If you live with psoriasis, you already know the drill. The plaques, the itching, the flaking — and the constant search for anything that might offer a bit of relief beyond your current treatment plan. Sauna therapy has been on that radar for a long time, and for good reason. Heat exposure has documented effects on inflammation, circulation, stress hormones, and skin barrier function — all of which play a role in how psoriasis behaves.
But the relationship between sauna and psoriasis isn't as simple as "sit in a hot room and feel better." The type of sauna matters. Your specific form of psoriasis matters. How you care for your skin before and after a session matters. And the existing research, while promising, comes with important nuances worth understanding before you start building a routine around it.
This guide covers everything: what the science actually says, how different sauna types compare for psoriasis management, a practical session protocol based on clinical findings, which forms of psoriasis respond best (and which may get worse), and how to layer in complementary therapies like red light for additional benefit.
A Quick Primer on Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that accelerates the life cycle of skin cells. In healthy skin, new cells typically take about a month to rise to the surface and shed. In psoriasis, the immune system sends faulty signals that speed this process up to just a few days, causing cells to pile up on the surface and form the raised, red, scaly patches known as plaques.
The condition affects roughly 2–3% of the global population and manifests in several forms. Plaque psoriasis is by far the most common, accounting for about 80–90% of cases, and it's the form most studied in relation to sauna therapy. Other types include guttate psoriasis (small, drop-shaped lesions often triggered by infection), inverse psoriasis (smooth, red patches in skin folds), pustular psoriasis (white, pus-filled blisters), and erythrodermic psoriasis (a rare, severe form covering most of the body).
What makes psoriasis particularly frustrating is that it's driven by systemic inflammation — not just what's happening on the skin's surface. Elevated levels of inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines are common. Stress is one of the most well-documented triggers for flare-ups, and the condition is closely associated with other inflammatory and metabolic conditions including psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.
This systemic nature is exactly why whole-body therapies like sauna bathing have attracted clinical interest. If you can influence the body's inflammatory response, stress physiology, and circulatory function at a systemic level, there's a reasonable basis for expecting downstream effects on skin symptoms.
How Sauna Therapy May Help Manage Psoriasis
The potential benefits of sauna use for psoriasis aren't based on a single mechanism — they stem from several overlapping physiological responses to heat exposure, each of which addresses a different aspect of the disease.
Reducing Systemic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is the engine driving psoriasis. C-reactive protein, a well-established blood marker for systemic inflammation, is consistently elevated in psoriasis patients. Research on regular sauna bathing has found a measurable relationship between sauna frequency and CRP levels — with more frequent sauna use associated with lower circulating CRP. Since elevated CRP is directly tied to psoriasis severity and flare-up frequency, anything that helps reduce it has the potential to improve symptoms over time.
A 2018 review published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings aggregated the existing evidence and noted that sauna bathing may benefit psoriasis patients specifically by facilitating the removal of hyperkeratotic scales and supporting the body's anti-inflammatory responses. The review concluded that sauna bathing is generally well-tolerated and does not cause skin drying — a critical consideration for anyone managing a condition where skin barrier function is already compromised.
Softening Plaques and Reducing Scaling
One of the most immediate and practical benefits of sauna use for plaque psoriasis is the softening and loosening of scales. Heat exposure hydrates the outer layers of the skin and softens the thick, hardened plaques that characterize the condition. After a sauna session, dead skin sheds more naturally and evenly without the aggressive scrubbing that can damage the skin barrier and trigger the Koebner response — a phenomenon where new psoriasis lesions form at sites of skin trauma.
This effect is particularly relevant for people who struggle with heavy scaling on the scalp, elbows, or knees. The gentle, passive removal of plaques through heat exposure is far less irritating than mechanical exfoliation and can make topical treatments more effective by improving their ability to penetrate the skin.
Lowering Cortisol and Managing Stress
Stress is one of the most potent and common triggers for psoriasis flare-ups. When cortisol levels spike, the resulting inflammatory cascade can activate or worsen the immune dysfunction that drives plaque formation. Sauna bathing shifts the body into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state, which directly counteracts the sympathetic nervous system activation associated with chronic stress.
Research has demonstrated that repeated sauna exposure can reduce baseline cortisol levels over time, and sauna users consistently report improvements in mood, anxiety, and sleep quality. For psoriasis patients, this stress-reduction effect may be just as important as any direct skin benefit — because controlling stress often means controlling flare frequency.
Improving Circulation and Skin Nutrition
Heat exposure causes vasodilation — the widening of blood vessels — which increases blood flow throughout the body, including to the skin. This enhanced circulation delivers more oxygen and nutrients to damaged skin tissue and helps carry away inflammatory byproducts. For psoriasis-affected areas where microcirculation may already be impaired, this boost in blood flow supports the skin's natural repair processes.
Infrared saunas, in particular, achieve this vasodilation effect at lower ambient temperatures than traditional saunas, making sessions more comfortable for people who find extreme heat irritating to sensitive skin. The radiant energy from infrared sauna panels penetrates the skin more deeply than convective heat alone, warming tissue from the inside out and promoting microcirculation in the capillary beds beneath the skin's surface.
Supporting a Healthier Skin Microbiome
A 2023 study on thermal therapy and psoriasis found something particularly interesting: heat treatment appeared to shift the skin microbiome of affected areas to more closely resemble that of healthy skin. The skin microbiome plays a significant role in immune regulation and barrier function, and this finding suggests that sauna therapy may influence psoriasis through biological pathways that go beyond simple inflammation reduction or scale softening.
What the Research Actually Shows
It's important to be straightforward about the state of the evidence. Research on sauna therapy and psoriasis specifically is still limited in volume, and much of the existing literature involves small sample sizes or observational study designs. That said, the findings that do exist are generally encouraging.
A frequently cited 1983 study examined 213 male psoriasis patients and found that sauna bathing had no negative effect on skin lesions for the vast majority — nearly 88% of participants — while roughly 11% experienced measurable improvement and only about 1.4% saw any worsening. The study also found that sauna bathing did not cause skin drying, which had been a theoretical concern.
A 2022 randomized controlled trial on thermal therapy and psoriasis produced more compelling results. Patients receiving spa-based heat therapy showed significantly greater improvements in quality of life compared to a control group, and these benefits persisted for up to 12 months after treatment ended. The study also found notably lower rates of patients needing to escalate to biologic medications in the thermal therapy group compared to controls.
On the infrared side, a small 2012 study comparing infrared light to blue light therapy in 20 psoriasis patients found improvements in symptoms after both treatments, though blue light offered slightly more relief from redness. A 2018 clinical review noted that infrared wavelengths may alter gene expression in ways that could reduce the inflammatory autoimmune processes underlying psoriasis plaques, but emphasized that more research is needed to confirm this.
A 2016 review of near-infrared (NIR) light — the shorter wavelength range used in full spectrum infrared saunas — found evidence supporting its ability to promote wound healing and reduce inflammation, both of which are directly relevant to psoriasis management.
The bottom line: no one is claiming sauna therapy is a cure for psoriasis, and it shouldn't replace any prescribed treatment. But the available evidence supports it as a safe, complementary approach that may help manage symptoms, reduce flare frequency, and improve quality of life — especially when used consistently over time.
Traditional Sauna vs. Infrared Sauna for Psoriasis
Both traditional and infrared saunas have potential benefits for psoriasis, but they work differently and each has distinct advantages depending on your specific situation.
Traditional Finnish Saunas
Traditional saunas heat the air to 170–200°F using an electric heater or wood-burning stove loaded with sauna rocks. The high ambient temperature produces intense sweating, and you can add humidity by pouring water over the rocks (known as löyly). This humidity component is a meaningful advantage for psoriasis — moist heat softens plaques more effectively than dry heat alone and helps prevent the skin dehydration that can exacerbate symptoms.
The majority of clinical research on sauna and psoriasis has been conducted using traditional Finnish saunas, so the evidence base here is more robust. The 1983 study and the Mayo Clinic review both focused on traditional sauna bathing.
The downside is that the extreme heat may be uncomfortable or irritating for some psoriasis patients, particularly those with widespread plaques or those whose skin is sensitive to high temperatures.
Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas operate at much lower ambient temperatures — typically 120–150°F — but use radiant infrared energy to heat your body directly rather than heating the surrounding air. This makes sessions more tolerable for people who find traditional sauna heat overwhelming, while still producing a deep sweat response and the associated benefits for circulation, inflammation, and stress reduction.
FAR infrared saunas emit long-wave infrared energy that penetrates deeply into tissue, making them effective for core-temperature elevation and detoxification. Full spectrum models add near and mid-infrared wavelengths, which offer additional benefits for surface-level skin health, wound healing, and cellular repair — all relevant to psoriasis management.
The near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range used in full spectrum saunas overlaps with the light used in photobiomodulation research, where it has shown promise for reducing inflammation and stimulating tissue repair. For psoriasis patients specifically interested in the skin-level benefits of light therapy alongside the systemic benefits of heat, a full spectrum infrared sauna may offer the most comprehensive approach.
For a detailed comparison of both technologies, our guide on infrared sauna vs. traditional sauna breaks down every meaningful difference.
Which Types of Psoriasis Respond Best — and Which to Be Careful With
Not every form of psoriasis responds the same way to heat exposure, and understanding where your condition falls on the spectrum is important before starting a sauna routine.
Mild to moderate plaque psoriasis is the form most likely to benefit. The scale-softening, anti-inflammatory, and stress-reduction effects of sauna therapy are well-suited to this presentation. If your psoriasis is characterized primarily by thick, stubborn plaques on the elbows, knees, lower back, or scalp, sauna sessions can be a helpful addition to your management strategy.
Guttate psoriasis may also respond positively, particularly through the stress-reduction and immune-modulating effects of regular sauna use, though direct evidence is limited.
"Summer" psoriasis — a pattern where symptoms worsen with heat and sweating rather than improving — is an important exception. A meaningful minority of psoriasis patients experience this reverse seasonal pattern, and for these individuals, sauna use can trigger irritation and flare-ups rather than relief. If your psoriasis consistently gets worse in hot weather, proceed with caution and consult your dermatologist before adding sauna sessions.
Pustular psoriasis and erythrodermic psoriasis are generally considered contraindications for sauna use. These severe forms involve compromised skin barrier function over large areas of the body, and the intense heat and sweating can worsen symptoms or introduce infection risk. If you have either of these forms, sauna therapy should only be considered under direct medical supervision.
Active flare-ups with open lesions or weeping wounds — regardless of psoriasis type — are also a reason to skip the sauna until the skin has stabilized. Broken skin is more vulnerable to infection, especially in shared or public sauna environments, and the heat and sweat can cause significant irritation on compromised tissue.
A Practical Sauna Protocol for Psoriasis
If you've discussed sauna therapy with your dermatologist and want to incorporate it into your routine, here's an evidence-informed approach to getting started safely.
Phase 1: Introduction (Weeks 1–2)
Start conservatively. Set your sauna to a lower temperature — around 110–120°F for infrared or 150–160°F for traditional — and limit sessions to 10–15 minutes. Use this introductory period to observe how your skin responds. Aim for two sessions per week with at least 48 hours between them to give your skin time to recover and adapt.
Phase 2: Building Tolerance (Weeks 3–6)
If your skin is tolerating sessions well with no increase in irritation or flare activity, gradually increase temperature and duration. For infrared saunas, work up to 130–140°F for 20–25 minutes. For traditional saunas, 160–180°F for 15–20 minutes is a reasonable target. You can increase frequency to 2–3 sessions per week during this phase.
Phase 3: Maintenance
Once you've established your tolerance, most psoriasis patients do well with 2–4 sauna sessions per week at their comfortable temperature and duration. Consistency matters more than intensity here — the research on thermal therapy and psoriasis suggests that sustained, regular use over months is what produces the most meaningful and lasting results.
Session Tips
Hydrate thoroughly before, during, and after every session. Dehydration worsens skin dryness and can trigger flare-ups. Sit on a clean towel to protect your skin from hot surfaces and maintain hygiene. Avoid rubbing, scratching, or aggressively toweling off psoriasis-affected areas — let the softened scales shed naturally. And if anything feels wrong during a session — increased burning, stinging, or rapid worsening of redness — end the session and cool down.
Post-Sauna Skincare for Psoriasis
What you do in the 15 minutes after stepping out of the sauna is arguably as important as the session itself. Heat opens pores and softens the skin, creating a window where moisture can be locked in and topical treatments can penetrate more effectively — but it also means the skin is temporarily more vulnerable to drying out.
Rinse with lukewarm (not hot) water immediately after your session to remove sweat residue. Sweat contains sodium, urea, and lactate, and research has shown that sweat sodium levels can be elevated in psoriasis patients. Leaving this on the skin can cause irritation, especially on already-compromised areas.
Pat dry gently — never rub — and apply a fragrance-free, thick emollient or moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp. Ceramide-based moisturizers and petroleum-based ointments are generally the most effective at restoring and protecting the skin barrier. If your dermatologist has prescribed topical treatments (corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, or calcineurin inhibitors), applying them after a sauna session when the skin is softened and more permeable may enhance their absorption and effectiveness — but confirm this approach with your prescribing physician first.
Psoriatic Arthritis and Sauna Therapy
Up to 30% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful inflammatory condition affecting the joints. Sauna therapy has long been studied for its effects on joint pain and mobility in rheumatic conditions, and the existing evidence is encouraging.
The 2001 review in The American Journal of Medicine noted that sauna bathing may alleviate pain and improve joint mobility in patients with rheumatic disease. Heat exposure reduces muscle tension, increases the elasticity of connective tissue, and promotes blood flow to joints — all of which can provide meaningful symptom relief for psoriatic arthritis. Infrared saunas, with their ability to deliver deep-penetrating radiant heat at lower ambient temperatures, may be particularly well-suited for this application since they allow longer, more comfortable sessions focused on joint relief.
If you're managing both psoriatic skin symptoms and joint pain, regular sauna use addresses both conditions simultaneously through its combined effects on inflammation, pain perception, and tissue healing.
Complementary Therapies: Red Light and Contrast Therapy
Sauna therapy doesn't have to stand alone. Two complementary approaches pair particularly well with regular sauna use for psoriasis management.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) uses specific wavelengths of visible red light (typically 630–660nm) and near-infrared light (810–850nm) to stimulate cellular energy production, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair. These are the same wavelengths studied for wound healing, collagen production, and skin rejuvenation — and they directly address several of the cellular-level dysfunctions present in psoriatic skin.
Several infrared saunas now come with built-in red light therapy panels, allowing you to receive both treatments simultaneously. This combination delivers systemic heat therapy alongside targeted photobiomodulation, which is a time-efficient way to address psoriasis from multiple angles in a single session. For more on how these two therapies differ and complement each other, see our breakdown of red light therapy vs. infrared sauna.
Contrast Therapy
Alternating between heat exposure and cold immersion (using a cold plunge or cold shower) has been shown to enhance circulation, strengthen the body's adaptive stress response, and amplify the anti-inflammatory effects of heat therapy alone. For psoriasis patients who are in a stable phase — no active flare-ups, no open lesions — contrast therapy may offer additional benefits. However, the cold shock itself can be irritating to sensitive skin, so introduce it gradually and pay close attention to how your skin responds.
When to Avoid the Sauna
Sauna therapy is safe for most people with psoriasis, but there are specific situations where it should be avoided or approached with extra caution:
During active, severe flare-ups. If your psoriasis is currently in a period of acute exacerbation with widespread redness, pain, or weeping lesions, wait until the flare has stabilized before resuming sauna use.
With pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis. These severe forms represent significant compromise of skin barrier function, and sauna heat can make them worse.
If you have open wounds or skin infections. Broken skin in a sauna environment increases infection risk, and heat can worsen active skin infections.
With certain comorbidities. Severe cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled blood pressure, and recent cardiac events are standard sauna contraindications that apply regardless of psoriasis status.
If you notice consistent worsening. Some psoriasis patients simply don't respond well to heat. If you've given sauna therapy a fair trial (6–8 weeks of consistent use at appropriate temperatures) and your symptoms are consistently worse, it may not be the right complementary therapy for your particular presentation.
Always consult your dermatologist before starting sauna therapy for psoriasis, particularly if you're on systemic medications, biologics, or phototherapy treatments. Your doctor can help assess whether sauna use is appropriate given your specific disease severity, type, and treatment plan.
Choosing the Right Sauna for Psoriasis Management
If the evidence has convinced you that sauna therapy is worth exploring, the next step is choosing the right type of sauna for your needs. Here's how to think about the decision through the lens of psoriasis management specifically:
If gentle, tolerable heat is your priority — and you want the easiest possible setup — an infrared sauna is likely your best starting point. Lower ambient temperatures mean less risk of skin irritation, most models plug into a standard household outlet, and sessions can be longer and more comfortable. Full spectrum infrared models offer the added benefit of near-infrared wavelengths that support skin health at the cellular level.
If you want the most research-backed option with steam capability — and you enjoy higher heat — a traditional sauna gives you the ability to add humidity, which is particularly effective at softening plaques. The bulk of the clinical research on sauna and psoriasis has been conducted using traditional Finnish saunas.
If you want maximum therapeutic versatility — browse our full sauna collection to compare traditional, infrared, and hybrid options side by side. Hybrid saunas, which combine a traditional heater with infrared panels, give you the ability to switch between heating modes or use both simultaneously — ideal if you want to experiment with both approaches and find what works best for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sauna safe for psoriasis?
For most people with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, yes. Research has consistently found that sauna bathing does not cause skin drying and is well-tolerated by the majority of psoriasis patients. A study of 213 psoriasis patients found that nearly 88% experienced no worsening, with about 11% seeing improvement. However, severe forms like pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis are contraindications, as are active flare-ups with open lesions. Always consult your dermatologist before starting.
Is infrared sauna or traditional sauna better for psoriasis?
Both have potential benefits, and the "better" option depends on your sensitivity to heat and your specific symptoms. Infrared saunas are gentler and more comfortable for people whose skin is easily irritated by high temperatures. Traditional saunas offer the added benefit of steam and humidity, which is particularly effective at softening thick plaques. Full spectrum infrared saunas provide near-infrared wavelengths that have been studied for wound healing and inflammation reduction, which may offer additional skin-level benefits.
How often should I use a sauna for psoriasis?
Most evidence suggests that consistency is more important than frequency or intensity. Starting with 2 sessions per week and gradually building to 3–4 sessions per week is a common and well-tolerated approach. The 2022 randomized controlled trial on thermal therapy found that patients who maintained regular sessions saw benefits lasting up to 12 months, underscoring the value of sustained, long-term use.
Can sauna make psoriasis worse?
In some cases, yes. Patients with "summer" psoriasis — where symptoms worsen with heat and sweating — may experience increased irritation. Excessive heat, prolonged sessions, or failure to moisturize after sauna use can also dry out the skin and trigger flares. Starting with lower temperatures and shorter durations, observing your skin's response, and following a consistent post-sauna moisturizing routine significantly reduces this risk.
Can I use a sauna while on psoriasis medication?
In most cases, sauna use can be safely combined with topical and systemic psoriasis treatments. Some patients find that applying topical medications after a sauna session enhances absorption due to the skin being softened and pores being open. However, certain medications may affect your body's response to heat or increase photosensitivity, so always confirm with your prescribing physician that sauna use is safe alongside your current treatment regimen.
Does sweating help psoriasis?
Sweating itself isn't the primary benefit — it's the physiological processes that accompany the heat response (reduced inflammation, improved circulation, lower cortisol) that help. Sweat can actually be mildly irritating to psoriasis-affected skin because it contains elevated levels of sodium in psoriasis patients. The key is to rinse off sweat promptly after a session and moisturize immediately to lock in hydration rather than letting sweat dry on the skin.
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