Evidence and research
What does the research on steam and sauna bathing actually show?
Published research shows heat and steam can increase how much of a drug passes through the skin from a transdermal patch. Transdermal ozone uptake has not been quantified.
These studies are listed for reference only. They are not claims about what our saunas do.
Our steam studies page collects this work and links on to the sources.
Steam and skin permeability
- Exposure to high ambient temperature increases absorption and plasma concentrations of transdermal nicotine, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics — a crossover design showing heat raises peak plasma concentration of drugs given through skin.
Transdermal ozone uptake has not been quantified.
Further reading
Breaching the skin barrier through temperature modulations describes steam at 35 to 40 °C creating a thermally reversible transition in skin lipids. It is linked from the steam studies page.