can steam bath and sauna damage the effects of botox?

Botox won't be effected by a hot steam bath or sauna. I think the logic behind it is that Botox is supposed to be refrigerated until used, and therefore if it gets hot, it won't work. Well once Botox is injected, it becomes body temperature or 98.6 degrees, and yet it works just fine. Don't worry about a sauna, steam bath, or hot tub, it won't effect your Botox.

Andrew C. Campbell, M.D.

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

Injection points can become more inflamed and swelling/bruising may also worsen if you take a steam bath or enter a sauna right after your treatment. This would delay your recovery. However, the actual Botox does not get "damaged".

There is no medical evidence of which I am aware that has proven that Botox's effect is affected by exogenous heat once it is in the body.  Botox should not be subjected to heat prior to mixing it, but once it's diluted and injected into your skin, your body maintains its temperature well enough and the Botox becomes incorporated in its tissues so that it is doubtful heat would damage it then.

There are many "recommendations" after Botox, but not of them really make sense.  Except for the time immediately after injection, my feeling is that none of the recommendations really matter.  After the first couple of hours, you can likely do whatever you want and it will not affect the Botox once it is absorbed by the receptors in the body.  Immediately after injection, just leave the areas alone and let the Botox absorb.  Anything that increases blood flow such as dilating the vessels (hot steam bath) or mechanical (rubbing the areas) may increase the diffusion.  But is it really that big of a deal to refrain from having a steam bath for the first couple of hours after a Botox injection?

 

Good Luck.

There are some standard post care instructions after Botox injections. They include no heavy excersice for 24 hours, mostly becuase you do not want to have a flushed face. By dialating those vessels you can potentially flush the product away from the muscles in your face and into other areas of your body. That is the only reason you may want to avoid a sauna/ steam bath the day of your injections.

Not sure why your dermatologists said that steam baths can ruin the effects of Botox. They may have suggested you not have a sauna or steam bath immediately after getting injected, which would dilate your blood vessels and possibly cause migration of the product.  For the same reason, I ask my patients not to exercise immediately after injection.