Sauna use is generally not bad for psoriasis. The limited research available suggests that traditional saunas have a neutral effect on psoriatic skin, neither worsening nor improving symptoms in most people. Infrared saunas may offer mild relief for some, though the evidence is thin. The bigger concern is what happens to your skin afterward: heat and sweating can dry out already-compromised skin, so post-sauna care matters more than the sauna session itself.
What the Research Actually Shows
The most direct study on this question dates to 1983, when researchers tracked 213 men with psoriasis who used a traditional sauna. They found it had neither a positive nor negative effect on their symptoms. That’s reassuring if you’re worried about triggering a flare, but it also means a standard sauna isn’t a treatment.
Infrared saunas tell a slightly different story. A small 2012 study of 20 people with psoriasis compared infrared light to blue light therapy. Both groups saw some symptom improvement, though blue light was better at reducing redness. The infrared results were modest, and the study was tiny, so it’s far from conclusive. Many people with psoriasis report anecdotally that infrared sessions ease their symptoms, but as Cleveland Clinic dermatologists have noted, the clinical support for this remains largely anecdotal.
Traditional vs. Infrared Saunas
The two types of saunas work quite differently, which matters for sensitive skin. Traditional saunas use a furnace to produce dry heat, typically between 150°F and 195°F. That intense heat can feel harsh on inflamed plaques and causes heavy sweating that may sting cracked or broken skin.
Infrared saunas use light energy to warm your body directly rather than superheating the air around you. They operate at lower temperatures, usually 110°F to 135°F. That gentler heat is easier on irritated skin and may explain why some people with psoriasis find infrared sessions more comfortable. The infrared light itself also overlaps with wavelengths used in certain light therapies for skin conditions, which could account for the mild symptom improvements some users report.
Why Heat Can Still Be a Problem
Even if saunas don’t directly worsen plaques, they create conditions that can irritate psoriatic skin in indirect ways. Prolonged sweating pulls moisture from your skin. Salt left behind as sweat evaporates can sting open or cracked patches. And the rapid temperature change when you step out of a hot sauna into cooler air can leave already-dry skin feeling tight and uncomfortable.
There’s also the Koebner phenomenon to consider. This is a well-documented pattern where new psoriatic lesions form at sites of skin injury or irritation. While a sauna alone isn’t the kind of trauma that typically triggers this response, sitting on rough wooden benches, rubbing skin with towels, or scratching at itchy, sweaty plaques during a session could. Being gentle with your skin during and after a sauna matters.
How to Use a Sauna Safely
If you enjoy saunas and have psoriasis, a few adjustments can minimize any risk of irritation. Keep sessions short. General guidance is 15 to 20 minutes maximum, and if you’re new to saunas or have active flares, start with just five minutes and build up gradually over several sessions.
During the session, sit on a soft towel to reduce friction on your skin. Avoid scratching plaques even if they itch as you warm up. Drink water before, during, and after to stay hydrated, since dehydration can make skin dryness worse.
Post-Sauna Skin Care
What you do in the first few minutes after leaving a sauna has a bigger impact on your psoriasis than the sauna itself. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a specific approach for people with psoriasis after any exposure to water or heat: blot your skin dry gently with a towel rather than rubbing, but leave it slightly damp. Then apply a fragrance-free moisturizer within five minutes while that residual moisture is still on your skin. A thick cream or ointment locks in hydration better than a lotion, though a fragrance-free lotion works if heavier products feel uncomfortable.
If you shower after your sauna session, keep the water lukewarm rather than hot. Hot showers on top of sauna heat can strip what little protective oil psoriatic skin retains. Pat dry, moisturize while damp, and if it’s an evening session, apply a thick cream or ointment again before bed to give your skin hours of uninterrupted hydration overnight.
When a Sauna Might Not Be Worth It
If your psoriasis is in an active, severe flare with cracked, bleeding, or extensively inflamed skin, a sauna is likely to be uncomfortable even if it doesn’t make the underlying condition worse. Sweat stinging open skin and heat increasing the sensation of itching can turn a relaxing session into a miserable one. Waiting until a flare calms down before returning to the sauna is a practical choice.
Some topical treatments for psoriasis can also make skin more sensitive to heat. If you’re using a prescription cream or ointment and notice that your skin reacts more strongly to warmth than it used to, that’s worth paying attention to. Applying topicals after your sauna session rather than before can help avoid that reaction.