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Have you wondered how to combat dry air and the ills it causes to skin and sinus? Dahl Plumbing, based in Colorado and New Mexico, does! No surprise to Mr.Steam, their solution includes steam showers...
Temperatures have dropped precipitously around the country, and so has the amount of moisture in the air. Unfortunately, colder weather brings dry air along with it. The resulting low humidity environment can irritate both skin and nasal passages.
To alleviate these dry weather and winter ills, people living in year-round dry climates like Colorado have relied for years on the benefits of steam showers.
Steam showers increase skin's exposure to humidity
“Steam showers have always been popular here in the mountains because of our dry environment,” says Carole Lalena, an expert at Dahl Plumbing, Avon, CO. “I would never build a house without it. It’s definitely on the list of must-haves, like a home theater system.” As the premier distributor of plumbing throughout Colorado and Northern New Mexico, Dahl knows a thing or two about coping with dry climates.
Carole has noticed steam showers especially appeal to consumers in their 40s. No wonder. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that, “As we age, our skin becomes thinner and drier. By our 40s, many people need to use a good moisturizer every day.”
Living in a Sahara-type climate makes the problem worse. One antidote is to increase the skin’s exposure to humidity with a daily steam shower.
“From my own personal use, it definitely helps. Steam puts the moisture back into your skin,” says Carole.
To fend off the alligator look, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying moisturizer within minutes of a shower while skin is still damp. This is because moisturizer’s job is to keep moisture in the skin, not add more.
Steam Showers add humidity back to the air
Besides wreaking havoc with your skin, dry air can irritate nasal passages, according to the Mayo Clinic.
WebMD recommends preventing sinus problems by avoiding breathing dry air and by increasing moisture in the air. “Warm moist air may alleviate sinus congestion including inhaling steam,” according to the medical information site.
Carole agrees, having found that her steam shower helps minimize sinus problems. “That’s good because it’s dry all year here,” she notes.
Steam and natural stone: perfect together!
In the Rockies, the “mountain contemporary rustic” bath style mixes rough-hewn materials with sleek fixtures. “We use a lot of natural stone with chrome and brushed nickel,” Carole says.
Some homeowners, though, are under the misconception they can’t have steam with natural stone. “They think you have to have ceramic tile, but nothing could be further from the truth,” she says. “You just have to take the natural stone into consideration to get the right size generator. Natural stone is always a bit colder.”
The Mr. Steam Sizing Tool makes it easy to accurately size a generator by taking into account different shower enclosure materials.
Sleek streamlined controls and aromatherapy for daily relaxation
To go along with the contemporary rustic look, Carole recommends sleek streamlined controls like the Mr. Steam iSteam and iTempo. “They fit the trend of the more modern bathroom,” she says.
In modern bathrooms, “car wash” showers with body sprays and multiple showerheads are going by the wayside. She finds people are opting instead for the simplicity of a single showerhead and perhaps a hand shower. The big whirlpool is also going the way of the dodo, being replaced by a smaller freestanding tub that makes a statement but leaves room for a larger shower. “People are being more green, which is why they are more apt to put in steam,” says Carole. “It’s a lot of luxury for a little bit of water and electricity.”
Also people realize they are more likely to use steam because it’s a “fast indulgence” versus taking time to fill a big whirlpool.
That’s why she highly recommends a remote control such as the Mr. Steam iGenie “It gives you the flexibility to start your steam shower from anywhere in a large home. This way you have time to use steam on a daily basis because you are not waiting for it to warm up,” she points out.
Another must-have, she feels, is aromatherapy. “Here in the Dahl Plumbing showroom I have the Mr. Steam unit on everyday with aromatherapy. It smells great,” she reports. Her favorite Mr. Steam Chakra Oil: the invigorating Red Vitality. “I even had a steam unit when I lived in Florida where I didn’t need the moisture factor,” Carole recalls. “The aromatherapy was wonderful for relaxation.”
So while a steam shower may be especially beneficial in colder months and drier climates, steam therapy is clearly an everyday amenity for all seasons no matter where you live. Take it from Carole Lalena and Dahl Plumbing!
