The Infrared vs. Traditional Sauna: Key Differences, Benefits, and Which One to Choose

What Is a Sauna and What Are Its Benefits

Traditional saunas use a stove or heater to warm the air in an enclosed space to its highest possible temperature. Stones then absorb this heat and dissipate it across the room, creating a very warm space that increases the core body temperature of everyone in the cabin. This increase triggers the cardiovascular system into action and causes the skin to sweat, expelling all kinds of toxins from the body.

Now often referred to as traditional, regular or Finnish saunas, these hot rooms remain popular, because they deliver many benefits to users, including:

• Better Cardiovascular Performance: Saunas increase the heart rate and decrease blood pressure while improving blood flow.
• Detoxification: Saunas cause sweating which helps the body rid itself of unwanted toxins and chemicals.
• Improved Mental Health: Saunas help the body release feelgood chemicals such as endorphins, which are known to improve mood and reduce stress and blood pressure.
• Relief From Pain and Tiredness: Saunas can have a positive impact on conditions including arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
• Increased Ability to Tolerate Extreme Heat: Regular sauna use helps build tolerance to high heat, handy in these days when climate change is leading to more heatwaves and higher temperatures.

What Is an Infrared Sauna

Recently, an alternative to steam saunas has emerged. The key difference between sauna and infrared sauna cabins is that, unlike traditional saunas which heat the air, infrared saunas directly heat the body.

The light does this by safely bypassing the skin and entering the body’s cells, tissue and muscle, causing the body’s water molecules to vibrate, producing heat.

Key Difference Between Infrared Sauna and Traditional Sauna

What is better infrared or traditional sauna units? The key difference between traditional sauna and infrared cabins is:

Temperature: Infrared saunas are noticeably cooler and less humid than traditional saunas. In fact, the highest temperature infrared saunas reach is often over 30 degrees below the lowest temperature a traditional sauna needs. On average, a traditional sauna will use steam that’s 70-85ºC, while infrared saunas provide heat directly to the body at 46-57ºC.

Efficiency: Infrared saunas cost less to run because of the lower heat levels, and require less cleaning and maintenance.

Health Benefits: Both types of sauna boast health benefits such as pain and stress relief, detoxification, and improvement to mental well-being. But infrared saunas are also known to:

• Boost the immune system
• Purify the skin
• Repair muscle damage
• Support Circadian rhythms

Cost to Buy and Install: An infrared sauna typically costs between $2,500 and $10,000, whereas traditional saunas range from $10,000 to $30,000.

Comfort: Because infrared saunas are cooler and less humid, many users report enjoying longer, more relaxing sessions and the greater health benefits these bring.

Infrared vs Traditional Sauna: Which Offers Better Health Benefits

When answering the question which is better traditional sauna or infrared sauna cabins, it’s important to note that both types offer users a wide range of health benefits. We’ve already listed the benefits of traditional saunas above, many of which apply to infrared saunas too:

Blood Circulation
Infrared saunas deliver deep heat to muscles, joints and tissue, increasing blood flow while lowering blood pressure and removing toxins. These saunas are hot enough to cause you to sweat which, in tandem with the light penetration, is a great way to remove cholesterol and other substances from the body.

Stress Relief
The light and heat in infrared saunas releases serotonin, increases dopamine levels and promotes a similar sense of wellbeing that you experience after exercising.

Pain Relief
Infrared saunas are believed to provide even greater relief from pain than regular saunas, as the light penetrates deep into the body, more directly targeting muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments.

Skin Cleansing
Some people find the extreme heat of traditional saunas tough on their skin. That’s not a problem with infrared saunas which operate at lower temperatures. They’re still warm enough to ensure you sweat out any toxins and rid yourself of dead skin.

The boost you get to your blood circulation in an infrared sauna causes the body’s natural nutrients to reach the surface of the skin, reducing the discomfort caused by dermatological conditions such as acne and eczema.

Is the Sauna Safe

Most of the safety concerns raised about saunas relate to heat sensitivity and apply to both traditional and infrared saunas. Reported side-effects of sauna use include:

• Heat discomfort
• Breathing problems
• Dizziness caused by lower blood pressure
• Temporary reduced sperm count

You can reduce the chances of experiencing these side-effects by:

• Avoiding saunas if you’re feeling unwell
• Not consuming alcohol before or during a session
• Drinking plenty of water before and during a session
• Starting off slowly with short sessions to gradually build your heat tolerance
• Avoid using saunas for up to 6 months if you are a male trying to conceive

Infrared Sauna Safety
All living objects emit and take in infrared heat, so it’s perfectly natural. In fact, using infrared light to heat the human body is regarded as so safe that hospitals use it to keep newborn babies warm.

There have been concerns raised about the potential risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields in infrared saunas, although there is no evidence of any danger.

Is it Possible to Combine an Infrared and Traditional Sauna

The short answer is yes. Designers have created combination or hybrid saunas, offering the benefits of a traditional and infrared sauna in one unit.

Which Type of Sauna Should You Choose

Now that you know the answer to the question ‘what is the difference between infrared sauna and regular sauna units?’ it should be easier deciding which is right for you.

When choosing a sauna for your home or business, your budget and the health benefits you are seeking will be the main factors that decide which type you choose.

While both types offer a range of boosts to wellbeing, infrared saunas are considerably less expensive to buy and operate.