In Austria and Germany, on the contrary, nakedness is obligatory in communal saunas for the reason that benches are covered with towels. Separate single-sex saunas for either sex is uncommon, almost all places propose women-only and mixed-gender saunas or, sometimes, arrange women-only days in sauna once or twice a week.  Active discussions are not typical for sauna as it is considered to be the place of relaxation rather than communication.
Unlike Scandinavian countries, sprinkling water on hot stones to raise moisture is not usually done by the sauna-goers themselves, but by a person responsible for that.
In German-speaking Switzerland, traditions are practically the same as in Austria or Germany, but you will see more families and young people. As for communicating in saunas, the Swiss are more similar to the Finns or Swedes.
Besides, in German-speaking countries, people frequently wash after using the sauna. They dip themselves in pools with extremely cold water or just take a shower. In some saunas the scented salts are available to rub into the skin for additional fragrance and purifying effects.
In France and the United Kingdom, and most of southern Europe, single-sex saunas are the most widespread kind. Nakedness is accepted in separate saunas but, as a rule, forbidden in the mixed ones. That may be a kind of embarrassment when people of these nations come to Austria and Germany or conversely. Sauna sessions are usually not so durable and cold showers are, in most cases, rejected.
In the United Kingdom, where communal saunas are becoming more and more popular, the tendency to changing between the sauna and Jacuzzi has appeared. Slovenian and Croatian saunas have similar systems of operation to those in Austria and Germany. However, they are a little bit more undisturbed about implementing rules.
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