What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses infrared light to heat your body directly. Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air around you, infrared saunas warm you from the inside out. This difference in how heat is applied leads to a different experience and a lower surrounding temperature. That’s one of the reasons people find them more comfortable.
In a traditional sauna, temperatures can reach 150 to 190°F (65-88°C), making the environment feel stifling to some. But in an infrared sauna, the heat stays between 120 and 140°F (48-60°C). Even though the air feels cooler, you’ll still sweat a lot because infrared light penetrates deeper into your skin and tissues.
Infrared saunas are split into three main types: near, mid, and far-infrared. These categories refer to the wavelength of the infrared light used. The differences in wavelengths affect how the sauna heats your body and the benefits you can expect. You can choose an infrared sauna based on the type of infrared light it uses, or you can go for a full-spectrum sauna, which combines all three types.
Today, infrared saunas are popular in wellness circles because they are thought to offer a range of health benefits. Many users turn to them for relaxation, detoxification, and pain relief. Whether you want to recover from a workout or just enjoy some quiet, they’re a go-to for people looking to improve their overall well-being.
The Science Behind Infrared Heat
Infrared heat is a form of energy that’s part of the light spectrum, but it’s not visible to the human eye. Even though you can’t see it, you can feel it as warmth. It works by emitting waves of light, which then heat objects directly. In the case of an infrared sauna, it’s your body that absorbs these waves. This is different from traditional saunas, which heat the air around you first and then rely on the hot air to raise your body temperature.
There are three types of infrared light:
- Near
- Mid
- and far-infrared
The difference between them comes down to their wavelengths. Near-infrared light has the shortest wavelength, meaning it penetrates just below the surface of your skin. Far-infrared has the longest wavelength and can reach deeper into your muscles and tissues. Mid-infrared falls somewhere in between. Each type of infrared light interacts with your body in different ways, and that’s why they’re often combined in full-spectrum saunas.
What makes infrared heat unique is how it warms your body. Instead of relying on the air around you to heat up, infrared light directly targets your tissues. This means that even though the air temperature is lower, you can still get a deep, warming effect. This deep heat causes your body to sweat and helps with things like muscle recovery, detox, and circulation. Because the heat goes deeper into your body, it can feel less intense than sitting in a traditional sauna, but it’s still effective.
Infrared heat has been studied for various health benefits. Research suggests that far-infrared therapy can improve cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and promoting circulation (Beever, 2010). Another study highlights that infrared therapy can help with chronic pain and muscle recovery (Lauche et al., 2015). Many users report feeling more refreshed after using infrared saunas compared to other types because the body gets heated from the inside out.
Types of Infrared Heat
Infrared saunas are designed to emit different types of infrared heat, categorized by their wavelengths: near, mid, and far infrared. Each type interacts with the body in its way, offering specific benefits.
- Near-infrared has the shortest wavelength and mainly affects the skin's surface. It’s often used for skin treatments, wound healing, and collagen production. The shorter wavelength allows near-infrared light to target the outer layers of your skin without going too deep. This makes it a popular choice for people looking to improve their skin health or recover from minor injuries.
- Mid-infrared sits in the middle of the infrared spectrum, with a wavelength that penetrates a bit deeper into the body. It helps increase circulation and is often linked to pain relief and improved flexibility. Mid-infrared heat can also help with muscle recovery after workouts, as it reaches a level that can soothe soreness and stiffness in your muscles.
- Far-infrared has the longest wavelength and can penetrate deeply into tissues and muscles. This type of heat is more intense in terms of how it impacts your body internally. Far-infrared saunas are known for their detoxification benefits, as they heat the body from the inside out, causing a more intense sweat. The deep heat can also relieve joint pain and improve overall circulation, making it a great option for people dealing with chronic pain or inflammation.
The combination of these types in a full-spectrum sauna can provide a wider range of benefits, targeting different layers of your body at once. Some saunas offer just one type of infrared heat, but many users prefer full-spectrum options for the complete experience.
Full-Spectrum Infrared Saunas
But what about a feature that combines all three? That’s where full-spectrum infrared saunas come in. These saunas use near, mid, and far-infrared heat together, giving you a broader range of benefits in a single session. Unlike saunas that focus on just one type of heat, full-spectrum saunas target different layers of your body at once.
Whether you’re aiming for better skin, muscle recovery, or a deep detox, a full-spectrum sauna has something to offer. Near-infrared helps with skin health, mid-infrared supports muscle relaxation, and far-infrared focuses on detoxification and circulation. Whether you want to relax or get an intense sweat going, this type of sauna covers all the bases.
What makes full-spectrum infrared saunas even more appealing is the ability to adjust the intensity of each type of infrared heat. Whether you need a lighter session for skin care or a more intense one for muscle relief, you can fine-tune it to suit your needs. This flexibility makes full-spectrum saunas popular with users who want a customizable, all-in-one experience.
How Infrared Saunas Heat the Body
Infrared saunas work differently from traditional saunas. Instead of heating the air around you, they use infrared light to warm your body directly. This is because infrared rays penetrate your skin and reach deeper into your tissues. It’s almost like warming from the inside out, without the surrounding air getting too hot. That’s why infrared saunas typically operate at a lower temperature, around 120 to 140°F, while still making you sweat.
The key to how this works lies in the infrared light spectrum. Near-infrared focuses on the skin’s surface, while far-infrared reaches deeper into muscles and joints. Mid-infrared falls somewhere in between, targeting both skin and muscle layers. When your body absorbs these rays, it starts to heat up, causing blood vessels to dilate and blood flow to increase. This boost in circulation helps to improve oxygen flow throughout your body.
As your body heats up, you start to sweat. But the sweat from infrared heat is different. Since the heat penetrates deeper, it encourages your body to release more toxins. That’s why people often describe the sweat from an infrared sauna as feeling more “productive” compared to a traditional sauna. The deep tissue heat also helps with muscle recovery and pain relief by relaxing tight muscles and joints.
Even though the air temperature in an infrared sauna is lower, you’ll still feel the heat due to how efficiently your body absorbs infrared rays. Whether you're looking to detox, ease muscle soreness, or improve circulation, this direct heat method is what makes infrared saunas unique and effective.
Research supports these benefits. For example, a study showed that infrared sauna use can improve cardiovascular health by promoting better blood circulation through vasodilation and heart rate increases, much like moderate exercise (Kihara et al., 2002)
How Long Does It Take To See The Benefits Of Infrared Saunas?
It usually takes several weeks of consistent use to see noticeable differences in your overall health. Sure, you might feel relaxed or less sore after a session or two, but the real benefits take time to show up. Most people find that using the sauna 3 to 4 times a week is the sweet spot.
One of the major perks is relief from chronic pain. If you’re dealing with arthritis or similar conditions, infrared saunas can help due to their anti-inflammatory effects. The heat penetrates deep into your muscles and joints, reducing inflammation and easing pain. Over time, this can make a big difference in how you feel day to day.
Other benefits, like improved circulation, detoxification, and better skin, also build up slowly. After a few weeks of regular sessions, you might notice your joints feel more flexible, your skin looks clearer, and you have more energy. But for someone who doesn’t sweat that often, you could probably feel its effects in less than 30 minutes. That quick boost can leave you feeling refreshed and lighter, even after just one session.
Final Thoughts on Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas offer a unique approach to improving your overall health by using targeted heat to warm your body from the inside out. If you're seeking pain relief, better skin, improved circulation, or a deep detox, these saunas deliver a broad range of benefits. It typically takes several weeks of consistent use to notice significant changes, but the long-term effects can make the commitment worthwhile. Plus, if you don’t sweat often, you might even feel the positive effects after just one session, giving you a quick sense of refreshment and well-being.
But, we’re telling you to not just buy anything that you can see on the Internet. We have a wide range of full-spectrum infrared saunas that definitely gives you a good sweating. Get a good look today!
References
- Beever, R. (2010). Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: Summary of published evidence. Canadian Family Physician, 56(7), 691-693. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118601/
- Kihara, T., Biro, S., Ikeda, Y., Fukudome, T., Shinsato, T., Masuda, A., & Tei, C. (2002). Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 39(5), 754-759. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(02)01662-0
- Lauche, R., Cramer, H., Haller, H., Dobos, G., & Langhorst, J. (2015). A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of infrared sauna interventions. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 23(1), 1-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734799/
