Are saunas actually good for you? 

Anyone on Instagram in Ireland can see the Finnish custom has surged in popularity in recent years, with saunas popping up across the island. 

People certainly enjoy saunas - but are they actually good for you? 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Associate Professor of Extreme Environments at the University of Portsmouth Dr Heather Massey said the science indicates that they probably are. 

“There's some research evidence to suggest that using saunas may help people to live longer,” she said. 

“But we need to be really aware that this research has only looked at their sauna use and not other lifestyle factors that might influence their sort of longevity as well. 

“So, we're still trying to research whether saunas are good for us at this stage.” 

A woman sits in a mobile wood burning sauna on the seafront in Garrettstown. Picture by: David Creedon / Alamy Live News.

Many users swear that they emerge from a sauna refreshed and in a much better mood than when they went in. 

There is, Dr Massey added, evidence to back this up. 

“Science hasn't got the answers yet but it is being worked on,” she said.

“So, there are a number of small-scale projects that have looked at the use of sauna. 

“In those projects they've come up with some positive findings about people's feelings of mental well-being but these are only really small-scale studies and not on a very broad demographic.” 

A pop-up wood-fired mobile sauna in Cornwall. Picture by: Alex Ramsay / Alamy. 

For those who are new to saunas, Dr Massey suggested they only sauna for a short period of time to begin with. 

“We don't have enough information to be able to prescribe a duration of sauna but if you're new to sauna, it's definitely worth starting off slowly and going in for short periods of time, five, ten minutes max,” she advised. 

“Only once you've done it frequently or for a longer period of time, extending your stay a little bit.”

Main image: Women relax in a sauna. Picture by: Alamy.com.