Five Pirkanmaa swimming halls allow swimsuits in saunas

Five swimming halls in Finland’s Pirkanmaa region now allow customers to wear swimsuits in their saunas, Yle reports. The change was introduced at the request of customers, particularly young people who feel uncomfortable using a sauna naked.

The swimming halls in Tampere, Nokia, Ylöjärvi, Lempäälä and Valkeakoski have adopted the policy. Previously, swimsuits were generally allowed in swimming-hall saunas only for health reasons, with swimmers required to display a blue-and-white permit marking on their swimsuit or wrist.

The policy remains in force at most swimming halls in Finland. In Pirkanmaa, however, the change is being tested.

“Some secondary-school-aged young people in particular are reluctant to come to the swimming hall because they have to be naked in the sauna,” said Sanna Kulmala, sports director in Valkeakoski.

Water quality remains a concern

Swimming costumes can carry dirt into a pool. They may already be unclean, and heat in the sauna can cause sweat and skin oils to collect on the fabric.

Pirkanmaa’s swimming halls sought advice from Neidonkeidas swimming hall in Lohja, where swimsuits were allowed in saunas a year ago. Yle reported earlier this year that the change had not reduced swimming-water quality in Lohja.

“No increase in bacterial levels had been observed in the water measurements at Neidonkeidas. There should be nothing that affects hygiene,” Kulmala said.

Swimmers must still wash thoroughly without their swimsuits both before and after swimming.

Lower chlorine levels reduce health concerns

One earlier reason for banning swimsuits in saunas was the concern that chlorine from pool water could evaporate in the heat and create harmful gases. Another concern was that dirt from swimsuits could enter the pool.

Kulmala said swimming halls now use relatively little chlorine for cleaning, alongside other methods such as ultraviolet light.

“There is not enough chlorine on a swimsuit to cause a health risk in the sauna,” she said.

Marja Rissanen, a lecturer in textile and materials technology at Tampere University of Applied Sciences, said chlorine levels in swimming-hall water are lower than before.

Sixteen years ago, Rissanen warned in a newspaper interview about the risks of wearing a swimsuit in a swimming-hall sauna. The warnings were based on US studies at the time, which found that chlorine could evaporate and cause health problems.

“The chlorine concentrations were probably higher then, especially in US swimming halls. Finland also uses other cleaning methods, so the amount of evaporating chlorine is much lower,” Rissanen said.

Sauna use can damage a swimsuit. Sweat, skin oils, heat and chlorine loosen and weaken the elastane in the fabric.

Swimmers must wash without swimsuits

Customers must shower carefully without their swimsuits before entering the pool. Swimming halls are now considering how to ensure that people who have used the sauna in their swimsuits remove them before showering.

Kulmala said staff would need to remind customers of the requirement and increase supervision in the showers slightly.

“Even if someone wears a swimsuit in the sauna, they must wash carefully without it in the shower before entering the pool,” she said.

Some customers may also feel embarrassed about washing naked. Valkeakoski, for example, has showers with curtains where people can wash in privacy.

The swimsuit ban remains in place in most swimming-hall saunas in Finland.