What is a Wet Sauna?
The most commonly known type of sauna is the dry sauna. This is the one that most people are familiar with. This type of sauna can reach temperatures of over two-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. But in a dry sauna the humidity is very low no more than a very few percent. This means that when the people in the sauna perspire with the intense heat this high heat causes their perspiration to evaporate fast and so allows the high temperature to be bearable. Many people confuse a dry sauna with a steam bath, but the two are quite dissimilar.
It is the wet sauna that is used more often. They are the more popular type in spas, health clubs and home use worldwide. A wet sauna works differently than the dry ones. In all saunas a heater produces the intense heat. The rocks that are in the sauna room then hold the heat in. The rocks are often made from granite or sometimes they are volcanic rock. Then, to make it a wet sauna, water will be sprinkled onto the rocks making a quick explosion of hot mist. This puts the humidity level up from a few percent to between twenty and thirty percent. This also makes it feel much hotter than before the water was put on the rocks even though the temperature often drops a little. How much water you put on the rocks will directly affect the humidity. Depending on your preference and comfort, you may choose to sprinkle a little or you may ladle a lot of water onto the hot rocks.
Some people feel that a wet sauna is better enjoyed at lower temperatures and will recommend that the sauna does not exceed eighty degrees Fahrenheit. They will also use a humidifier that is connected to the sauna heater to prepare the room for their wet sauna. It is felt that this keeps the humidity constant throughout the sauna.
Another recommendation with wet saunas is what wood should be used in their construction. Since the wood absorbs the humidity and puts it back into the air the wood has an impact on how the room feels. You want the humidity to feel almost sweet. Cedar is often used because of its wood properties. It is the kind of wood that will breathe as long as it has no knots in it because the knots can absorb and hold the humidity. If the wood is clean of knots then it will help to improve the quality of the air inside the sauna.
It is recommended that a person only sit in this wet sauna for five to ten minutes at a time. They should then have a cool shower to restore normal body temperature. Then they can return to the sauna a few more times, duplicating this routine. It is suggested that they do not exceed five times at any given session. Many people really enjoy the higher humidity of a wet sauna and find it both invigorating and relaxing.