Sauna or hammam (steam bath)

It consists in remaining in an atmosphere saturated with water vapor during a certain time. The sauna is a room by wood (fir tree) heated by a stove on which one throws sometimes aromatized water (eucalyptus), which produces water vapor. The interior temperature oscillates around 180° F (90 °C). The training workout of sauna is alternated with several cold showers.

In the hammam (steam bath), the vapor is continuously produced in a mechanical way by a regulating device. The room isn't compose by tree but with tiles. The production of vapor is so important that a thick water vapor cloud makes opaque the room.

- First, the perspiration and so the loss of water. As we have THERMOREGULATION capacities i.e. that we have faculty to maintain our temperature internal with a constant degree. There is a balance between gain and loss of the heat of our body thanks to the radiation, with the convection, conduction and evaporation on the level of our skin (thermoregulation).

- A sedative effect, calming, relaxing and less stress.

- A reduction in the muscular tone, an elimination of the lactic acid in our sweat.

- A minerals loss by our perspiration.

- An effectiveness on certain affections (sinusitis's, colds, lumbagos, sciatic nerve, acne,..).

- Calm the anxiety, diminish them and supports the recovery of the over-trained sportsman.

However, heat for purposes on our blood circulation (increase in the cardiac flow, acceleration of the pulse, increase in the venous pressure). Consequently, it is necessary to take consulting near its doctor in order to be able to before detect a meeting of sauna, the possible ones against indications (cardiac problems.)..

Advice: think of hydrate yourself to compensate for the water losses

Tan with U.V.

U.V.A present a great capacity of pigmentation, the erythema has a late appearance. However, an excess of exposure to ultraviolet can cause burns going until the 4th degree (blisters, exfoliation of the skin.).

Highs:

- They activate the production of vitamin D on the level of the skin.

- They pigment more or less quickly the skin according to the sensitivity of the skin

- Some ultraviolets (U.V.C.), made artificially, are used to destroy the bacteria, the viruses, mushrooms, and to asepticize the medical hardware. 

Lows :

- They dehydrate much the skin and help the appearance of wrinkles and ridules. They accelerate the effects of the ageing of the skin.

- They are very harmful for the eyes, it is necessary imperatively to carry special sun glasses (against U.V.).

- They would have a carcinogenic action if they wrongly or are badly employed.

It is a question of using water of various natures to apply it, under pressure or jets, on the skin (one exploits the composition of water employed and on its temperature). One can also use mud in coating or white-washing of the skin.

Water is used at various temperatures (from hot bathes to the cold bathes) according to whether one seeks a vasodilatation of a surface or a major vasoconstriction. In fact one moves the blood mass by employing these methods.