Rules for correct steam sauna bathing


  • To use the sauna you should bring flip-flops and at least one clean towel to dry yourself – according to the guidelines, the steam sauna is used without clothes (or other coverings) and a towel. If you have any doubts about the hygiene of sitting naked on a sauna bench, you can sit on an additional towel. Towels used inside the sauna should be made of natural materials. Quick-drying towels containing synthetic materials should not be used.


Zasady korzystania z sauny parowej i suchej
  • Before entering the sauna we undress completely and wash in the shower, then we dry ourselves, which increases the effectiveness of sweating.

Zasady korzystania z sauny parowej
  • The floor in the steam sauna is relatively cold, so we can enter wearing flip-flops or bare footed. Due to the temperature differences, it is recommended sitting with the knees pulled up to the body so that the feet are at a similar temperature as the rest of the body.

Zasady korzystania z sauny parowej
  • After entering we rinse the bench and then sit naked directly on the bench or on a towel. The session should not exceed 20 minutes. The last 2-3 min should be spent in a sitting position. If you feel unwell, leave the sauna immediately or press the red button.

Zasady korzystania z sauny parowej i suchej
  • After leaving you should rinse the sweat with warm water (sweat has a similar composition to urine) then cool your body. You should rest at least as long as you are in the sauna. The session can be repeated 2-3 times. Do not use the jacuzzi immediately after leaving the sauna.

In the sauna without swimsuits

SourceW saunie. Polski portal saunowy.

A swimsuit (even a bikini) can reduce the positive effects of using the sauna, and also lead to an allergic skin reaction, as the artificial material from which it is made melts under the influence of high temperature. At the same time, dangerous bacteria are formed under the surface of the garment. Microbes thrive where it is warm and moist. They are also favored by damp towels and wet swimwear.

Swimsuits are mainly made of polyester. Polyester, when heated, even to body temperature, releases small plastic particles. The heat releases chemicals such as formaldehyde, perfluorochemicals (PFCs) etc., which in turn are absorbed by the skin and released to the outside. Formaldehyde is irritating to patients suffering from allergies and asthmatic conditions. In addition, according to the EU classification, it is carcinogenic. Scientists have also reported serious health issues with PFCs, linked to the risk of causing cancer. In laboratory animals, PFCs have been shown to cause damage to the liver, kidneys and reproductive system.

If we enter the sauna after swimming in the pool, in a wet suit, the chlorinated pool water evaporates from the suit and chlorine vapors get into the air. All people who stay in the sauna at that time unconsciously inhale them, and this can lead to, among other things, irritation of their skin or respiratory tract.

If we enter the pool after the sauna, the toxins from which our body has been cleansed in the sauna penetrated into the clothes, and after entering the pool or jacuzzi, they are released in the water and affect the skin of other users.

Therefore, in the guidelines of the Polish National Institute of Hygiene about using sauna it is written:

“The user should use the sauna without clothes, including a swimsuit and underwear. When bathing in a sauna, any clothing hinders the evaporation of sweat from the body surface, causing skin irritation, and in the case of synthetic fiber fabrics, the high temperature in the sauna can cause them to melt and burn the skin”.

You can find more info about proper use of sauna in sections “Rules for correct dry sauna bathing” and “Rules for correct steam sauna bathing”.