Steambaths, Saunas: Good or Bad
In the very early days of mankind, when the primitive forms that constituted early man were largely unrecognizable as such, there was little concern for hygiene. Early inhabitants were not strong swimmers, and most water sources large enough to bathe in were inhabited by large predators and other dangerous carnivorous animals, eager to make a meal of the potentially unwary swimmer. But at some point, bathing obviously caught on, along with soap, washcloths and towels for drying off after the bath. But it took considerably longer to introduce the steam bath and sauna to early man's repertoire of available cleansing rituals. Most would speculate that the steam bath was discovered by accident by early cave dwellers in search of warmth.
Once the process of cleansing with steam became common practice, bathers found that many of the skin and scalp problems that they had suffered from were no longer in evidence, having subsided with the advent of the steam bath. Acne and pimples on the skin as well as many lung and breathing disorders frequently cleared up in rapid fashion, creating an additional reason for use of the baths and saunas. The sauna and the steam room became so popular, in fact, that use of the device was spread throughout the modern world, and even Rome was famous for having a plethora of baths and saunas available to the public.
But while the cleansing effects on the skin are immediately noticeable, there wasn't much known about the effects of exposure to such heat on a long term basis to the skin. Citizens trekked miles to make use of the baths and saunas, unaware of any damage that might be taking place on the surface of the epidermal layer, the skin that was being so effectively cleansed of dirt and grime. As the practice became more popular, more people began including bathing in their daily routines, and the notoriety continued to spread. This endless cycle of propagation would continue well into the modern day, as technology continues to make it easier and easier to equip the super heated saunas and hot tubs of the average bather.
While the cleansing effects of the heated waters and steam are plain to see, what isn't so plain to see is the damage that can be caused to the skin from extended bathing in hot water. The effect is basically a drying out and weakening of the epidermis, causing the skin to begin losing moisture as soon as the body leaves the water. This effect causes cracking and flaking of the dry skin, and can lead to other, more severe skin issues. While occasional use of the hot tub and sauna are likely to be no major problem, repeated and extended use of the heated bathing rooms can result in all manner of dry, itchy skin and related problems.
Naturally, the easiest way to combat this effect is to avoid these heated water baths and steam saunas, or at least make use of them less frequently. But the drying effects of the hot tub or sauna can be mitigated by the simple application of lotions and emollients after bathing.