saunas reach higher temperatures than steam showers.
- Humidity Level: Steam showers offer a much higher humidity level than that of an infrared sauna.
- Benefits for Health & Wellbeing: Both provide benefits for physical and mental health.
Steam Shower vs Sauna Cost
When it comes to the cost of a steam shower versus a sauna, there are SEVERAL factors to consider. Generally speaking, steam showers tend to be MORE expensive than saunas because they REQUIRE more installation and setup.
Steam showers must be CONNECTED to a water source and have electrical wiring installed, whereas most saunas simply require ASSEMBLY and can be plugged in.
Additionally, steam showers REQUIRE a generator to produce the steam, which increases the overall cost of the unit. However, both types of units will last for MANY years and are relatively low maintenance in COMPARISON to other types of home improvements.
Steam Shower vs Hot Tub
The MAIN difference between a steam shower and a hot tub is the temperature and humidity levels. Steam showers are designed to provide HIGH levels of humidity while maintaining lower temperatures, while hot tubs are TYPICALLY hotter with lower levels of moisture in the air.
A key distinction BETWEEN these two environments is the amount of space available. Steam showers are usually confined to an enclosed area, while hot tubs PROVIDE more room and can ACCOMMODATE multiple people.
Steam showers offer the convenience of being able to ADJUST their temperature and humidity levels, while hot tubs are typically pre-set and HARDER to customize. Additionally, steam showers DOUBLE as regular showers, while hot tubs require you to enter and exit the unit.
Both steam showers and hot tubs provide NUMEROUS health benefits, but it’s important to consider your individual NEEDS when deciding which one is right for you.
How Does Heat Therapy in a Steam Shower Compare to a Traditional Sauna?
Heat therapy in a steam shower is OFTEN beneficial for health and well-being. However, it does not compare to a traditional sauna quite as much. Traditional saunas use DRY heat, which tends to be MORE invigorating than moist heat found in steam showers.
Additionally, traditional saunas have much HIGHER temperatures than steam showers and usually provide a MORE energizing atmosphere.
While both heat therapies can provide NUMEROUS benefits, steam showers are typically better suited for relaxation and stress RELIEF, while traditional saunas offer more of an invigorating experience.
The health BENEFITS of each are as follows:
Steam Showers:
- Improves circulation and blood flow
- Helps to relax muscles and reduce tension in the body
- Enhances the immune system by releasing toxins from skin pores
- Reduces stress levels which can lead to improved mental well being
- Promotes better sleep patterns due to increased relaxation of muscles
Saunas:
- Increases your heart rate, improving cardiovascular health
- Stimulates sweat production, helping to rid the body of harmful toxins & chemicals
- Burns calories while relaxing in a soothing environment
- Relieves joint pain, soreness & stiffness caused by arthritis or injury
- Improves respiratory health by opening airways for easier breathing
- Helps relieve cold & flu symptoms such as congestion and fever
- Promotes relaxation of muscles and improved overall mental well-being.
To Conclude
When it comes to CHOOSING between a steam shower and sauna or a hot tub for heat therapy, the decision ultimately DEPENDS on your individual needs.
Steam showers provide moist heat that is GREAT for relaxation and stress relief, while traditional saunas offer dry heat, which can be more invigorating. Hot tubs are typically HOTTER with lower levels of moisture in the air, but they do ALLOW you to accommodate multiple people at once.
EVERY OPTION has its own unique health benefits, so make sure to take into account what will work best for you before making your FINAL choice.
Sources:
[1] Henderson KN, Killen LG, O’Neal EK, Waldman HS. The Cardiometabolic Health Benefits of Sauna Exposure in Individuals with High-Stress Occupations. A Mechanistic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(3):1105. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031105
Sauna and spa expert with years of experience in the field. You can see me featured in many leading publications as well as my own published research papers. Fitness, health, home improvement and Psychology are my main interests. I’ve worked in many roles from product designer to purchaser for spa products, garden furniture and tech to a hands-on webmaster.
