December 15, 2024, 6:14 am | Read time: 7 minutes

Sauna time is finally here again! Taking a sauna is good for your health and relaxing—if you do it right. Sometimes the behavior of other sauna-goers can be so annoying that any relaxation is gone. Here are 19 things you should definitely avoid when taking a sauna.

More on the topic

Fischland-Zingst-Darß in the Cold Weather 9 tips to stay warm on the Baltic’s most beautiful peninsula

10 valuable tips How to stay healthy on a plane

Beaches, promenades, attractions Vacation on Usedom – the best tips

Sauna Etiquette: Things to Avoid

Entering the Sauna Without Showering

Imagine none of your sauna neighbors had showered beforehand. Disgusting? Exactly! That’s why the sauna etiquette says: Take a shower before every sauna session, even with soap before the first one. This is not only important for hygiene reasons, but also because it removes the greasy film and any cosmetic residue from your skin that would otherwise clog your pores.

Going into the Sauna Wet

You should shower before your first sauna session and after every sauna session. But you should also always dry off well before entering the sauna, because dry skin sweats better. And this is the effect you want to achieve when taking a sauna.

Staring

The horror for some women: being stared at unabashedly in the sauna. Unfortunately, there are always sauna-goers who are only interested in spotting naked skin. But, dear peeping Toms, let me tell you: The sauna is not for staring, but for relaxing! If that’s your intention, a sauna club might be the place for you.

Not Laying Down a Towel

Almost as disgusting: sitting on the sauna bench without a towel or with one that is far too small. Especially if you sit on the upper benches, you should make sure that no sweat drips down.

Wearing Too Much

You go to the sauna naked — at least in most saunas in this country, as well as some others, such as the sauna capital Finland. There are supposedly good reasons why you should sweat unclothed if possible: evaporation and, therefore, cooling of the body would be hindered by too much fabric on the body, they say. In addition, some believe that germs and bacteria could accumulate in the accumulated sweat in textiles, such as swimming trunks or bikinis — however, there is no reliable evidence on this. Those who are reluctant to expose themselves to the gaze of others are advised to simply wrap a towel around certain areas. But then don’t forget to put another towel underneath!

Groping

Another taboo in the sauna: groping — whether on strangers or your own partner. If you absolutely need the heat of a sauna for this, you should get your own at home or go to a sauna club.

Wearing Jewelry

Necklaces, rings, and bracelets: jewelry made of metal heats up a lot in the sauna and can feel uncomfortably hot on the skin or, depending on the temperature and proximity to the heater, even cause burns. An exception is jewelry that has full skin contact, such as a fixed wedding ring. These give off heat directly to the skin. Also, be careful with hair clips or hair ties with metal inserts: they can damage your hair when heated up.

Taking a Too Hot Sauna

Another tip in our sauna etiquette guide: Especially as a beginner, you shouldn’t go straight into a 100-degree sauna. It’s best to start with a milder option, such as a bio-sauna, which is usually between 50 and 60 degrees hot. If only a classic sauna is available, it is best to start on one of the lower benches, as it is cooler here than at the top. Then you can slowly “work your way up”.

Staying in the Sauna for Too Long

Another typical beginner’s mistake: staying in the sauna for too long. A sauna bath usually lasts between 8 and 12 minutes and never longer than 15 minutes, although only experienced sauna-goers usually reach the maximum duration. In the milder bio-sauna, on the other hand, you can sauna for much longer — but only for as long as you still feel good.

Getting up Too Quickly

If you want to leave the sauna again, you should not get up completely abruptly, as this could lead to circulatory problems. It is best to get out of the lying position for a few minutes before the end and to then stand up slowly.

Getting Too Close to the Heater

The heater and the stones in it are usually extremely hot, which is why it always hisses so beautifully during the infusion! You should therefore never accidentally touch the heater, for example, when going in or out, or even reach into it.

Be Loud

You want to relax in the sauna. That’s why you should avoid talking loudly, at least if there are other guests. Also, unnecessary and even disgusting for some: wiping off your sweat noisily.

Open the Door During the Infusion

Also important, according to the sauna etiquette: never enter or leave the sauna when an infusion is taking place. The infusion is the highlight for every sauna visitor, and opening the door would immediately disperse the steam and essential oils from the infusion additives.

Going to the Sauna on a Full Stomach

This is not a good idea, as the body is then too busy digesting. Everything together can put a strain on your circulation. Similarly, you should not go to the sauna on a completely empty stomach.

Not Cooling Down

You can only achieve a health-promoting effect in the sauna if you cool down after each sauna session. If possible, it is best to first go out into the fresh air for 1 to 2 minutes to cool your airways and fill up on oxygen. Then step into the cold shower or plunge pool, even if it takes some effort!

Not Resting Between Sessions

Resting is just as important as cooling down. After the cold shower, you should wrap yourself in a dry bathrobe and lie down in a quiet place, such as the relaxation room in a spa area.

Allowing Too Little Time

Some people make the mistake of taking too little time and squeezing three sauna sessions into one hour. This is definitely not enough because the rest periods in between are inevitably too short. You should allow at least two hours for three sauna sessions, preferably even more.

Going to the Sauna When Ill

If you have a bad cold or even a fever, you should definitely not go to the sauna. Not only do you run the risk of infecting other sauna guests, you are also harming your own body, as the heat weakens the immune system in its fight against pathogens. If you notice that you are coming down with a cold, you should also stop going to the sauna, as this can trigger the illness in the first place.

Drinking Alcohol

The last point that should not be missing from the sauna etiquette: You should completely avoid alcoholic drinks before and, of course, during the sauna. This is because alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to drop. The body is stressed by the breakdown of alcohol, and this could lead to circulatory problems. Alcohol also draws water from the body, an additional burden during the sweat bath. It is best to drink plenty of water, spritzers, or teas while in the sauna, ideally after the last sauna session.