The Difference Between A Steam Room And A Sauna

Both steam rooms and saunas are associated with making the bather sweat; but what is the difference between the two? • Steam rooms only generate heat with steam. Saunas can use dry heat or infrared heat as well as steam to warm the body. • Steam rooms are usually made of glass, while saunas are usually made of wood. • Steam rooms have an external steam generator, while saunas usually have a stove located in the sauna that generates the heat. • The primary goal of steam rooms is to make the bather sweat. Saunas, especially those that use infrared or dry heat, have other goals such as muscle stimulation. • The environment inside a steam room is much wetter than the environment inside a sauna.