What are those funny red marks after the sauna?

1. Heat Marks (Harmless & Temporary)

When you warm up in the sauna, the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under your skin open up to help move heat around your body. This improves circulation — but in some people, it also creates temporary heat marks.

There are two common types:

A) Livedo Reticularis (“marbling”, “mottling”, “corned beef leg”)

This is the one that looks like a faint purple net across the skin.It happens when your blood vessels dilate and constrict quickly — especially if you go from sauna → cold sea → top bench too fast.

It’s harmless and usually fades within minutes to a few hours.

B) Heat Erythema / Erythema ab Igne

This is more of a reddish “heat shadow” that matches where the hot air hit you.

It’s still harmless, but it’s your skin saying:“Okay mate… that was really hot right there.”

Why winter makes this more common

The bigger the temperature contrast (80°C sauna → 7°C sea → back to 80°C),the more dramatic these marks can look. The pattern is literally your vascular system showing itself.

2. Warming Up Too Fast After a Cold Dip

If you go from cold water straight onto the top bench, your skin and blood vessels get hit with a rapid thermal jump. That can cause:

• blotchy redness

• fast-appearing marbling

• bright pink patches on exposed skin

Again: harmless.It’s the speed of the transition, not the sauna itself.

The easy fix

After a dip:

• come in slowly

• take the lower bench first

• let the core warm up before going high

• or cool down outside for 60 seconds before re-entering

This solves 90% of “I went marbled” reactions.

3. Steam Burns (Rare but Real)

When water hits the stones, it flashes into löyly — that beautiful wave of hot steam.Most people love it, but if a burst of steam hits your skin too directly, or the room is already very hot, you can get a mild steam burn.

Nothing dramatic — usually just a short-lived sting or a small red patch — but still something we take seriously.

That’s why we always:

• warn guests before fanning

• give people a chance to step down or step out

• check in between rounds

• remind everyone: you never have to tough it out

4. Sea Lice, Salt Irritation, and Other Red Herrings

Sometimes redness after sauna + sea isn’t heat-related at all.

If someone reports:

• itchiness

• pin-point stinging

• localised patches

it’s more likely sea lice or salt irritation than heat.

Warm shower → solved.

If it’s not itchy, it’s almost always a heat/cold vascular pattern.

5. How to Stay Comfortable (and Keep Your Skin Happy)

• Do shorter rounds if you’re new

• Sit lower down if you’re unsure

• Cool off gradually

• Rinse between rounds if you’re sensitive

• Don’t hover right next to the stove

• After the sea, warm up slowly before hitting the top bench

And the big one:

There’s never any pressure to stay in longer than feels right. Ever.

So… Should You Worry?

No.Most red marks after sauna are completely harmless, fade quickly, and are just your body showing you the intensity of the temperature changes.

Steam burns do happen occasionally, which is exactly why we host the way we do:clear communication, gentle rounds, and constant invitations to adjust, cool, step out, or take your own pace.

Relax, take your time, and enjoy the warmth.We’ve got you — and your skin — totally looked after.