Merino Short - 5"
Designed for everyday movement in merino.
Shop nowSauna Blankets & Dermal Toxicity: Why You Should Never Wear Synthetics During Your Sweat
The rise of home infrared sauna blankets from brands like HigherDose and Sun Home Saunas has revolutionized recovery, allowing users to experience the deep, cellular detox of infrared heat from their own living rooms. However, as these devices explode in popularity, a dangerous gap in consumer knowledge has emerged regarding **what to wear in a sauna blanket**. While the goal of a sauna session is to purge toxins through the skin, the clothes you wear could be doing the exact opposite. If you are wearing standard synthetic gym clothes—made of polyester, nylon, or recycled plastics—you may be facilitating a rapid "re-toxing" process through dermal absorption.The 2024 University of Birmingham Study: Heat as a Chemical Catalyst
A groundbreaking 2024 study from the University of Birmingham has shed light on how extreme heat and sweat "unlock" endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in synthetic textiles. The research confirms that when plastic-based fabrics are exposed to heat and moisture, chemicals such as BPA, PFAS, and heavy metals like Antimony become increasingly mobile. In the high-heat environment of an infrared sauna, your pores are fully dilated, and your skin’s permeability increases. This creates a "highway" for these leached chemicals to enter your bloodstream. For those focused on hormone health, the risk is significant, as these chemicals are known to mimic or interfere with the body's natural endocrine system.The Problem with "Plastic" Gear: Occlusion and Absorption
Most modern activewear is essentially petroleum-based plastic. Whether it is marketed as "buttery soft" nylon or "high-performance" polyester, these fibers are hydrophobic—they hate water. Instead of absorbing your sweat, they act as an occlusive barrier, trapping heat and liquid against your skin. This "occlusive effect" is more than just uncomfortable; it’s a primary reason why is polyester activewear bad for skin. In a sauna blanket, this barrier forces sweat and bacteria back into the hair follicles. For individuals with sensitive skin or conditions like Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) or Keratosis Pilaris (KP), this can trigger immediate inflammation and follicular occlusion. Furthermore, many "eco-friendly" brands use recycled polyester derived from plastic bottles. While this sounds sustainable, these fabrics often contain higher levels of Antimony & The "Sweat Effect": The Heavy Metal Risk in Recycled Polyester, a heavy metal used in the plastic manufacturing process that leaches more readily when you begin to sweat.Why Merino Wool is the Only Safe, High-Performance Alternative
To safely reap the benefits of an infrared sauna blanket, you need a fabric that provides full coverage to protect the skin from the blanket’s surface while remaining chemically inert and breathable. Merino wool is a "biofabric" that manages moisture at the vapor stage, absorbing humidity before it even turns into liquid sweat. Unlike synthetics, Merino is naturally:- Breathable: It prevents the "suffocating" feeling that leads to heat-triggered stress.
- Absorbent: It pulls toxins away from the skin rather than trapping them against it.
- Low-Tox: As a natural fiber, it doesn't contain the BPA or PFAS found in plastic gear.
