Steam shower and sauna are two separate types of heat treatments. Here are some of the common differences between the two:

Level & Type of Heat

Steam shower produces wet heat between 105°F – 115°F with approximately 100 % humidity and is not very hot so as to harm your skin.

Whereas saunas produce dry heat between 160°F-200°F with humidity of 10-20% and again cannot harm a person with normal health.

Construction

Steam showers are usually constructed with ceramic tiles, waterproof material which is non-porous. Heat is created by pouring water over heated rocks with the use of a generator.

Saunas can be made with kiln-dried cedar or spruce wood that can handle the low humidity and higher temperature. Usually there are two sets of benches where people can sit on one and rest their feet on the other.

Benefits

Both the steam shower and sauna have their own sets of health benefits. Both of them provide relief for any kind of muscular pain which may have been caused due to strain from exercises or exertion. They can help you repair your muscles during this process. However, sauna does not help you sweat as much as in steam shower and might not release as much toxins.

When it comes to steam showers, they provide an additional benefit for those who have respiratory concerns, bronchial asthma, allergy or cold by providing them vaporizing benefits besides releasing toxins due to sweating. However, if you are suffering from arthritis or tuberculosis, this humidity can also cause problems.

Depending on your personal and health requirements, you can choose whichever you find better. If you find the intensity of humidity a concern in a steam room, you can choose sauna. If you are opting for steam room, ensure that the room does not have any kind of bacteria and it is cleaned on a regular basis.