Sauna suit

A sauna suit is a garment made from waterproof fabric designed to make the wearer sweat profusely. A sauna suit is sometimes called a "rubber suit" because the early types were made of rubber or rubberized cloth. Now, sauna suits are typically made of PVC or coated nylon cloth. The construction is typically in the style of a waterproof sweat suit, consisting of a pullover jacket and drawstring pants. The closures at waist, neck, wrists and ankles are all elasticated to help retain body heat and moisture within the garment. In some sauna suits, the jacket also includes a hood to provide additional retention of body heat.

A typical sauna suit

Weight loss

A sauna suit is commonly worn during physical exercise as an aid to weight loss,[1] for example by boxers, MMA fighters or wrestlers, who wish to qualify for a specific weight class. The body temperature elevation and the profuse sweating induced by wearing the suit cause a rapid loss in body weight by loss of water. Because of this dehydration effect, sauna suits should be used with great caution. The body temperature elevation and water loss while wearing a sauna suit can lead to the possibility of heat stroke and dehydration, in extreme cases causing death.[2] Thus, a sauna suit should not be worn while doing extreme exercise or in hot conditions. A sauna suit is not intended for use in a sauna.

The efficacy of a sauna suit as a training aid is a subject of much debate. A 2017 study[3] at Western Colorado University found that wearing a sauna suit while exercising increased fat loss, improved cardiovascular health and boosted muscle performance. Other authorities differ and oppose sauna suit use.[4][5] In view of this range of views, many writers encourage users to be moderate and careful in their sauna suit use and to avoid extremes.[6][7]

Body wrapping

Sauna suits are also worn for body wrapping in some health spas. The wearer is first wrapped in bandages saturated with mineral and/or herbal preparations and then covered with a sauna suit. The objective of this process is to enable the wearer to "sweat out toxins", however there is little scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of this practice.[8] Sauna suits are often worn specifically for such sweat excretion rather for exercise or weight loss.

Psoriasis treatment

A medical use for a sauna suit is in the treatment of psoriasis, an inflammation of the skin causing itchiness and discomfort. The symptoms of psoriasis can be relieved by use of ointments and by keeping the skin moist. The wearing of a sauna suit helps to retain skin moisture and to prevent the ointment from leaking out and staining other clothing, furniture or bedding. In medical literature, a sauna suit is also called an "occlusion suit".[9]

See also

References
  1. "Sauna Suits Review". MaxFitness+.
  2. "Weight Issues In Wrestling--Final Version". vanderbilt.edu.
  3. "The Performance Benefits of Training with a Sauna Suit". Int. J. Research in Exercise Physiology.
  4. "6 Sauna Suit Myths Knocked Out". boxingscience.co.uk.
  5. "Hyperthermia and Dehydration-Related Deaths Associated with Intentional Rapid Weight Loss in Three Collegiate Wrestlers". cdc.gov.
  6. "12 Pros and Cons of a Sauna Suit". healthresearchfunding.org.
  7. "Should I Work Out in a Sauna Suit?". healthline.com.
  8. "Can You Sweat Toxins out of Your Body?". UAMS Health.
  9. "Occlusion". psorsite.com.
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