Saunas ARE good for acne. 

More Info: Though there is little scientific evidence that saunas can help acne, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they do.  Saunas have been proven to reduce stress so stress-induced acne may be improved through the use of a sauna.  Acne caused by clogged pores may also be improved through the cleansing use of a sauna.

Benefits of Saunas

The sauna has been touted has the natural panacea for a variety of unrelated conditions including clearing acne, enhancing wound healing, increasing circulation, helping glaucoma, curing muscle pain, and so on.  Though saunas do have some beneficial effects, most are only temporary.

The greatest benefit is attained in the immediate relaxation that a sauna can provide.  The reaction is both psychological and physiological as the sauna decreases in the body's peripheral vascular resistance.

There are additional short-term benefits of taking a sauna such as providing relief for asthmatics and bronchitis sufferers, helping to alleviate joint pain and mobility, and it may benefit patients with psoriasis.

Myths

Many believe that saunas promote weight loss but there is no scientific evidence to prove this fact.  It is a fact that during a sauna there is a loss of fluids and up to 500 g of salt, which will register as weight loss on a scale.  These losses are temporary and return soon after taking the sauna.

Dangers of Saunas

Short-term exposure to saunas is well tolerated by most people.  The dangers arise with overexposure to extreme temperatures for prolonged periods, which could be dangerous even for a healthy person. People with heart conditions or circulatory conditions may be at an increased risk from overexposure.  Drinking alcohol while sauna bathing increases the risk of arrhythmia, hypotension, and even death.

One of the possible benefits of taking a sauna could actually be one of its greatest dangers.  Saunas have been shown to temporarily lower blood pressure, which though seemingly a benefit could be a dangerous proposition.  Following the sauna, the blood pressure rebounds causing an increase in the concentrations of rennin, an enzyme that plays a role in the regulation of blood pressure, which could cause a dangerously rapid increase in blood pressure.

Sauna Taker's Disease is another possible danger of taking saunas in unclean atmospheres.  If the water used in a sauna has become stagnant, it can harbor bacteria and fungi spores, which can be inhaled when the water vaporizes into steam causing sauna-induced pneumonitis.