Saunas are having a moment right now.
And for good reason.
Saunas have been used for thousands of years across many cultures as a way to support cleansing, relaxation, circulation, social connection and overall wellbeing. Traditional heat bathing practices can be traced back to places like Finland, where wood-fired saunas became deeply woven into daily life, as well as Indigenous sweat lodge traditions in parts of North America and thermal bathing cultures throughout Turkey, Japan and Russia.
Different types of saunas create heat in different ways. Traditional Finnish saunas use dry heat, often from wood-burning or electric stoves, creating high temperatures with relatively low humidity. Infrared saunas use infrared light to warm the body more directly at lower ambient temperatures, which some people find gentler and easier to tolerate. Steam rooms, by contrast, use moist heat and high humidity, creating a very different experience for the skin, airways and overall heat sensation.
While modern wellness culture often treats saunas as a luxury trend, heat bathing has historically been viewed as a deeply restorative ritual for both body and mind — encouraging rest, reflection, recovery and human connection.
Used properly, they can be one of the simplest, most effective ways to support the body:
– sweating out waste
– improving circulation
– relaxing the nervous system
– supporting recovery and muscle function
But, like many aspects of our life, modern life is introducing a different consideration that people didn’t need to think of…
What you wear inside the sauna can either support the process… or work directly against it.
The Goal of a Sauna (And Why It Matters)
A sauna isn’t just about “getting hot.”
It’s about creating the right conditions for the body to do what it’s designed to do:
– open pores
– increase circulation
– mobilise and eliminate waste through sweat
– shift the body into a more parasympathetic (recovery) state
In simple terms:
You’re trying to reduce your internal load… not add to it.
The Problem With What Most People Wear
Most people step into a sauna wearing:
– gym wear
– swimwear
– synthetic underwear
And the reality is…
Most of that is made from plastic.
Polyester, nylon, elastane — these are petroleum-derived materials.
They’re not neutral. They’re engineered.
And to make them soft, stretchy, sweat-wicking, wrinkle-resistant or chlorine-resistant, they’re often treated with additional chemicals and coatings too.
Depending on the product, fitness and swimwear may contain:
– BPA and other plastic-related compounds
– phthalates used in flexible plastics
– PFAS (“forever chemicals”) for water or stain resistance
– synthetic dyes and finishing agents
– flame retardants
– antimicrobial treatments such as silver nanoparticles
– formaldehyde-based textile finishes
Now add:
👉 heat
👉 sweat
👉 open pores
👉 increased circulation
…and it’s fair to at least ask:
is this really what we want pressed against the body during a detoxification and heat therapy session?
This is one reason many people choose natural fibres like organic cotton, linen or hemp around sauna use where possible — or simply sauna in minimal clothing altogether, depending on the setting and culture.
Why This Matters More in a Sauna
On a normal day, your exposure is one thing.
Inside a sauna, everything changes.
You have:
– heat opening the pores
– sweat increasing skin permeability
– prolonged contact with fabric
– increased blood flow near the skin
This creates the perfect environment for increased absorption.
So instead of just sweating things out…
You can also be increasing what’s coming in.
What Synthetic Fabrics Actually Do in That Environment
This isn’t about demonising materials—it’s about understanding context.
1. They Trap Heat and Moisture
Synthetic fabrics aren’t breathable in the same way natural fibres are.
In a sauna, this can:
– interfere with natural temperature regulation
– create a damp, bacteria-friendly environment
– irritate sensitive skin
You end up working against your body instead of with it.
2. They Can Increase Chemical Exposure
Many synthetic textiles contain or are treated with compounds like:
– PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
– phthalates
– formaldehyde-based finishes
Research has shown that skin absorption increases when we sweat.
So wearing these materials in a high-heat, high-sweat environment may increase exposure at the exact moment your body is trying to offload.
3. Microplastics Aren’t Just an Environmental Issue
Microplastics have now been detected in:
– blood
– lungs
– liver
– brain tissue
– and even the placenta
They don’t just pass through.
They can:
– trigger inflammation
– disrupt signalling pathways
– carry other compounds into the body
And again—heat and sweat amplify interaction with the skin.
4. Electrostatic Load & Sensitive Areas
Synthetic fabrics can also generate low-level electrostatic charge.
This becomes more relevant in:
– tight-fitting clothing
– underwear
– high-friction areas
It’s not something most people think about…
But when you zoom out, it’s another layer of unnecessary stress on the system.
So… Does This Mean You’re “Doing It Wrong”?
No.
But it does mean there’s a simple way to get more out of something you’re already doing.
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about alignment.
What to Do Instead (Simple, Practical Shifts)
You don’t need to overhaul everything.
Start with the moments that matter most—like heat and sweat.
1. Go Fabric-Free Where Possible
The simplest option:
– towel
– or nothing at all (if appropriate for the setting)
This allows the body to sweat and regulate naturally.
2. Choose Natural Fibres When You Do Wear Something
If you prefer coverage, look for:
– organic cotton
– linen
– lightweight natural fibres
These are:
– more breathable
– less chemically treated (depending on sourcing)
– more supportive of natural temperature regulation
3. Be Strategic With Synthetic Clothing
You don’t have to eliminate it entirely.
Just be more intentional:
– avoid wearing it in high heat
– avoid wearing it when sweating heavily
– reduce prolonged skin contact where possible
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t really just about saunas.
It’s about awareness.
We live in a world where:
– most fabrics are synthetic
– exposure is constant
– and the small details are often overlooked
But those small details…
are often where the biggest shifts come from.
Saunas Done Properly
Saunas can be an incredible tool.
When you support the process, they can:
– help the body offload what it doesn’t need
– improve recovery
– calm the nervous system
– support long-term resilience
But like anything in health…
it’s not just what you do.
It’s how you do it.
A Simple Question to Leave You With
If you’re stepping into a sauna to detox…
does it make sense to surround your skin with materials your body then has to deal with?
If you’re interested in more of these kinds of practical, often-overlooked shifts—
the kind that actually make a difference over time—
you can explore more here:
👉 https://www.catherineedwards.life/