Steam rooms, in one form or another, have been enjoyed the world over for hundreds of years. Benefits include cleansing, relaxation and alleviation of some cold and asthma symptoms. On the other hand, the relatively high heat of steam rooms and their moist environment can cause or promote serious health hazards.
Infection
The fungus that causes athlete’s foot, known as Tinea pedis, and its fungal cousin that causes jock itch, Tinea cruris, thrive in warm, moist environments. The infection causes burning, itching and stinging, according to the Mayo Clinic, and especially affects the moist areas between the toes, the genitals, the upper thighs and the buttock area.
The fungus is hardy and can be passed from person-to-person, from object-to-person or even from animal-to-person. In a steam room, a person can contract jock itch by sitting on a bench previously occupied by an infected person or by walking barefoot in an area where an infected person has walked and shed the fungus. The Mayo Clinic points out that the fungus can be active on minute particles of skin, as well as on mats and towels.
Dehydration
The Day Spa Association reports that steam bath temperatures generally range from 110 to 116 degrees Fahrenheit. While these temperatures are not greatly higher than average resting body temperature (around 98.2 degrees F, according to Harvard Health Publications), they are high enough to cause a bather to perspire. Perspiration is the human body’s way to keep cool. Through it, though, the body loses necessary water, and, to a lesser degree, salt. Without proper replenishment, the very real danger of dehydration and its attendant symptoms (dizziness, nausea, and in extreme cases, even death) exists.
Go Ask Alice, a publication of Columbia University, points out that duration plays a key role in the risk of dehydration and recommends that steam bathers only stay in the room for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
Burns
When water vapor heats up too much, it can burn skin. The Canadian Medical Association in a 1997 report indicated that the pleasure/pain threshold for most adults occurs when water temperatures reach the 108 — 113 degree Fahrenheit level. Based upon that report, some adults will find steam room temperatures uncomfortable, at the least.
The same report indicates that adults would need to be exposed to water temperatures of 111 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 hours to develop second degree burns, but would receive second degree burns after only 9 minutes at water temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In a steam room, water vapor forms droplets on the skin and these have the potential to burn the bather if ambient temperatures reach too high.
Male Infertility
Harvard Health Publications reports that high ambient temperatures can make sperm inactive and recommends that men avoid steam rooms when couples hope to become pregnant. Because sperm takes approximately 64 days to fully develop, according to Science Magazine, men should avoid steam rooms during that period of time so as not to disrupt sperm development.
