Why does my face get red when I sit in the sauna?

Dear Flushed, 

Your exercise regime sounds impressive—swimming and then sitting in the sauna probably not only leaves you beet red, but just plain beat! After exercise or exposure to hot weather, your face might turn red because your body’s trying to cool down. A red face isn’t all you might worry about if you exercise in the sauna—there’s also a possibility of becoming overheated and even dehydrated. If you want to know more about how to stay safe in a sauna and reap its benefits, read on for more information. 

There’s a very natural reason your face flushes (gets red) after exercising or being in hot environments—it’s one of the ways your body rids itself of heat. When you’re hot, the blood vessels under your skin expand. This increases the blood flow to your skin, allowing heat to evaporate more quickly.  

Just because your face remains red for a long time, doesn’t necessarily mean that anything’s wrong. Everyone’s body is different, and your prolonged rosy hue might just have to do with the way yours responds to the heat and how many blood vessels you have. The combination of exercise and the steamy sauna could also add to the duration of your flushing. In order to calm your crimson complexion, you could try cooling your skin down with a cold spritz or shower in order to get your blood vessels to constrict. Otherwise, you might just have to wait out the flushing.  

That said, the fact that your face remains red for such a long time could be a signal that you have rosacea. If you’re concerned about this it might be helpful to speak with a health care professional, particularly a dermatologist (skin doctor). They can help you find the right treatment to soothe your ruddy cheeks. 

Swimming right along to your second question—it’s not advisable to exercise in the sauna because there’s the potential to overheat and get dehydrated. This combination can be dangerous and lead to heat illnesses, which often necessitates urgent medical attention. One of the main benefits of a sauna is relaxation, so why not kick back and save your exercising for the rest of the gym?  

While it might not be a good idea to exercise in the sauna, spending time in the sauna after you exercise can be very beneficial. Spending time in a sauna can help your muscles recover and ease any pain. Additionally, studies have found that regularly spending time in saunas is associated with improved psoriasis, headaches, and lung function, as well as protection against neurocognitive disorders, like dementia.  

The thought of these potential benefits might bring on a flush of excitement. But before you rush to the sauna, here are some safety considerations to keep in mind: 

• Limit your time: You should only stay in the sauna for 5-20 minutes. 
• Stay sober: If you've been consuming alcohol or any other substances, it's not recommended to spend time in a sauna. Most injuries, illnesses, and fatalities associated with saunas have involved alcohol. 
• Sit this one out: There are some people who shouldn’t spend time in a sauna. This list includes pregnant women, older individuals, young children, people who’ve experienced seizures or heart attacks, anyone with severe aortic valve stenosis, or anyone currently experiencing chest pains. 
• Stay hydrated: Sipping water between laps and while in the sauna can help prevent dehydration.  
• Listen to your body: If you feel dizzy or overheated, leave the sauna and find a cool place to rest, hydrate, and seek help if necessary. 

All this said, your commitment to regular physical activity is commendable and getting a slight flush while doing said activities is rather common. However, if your red face persists outside the gym, consider meeting with a health care professional to discuss your concerns further.  

Just keep swimming,