A significant portion of society experiences difficulty sleeping, particularly during stressful periods in their lives. Those with arthritis and other conditions that cause pain, backache or discomfort know all to well how difficult it is to get comfortable enough to sleep through the night.

Good sleep habits are an essential element in overall health, as the human body requires sleep to rejuvenate and repair minor damages acquired during the day.

Irregular sleep, or non REM sleep, can lead to any number of health related ailments making the person afflicted more susceptible to injury or illness. There is also a significant relationship between sleep deprivation and impaired cognitive and motor functions, in fact a large number of preventable fatal motor vehicle accidents each year are caused as result of extreme fatigue.

Overused and achy muscles coupled with mental stress are an active ingredient for a sleepless night. Setting aside time each night to unwind and relax are indispensable to ensuring a good nights sleep. There is significant scientific data detailing the correlation between bathing and quality sleep patterns. Relaxing for just 20 minutes at the end of the day in a steam shower, or warm bath, will help to regulate the body’s core temperature and increase blood flow. This not only helps to alleviate overtaxed muscles, but also has a calming effect on the brain providing an overall sensation of tranquility. The warm steamy surrounding aid in improving air passage to the lungs. Slow deep breathing will help to slow the bodies internal functions and let the body know that it is time for rest. After a soak or steam shower the body will experience a drop in temperature as it attempts to level out to that of the surrounding room temperature, this will trick the brain into thinking that it is tired, as the body normally drops in temperature during sleep.

Baths, and steam showers in particular, are notorious for combating stress, sore muscles and breathing and sinus problems, issues that also cause most people to experience a decline in active sleep. By regularly harnessing the calming effects of such luxuries it is possible to overcome mild sleep disorders and temporary bouts of insomnia without the use of chemically derived sleep aids, which only make users feel even more tired in the morning.

Steam showers come highly recommended for their therapeutic stress fighting abilities. Since steam showers cause the bodies basal temperature to elevate, blood circulation is  rapidly increased causing more blood and oxygen to flow freely to the organs resulting in decreased mental and physical tension.

Studies prove that frequent use of steam showers, in small intervals, is beneficial in improving the bodies cardiovascular strength and immune system functions and aid in removing dangerous toxins from the bodies internal organs. The warmth associated with steam showers works to dissipate muscle tension and alleviate mental fatigue and offers a calming atmosphere.

A carefully selected steam shower from a today’s manufacturers offers a unique and relaxing way to melt away the stress of the day – literally. Step into an artistically engineered steam shower and experience the best all natural stress combatant on the market, without the aid of unhealthy prescription drugs.

Newer showers specially designed to massage the body with light pressured steam. The warming qualities of steam increase circulation and improve blood flow to the tissues and internal organs, resulting in an instant feeling of euphoria and muscular tension relief.

Since steam showers cause the body to force out harmful toxins through sweat glands the immune system is pushed into a heightened state of awareness and begins to work immediately to fight off the negative effects of stress.

The relaxing qualities of steam showers are a proven way to combat stress and muscle tension and provide a safe and non toxic way to escape and unwind after a long overtaxed day.

Upon entering a steam shower the bodies thermal system begins to experience an increase in body temperature. The human body ideally maintains a temperature of around 98.6 F, systematic increases in room temperature fool the body into thinking it needs to lower it’s core temperature – resulting in increased blood circulation.

Once the body is no longer able to withstand the surrounding external temperature it begins to acclimatize internal temperature causing blood flow to be constricted and forced towards the skins surface – resulting in excessive sweating.

Unlike a conventional water rinse shower, which cleanses dirt from the skins surface, steam showers are specially engineered to remove dirt and impurities from beneath the epidermal layers. The practice of sweating to cleanse the skin works to soften skin by removing dead skin cells but it also helps to clear complexion by forcing toxins from skin pores. Those with acne or imperfection prone skin are able to substantial improvements by a steam showers ability to remove internal dirt and oil, without the use of harsh abrasive or chemicals.

The sporadic increase in basal temperatures, achieved with the use of steam showers, provides a healthful increase in blood circulation.  Medical research dictates that increases in blood circulation result in more oxygen and beneficial nutrients being brought to the skins surface.  Perhaps the most notable benefit of this concept is the enhancement of collagen reproduction, resulting in improved skin elasticity.  Artificial collagen reproduction is a costly and hazardous cosmetic procedure with unstable results. Regular use of steam showers are a proven natural alternative.

Another excellent natural cosmetic benefit of a steam shower is it’s powerful capability of aiding in weightless. When used in conjunction with healthy eating habits and a regular fitness routine, the application of steam is useful in cleansing toxins from internal organs and artificially stimulating metabolic function. When the bodies core temperature rises, the cardiovascular and immune system work to regulate temperatures (the same way it would while running, jogging or performing some sort of fitness routine) this helps the body to increase metabolism while burning calories.

Not only do steam showers offer a safe and natural alternative to many cosmetic skin procedures, they also provide internal cleansing powers resulting in a clean body inside and out.

Here are some of the reasons why you should get a steam bath regularly.

Beat the Acne Away!

Acne is one of the most prevalent skin problems and the easiest to notice.  And because acne affects every part of your body, most especially your face, it can be quite embarrassing as well.  Sure, there are a lot of acne medications around, but these usually lead to other problems like dry skin or an even worse acne condition.

Acne is primarily caused by blocked skin pores.  When the pores on your skin are blocked, it results in excess oil that can in turn cause acne, blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.  More than this, dust and dirt can also accumulate in your pores causing it to become more blocked.

Steaming the face and the rest of your body can help open up your pores, making it easier to clean away the dirt and dust.  It helps you control too much oil production by your skin.  Further, steaming your skin can help you get rid of dead skin cells! In fact, most health spas and beauty salons now include steaming the face as part of their facial care services to help control your acne.

Sweat It Out

The increased temperature in the room also causes your own body’s temperature to rise, and this leads to sweating.  Your sweat actually contains salt that kills the bacteria that causes acne and other skin problems.

What’s more, sweat carries with it different wastes from your body while also regulating your body’s temperature.  A lot of experts would tell you that sweating is vital to your health, making steam baths even more important because of most people’s sedentary lifestyles.

The fact is a typical person sweats around one liter of sweat during a 15-minute steam bath.  The amount of waste that is excreted through your perspiration in that time span is equal to the amount of waste the kidneys would eliminate working constantly in a 24-hour period.  For one, the body’s excess salt may be excreted through sweat.  The excretion of salt is also believed to be good for mild hypertension or anxiety.  Salt is also responsible for the production of urea, which causes nausea and headaches, among other things.

Another type of waste that is eliminated through sweat is lactic acid that causes general fatigue and stiff muscles.  Toxic metals like copper, zinc, mercury and lead are also flushed out via sweat.

Improve Your Circulation

Steam improves your blood circulation.  Remember that blood circulation is vital transporting nutrients to your body’s organs while also getting toxins out.  This means that poor blood circulation can be detrimental to your body’s overall nutrition and detoxification.

Specifically, poor blood circulation can cause clammy and numb feet and hands, poor healing in times of sickness, dizziness when moving suddenly, poor memory, varicose veins, and haemorrhoids, among many others.

Steaming is believed to expand your blood vessels and capillaries so that it is easier for blood to pass through, aside from the increase in body temperature simulating a cardiovascular workout, which also increases blood circulation.

Moisturize Your Skin

While water can dry your skin, steam actually moisturizes it.  Well-moisturized skin actually helps you fight skin problems like chaffed and cracked skin, pimples and acne. What’s more, because steam opens your pores, you can apply moisturizers and other tested and clinically proven skincare products and you’d be sure your skin gets to absorb more of it and lock it in, therefore facilitating better and more effective results.

Boost Your Immune System

When you have a steam bath, your body’s core temperature increases.  This makes your body think that you are having a fever.  When you have fever, your body produces more white blood cells to combat the intruders: bad bacteria.  This is because white blood cells are the basic unit of your immune system.

More than white blood cells, other antibodies like interferon are also produced.

In effect, your immune system is fortified when the body thinks that you have a fever.  In fact, a study conducted by Mayo Clinic has found that an induced fever increases your white blood cells by as much as 58%!

Burn the Calories

Due to the increase of body heat, your body also burns calories.  Your body’s cardiovascular system is stimulated by the steam and your pulse rate will increase rapidly.  This helps in sending blood to the capillaries and converting carbohydrates and fats into energy.

Commonly believed benefits of steaming

Aside from these, there are other commonly held beliefs about steaming that are not scientifically proven, but are empirically observed.  Here are some:

* It is widely believed in Finland that sweat and steam bath can increase the amount of milk produced by a lactating mother’s mammary glands.

* Body fat is believed to become soluble at 43 degrees Celcius, a temperature that you can achieve from steaming.  What it all boils down to is that with steaming, it will be easier to sweat the fat out of your system.

* Steaming has been closely tied to weight loss, but take note that this weight loss is temporary.  When you are in a steam bath, your body loses water rapidly and that is what is responsible for the weight loss.  When you drink water, you regain much of the weight you lost during the steam session.

Becoming healthier and more beautiful is certainly what most of us strive for.  And steam showers can facilitate in achieving both.  Fortunately, one does not have to visit a spa or health club to get the benefits of steam showers.  With Wasauna steam showers, we can now get these benefits right in our own homes!

Steam Shower with Dual Ceiling Rain Showers

Modern Steam Room

Modern Steam Room in Orange County, California.

Steam Shower

Glass Steam Shower

This bathroom is worth a closer look – click on the image to enlarge it. A perfect example of an all glass steam shower fitting seamlessly into a modern bathroom design. Notice the custom wood paneling on the front of the vanities that matches the paneling on the bathtub surround, the overhead showerhead in the shower, the 4×4 tiles on the sink that match the tiles on the shower floor, and the sitting niche for applying makeup in front of the mirror.

Tile Walk-in Shower

A very interesting bathroom design that combines the use of stone and travertine tile to create a walk-in shower and overall elegant and classic feel.

Walk-in Shower

Tile walk-in shower and tub built from a series of 6″ earth tone color travertine tiles.

Steam Shower Tub Combo

A good example of a custom built steam shower in a modern bathroom.  Travertine tile makes a stylish finish, and the acrylic bathtub adds functionality while not taking too much away from the look or comfort of the unit.  A separate bathtub and shower is always ideal, because you’ll have more freedom to move around and less awkwardness when getting in and out of the shower, but if you have space limitations a setup like this can give you all the functionality of a steam shower, bathtub, and regular shower.

This is another steam shower made by Wasauna. If you can’t view the video on this site, try it at steamshower.net. The video does a good job of demonstrating features that modern steam showers are offering.

Walk-in Steam Shower

The Siena is a prefabricated, built-in steam shower made by Wasauna.  Prefabricated steam showers offer functionality that is not available (or is simply too expensive) in custom showers.  This is the first prefabricated shower kit we have seen that has the high class/high quality look and feel of a custom tiled in steam shower.  One particularly neat (although not necessarily extremely useful) feature of this shower is the thermostatic water valve.  The shower allows you to digitally set the water temperature, and you will never feel a drop of water that isn’t that temperature.  In other words, the shower doesn’t start spraying water until the water has heated up to the preset temperature.  Other features include a chlorine filter and Vitamin C showerhead for skin beautification.  

California Steam Shower

This is a picture of a steam shower taken in a bathroom in Beverly Hills, CA.

Steam Room and Large Bathroom Design in NYC

This is a spacious bathroom with very high ceilings and a gorgeous white travertine tile theme. The steam shower room sits nicely off to the side of the room. This picture was taken from a bathroom in NYC.

Steam Bathroom

This bathroom features quite a few modern fixtures. Glass farmer sinks, mosaic tile floor, brushed nickel faucets and brushed nickel showerheads. One thing to note is that tile can go out of style, but glass never really does, so from a risk-of-looking dated perspective, glass is safer than acrylic, tile, or just about any other material.

Walk-in Shower Room

This is a modern bathroom remodel, with a doorless walk-in shower and a separate bathtub.

Slate Bathroom Shower

An example of a bathroom shower with a glass door that could easily have been turned into a steam room. By simply taking the glass up to the ceiling. Slate is a type of tile used in many contemporary bathrooms. You’ll also see it on the inside and outside walls of many new commercial buildings.

Ceiling Rain Showerhead

Our visitors (and most potential steam shower owners) often have trouble understanding exactly what a ceiling rain showerhead is.  This picture gives an accurate picture of why these types of showerheads (also known a “amazon rainshower”) are so desireable.  They drench your body in water in a relaxing and rejuvenating manner.

Steam Room

Tile Bathroom Design

Custom Tile & Glass Steam Shower

Built-in Steam Shower in Los Angeles

Walk-in Steam Shower

A modern bathroom design with room for a bathtub, walk-in shower, and travertine tile flooring.  The high ceilings make the bathroom feel spacious, and the white crown molding adds a touch of luxury.  The skylights allow in natural light which makes the entire room look even more open.  The designer was careful to match the shower wall tile to the floor tile, and glass shower door swings both ways.

Steam Shower Design

This bathroom includes a steam shower room with an 8′ x 4′ glass window which makes the shower feel open and spacious. The steam room has 12′ high ceilings, like the rest of the bathroom. The steam shower walls are covered with 12″ x 12″ slate tile on the inside, and 2″ x 1″ rectangular stone tiles on the outside. The shower includes a seat and 8 hydro-massage shower jets.

Tile Bathtub and Steam Room

The most interesting thing about this bathroom is that the owner clearly spared no expense. Even in expensive homes, a bathtub this large built entirely from tile is rare. On top of that, there is a separate completely enclosed glass steam room / shower. Despite that, the bathroom design is simply not attractive. The primary culprit is too much noise. The exact same tile pattern over and over again, along with a crudely shaped steam room, create an unattractive bathroom.

Walk-in Shower and Tub

This picture doesn’t show a clear picture of the walk-in shower, but it is a good example of just how open a shower and bathroom can be if you have enough space to work with. The showerhead is set back far enough from the regular floor of the bathtub that no glass door is needed. The shower is completely in the open.

Glass Steam Shower

A luxury bathroom design featuring a home steam shower and bathtub dropped into a classy tile skirt.  The white base of the shower keeps the room from looking too modern, while still taking advantage of the glass so the shower doesn’t feel claustrophobic or cramped.  One interesting thing to notice about this bathroom design is the simple color scheme.  There are only three colors in the entire bathroom: the stained wood of the cabinet, white and and the noche dark of the tile.

Tile Steam Room

Another example of a custom steam room built using various sizes and shapes of tile. The double paned glass lets in natural light while holding the heat and steam. Consider windows in your bathroom or in the actual steam room if you want to avoid the feeling of a cave.

Black Bathroom Design

This bathroom features all black tile flooring, black granite countertops, a marble bathtub skirt, and a custom steam room.

Tile Bathroom Shower Design

A great example of using a variety of travertine tile shapes and sizes to create a steam room.  This shower begins with 1×1 tiles on the floor, moves up to 4 x 4 square tiles below the bench, a layer of 1 x 4 tiles, a bench made of diagonally set 3×3 tiles, back to 4 x 4s, then 4 x 4s set diagonally, and finally brick shaped tile.  The variety of tile sizes doesn’t cost any more, and it provides a stylish and classic feel.

Tile and Glass Steam Room

This walk-in shower has a seat, making it safe for the disabled and elderly. There is a steam room behind the shower.

Bathroom Design

This is an absolutely gorgeous bathroom design with a whirlpool steam shower.  The picture is taken from a house located in Miami, Florida.  The bathroom makes great use of space, allowing for a walk-in shower / steam room, Jacuzzi bathtub, and poured concrete / dark stained wood vanity.  The bathroom isn’t huge, and yet it fits all of this without feeling cramped.  Each section of the bathroom uses a different shape / size of tile, and yet they fit together in perfect harmony.  The bathroom mixes the best of modernism and minimalism, offering wonderful functionality and elegant simplicity at the same time.

Glass Bathroom Shower

This is a good example of how even a small bathroom can fit a steam shower. Many homeowners have the misconception that a steam shower takes up additional space, but in actuality it simply requires a seal around your existing shower and good construction practices.

Custom Steam Room Design

This shower room was built using only 18″ x 18″ square noche dark tumbled travertine tiles.  The bench is large enough to hold several adults, and the simple but effective brass showerhead offers a classic feel.  This is an example of a simple shower design that offers a comfortable feel and a stylish look.

Luxury Bathroom Design

This luxury bathroom design features a green theme, with a Jacuzzi bathtub and a steam shower. The glass block lets natural light into the bathroom. Behind the door on the left is a dedicated toilet closet.

Small Steam Shower

Another example of a custom enclosed shower room that serves as both a shower and a steam room.

Glass Steam Room

This bathroom features a long, comfortable whirlpool bathtub by Kohler, and a custom glass steam room / steam shower enclosure with multiple showerheads. Most of the bathroom is made from marble, which looks gorgeous but stains easily. The vanity features a stone vessel sink.

Modern Steam Shower

This steam room / shower combo is built solidly and fits well into the bathroom. Our issue with it is the inward swinging door. With plenty of space in the bathroom, the door can make it difficult to get out of the shower once you are in, without offering much benefit. The bathtub also feels cramped because of the unnecessary archway built around it.

Tile Steam Shower with Jets

This steam shower, located in San Francisco, California, is made from 2×2, 4×4, and 12 x 12 tumbled travertine tiles.  The shower includes 3 shower heads, a variety of hot/cold knobs, and a 6 KW steam generator.  The black fixtures fit seamlessly into the design of this shower.

Large Bathroom with Steam

This New York City residence has a combination steam shower / steam room, while the bathtub acts as the bathroom’s centerpiece.

Glass Steam Shower

Click to enlarge this bathroom photo, and you will see a custom steam room built with a glass pane that overlooks this simple yet elegant bathroom design featuring an acrylic bathtub surrounded by black marble and travertine tile.

Walk-in Shower and Steam Room

On the left is a classic steam room, with a bench and enough room for two adults.  On the right is a doorless walk-in shower with translucent glass tile to allow light in but not take away from the bather’s privacy.

This bathroom design was possible because the contractor had so much space to work with.  In addition to matching vanities, the bathroom fits a Jacuzzi bathtub and a separate steam shower enclosure.  Despite having plenty of space, the builder chose to combine the steam room with the shower.  A look inside the steam shower showers a pair of simple shower heads, two wall jets, a small bench, and elaborate travertine tile designs and patterns.

Walk-in Shower

This homeowner elected to leave the steam function off and create a stylish walk-in shower. Taking the glass up to the ceiling and adding a glass door would have allowed this shower to function as a steam room, as well. We included it in this section because the design is so tasteful.

Walk-in Steam Shower

This walk-in shower offers an interesting touch.  When you want to use it as a steam room, you can shut the door.  Otherwise, leave the door open and you have a walk-in shower that is easy to get in and out of.  Walk-in showers (and walk-in bathtubs) are especially useful if you have an elderly or disabled member of your household.  This shower offers a simple but effective overhead ceiling rain shower, outdoor lighting, and a travertine tile finish.

Steam Shower / Sauna

This finnish sauna doubles as a steam room.  Our general recommendation is to stay away from wood when building a steam room, because the steam can warp, stain, and otherwise damage the water.  Nevertheless, the contractor behind this house pulled it off, and this room has been in existence for years without a noticeable problem.

Stone Steam Shower Bath

This wonderful custom steam room is built from blue and gray travertine tile and stone, designed with the feel of a rocky riverbed.